IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It is a test of English proficiency for non-native English speakers. IELTS is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment. IELTS is the world’s most popular English language test. Over 3 million tests are taken each year. IELTS is accepted by over 10,000 organisations worldwide, including universities, employers, professional bodies, immigration authorities and other government agencies.
IELTS has two versions: Academic and General Training. IELTS Academic is for people applying for higher education or professional registration in an English-speaking environment. IELTS General Training is for those who want to migrate to an English-speaking country (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK or the USA) or who need to complete a Work Visa application.
IELTS is a paper-based or computer-delivered test consisting of four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The total test time is 2 hours 45 minutes. IELTS is scored on a 9-band scale, with each band corresponding to a certain level of English proficiency. The test is graded objectively, with no pass or fail result. Candidates receive a score from 1 (non-user) to 9 (expert user) for each section.