IELTS Guide

Everything You Need to Know

What is IELTS?

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the most widely recognised English language test in the world. IELTS is accepted by over 12,500 organisations in more than 140 countries and is developed by some of the world’s leading experts in language assessment. IELTS is important as most universities require English proficiency examination as part of their admissions process.

Why Take the IELTS?

Apply to a university or higher education institution for a course taught in English in any country worldwide.
Spend a short period of studying abroad.
Work in a professional organisation that requires advanced English language proficiency.
Immigrate to an English-speaking country such as Canada, Australia, or New Zealand.

Which IELTS Test is Right for You?

IELTS opens the pathway for you to discover the world, get the job you want, and demonstrate your English language abilities. The test you choose depends on your goal:

IELTS Academic: Designed for those seeking higher education or professional registration.
IELTS General Training: Suitable for work or immigration purposes.

Please check which test you are required to take with the institutions or organisations.

How to Take the IELTS

IELTS can open doors to a world of opportunities:

Higher Education: Study at universities and colleges worldwide.
Work Abroad: Secure professional roles in English-speaking countries.
Immigration: Fulfill language requirements for immigration to countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Test Format and Scoring

Listening: 30 minutes
Reading: 60 minutes
Writing: 60 minutes
Speaking: 11-14 minutes

The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes.

You will be assessed in four skills and receive a band score for each test section. IELTS scores range from 0 to 9 for each skill and your Test Report Form will show an overall score reflecting a summary of the level of your English proficiency.

Preparing for the IELTS

IELTS from British Council provides you with numerous free online preparation resources. Book your exam as soon as possible to have more time to prepare and make the most of these resources.

IELTS Preparation resources

IELTS Ready Premium: 40 practice tests for each skill, timed practice tests, live and recorded lessons, learning plans, response templates, and the “Ask the Teacher” feature for direct expert questions. It is free when you book your test with the British Council.
Practice test simulations to familiarize yourself with the exam format.
Join free webinars to learn more about the test structure and see question types.

Top tips for IELTS

Tips for the IELTS listening test

Skim the questions before listening to the recordings.
If you have any problem hearing the recordings, raise your hand and ask for help.
Listen to the recording attentively and focus more on answers than understanding everything. Remember that the recording is played only once
Take notes on your question paper when listening to the recording
Write within the given word limit for each question
Revise and proofread for spelling and grammar errors before submission
Try to use all capital letters for your answers

Tips for the IELTS reading test

Read all the questions and underline the keywords before reading each text.
Examine every detail of the figures, graphs or images in the question paper to be precise while answering
If you can’t understand a question, don’t waste time on it. Rather move onto the next, you can always come back later to finish this
Don’t waste time writing on question paper. There is a time limit and you will get no extra time to transfer answers later on
Understand the questions carefully and focus on finding answers from the passage
Be precise, grammatically-correct and to-the-point. Proofread before submission

Tips for the IELTS writing test

Divide your time smartly, 20 minutes for task 1, and 40 minutes for task 2 (as it is lengthier and carries more marks)
Try to write over 150 words for task 1 and over 250 for task 2
Avoid repetition of ideas, phrases and words
Ensure that you write a conclusion for task 2
Write precise, relevant answers. Avoid writing long paragraphs and sentences
Make sure your handwriting is neat and tidy
Do not submit without revising and proofreading

Tips for the IELTS speaking test

Listen to the questions carefully before you answer.
Don’t answer the question if you’re unsure about what to answer. You can ask the examiner to repeat or clarify the question for you.
Be confident and relaxed, and do your best.
Speak clearly (slow and fluently)
You can add more information to the answers, ensure your answers remain relevant