IELTS Exam

The International English Language Testing System exam or more commonly referred to as IELTS exam is a standardized English exam especially relevant for non-native English speakers seeking academic or professional opportunities in foreign countries. The IELTS exam is managed jointly by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English and was established in 1989.

IELTS Exam categories

IELTS exam is designed in a way to assess an individual’s abilities in listening, reading, writing and speaking. The exam is further categorised into IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training

IELTS Academic: This exam caters to those who wish to enrol in educational institutes and for professionals such as medical doctors and nurses.

IELTS General Training: This exam caters to people planning to undertake non-academic training or pursue work opportunities or immigration purposes.

IELTS Exam format

IELTS exam is divided into four parts covering Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking skill set of the person appearing for the same. This comprehensive nature of the IELTS exam has made it the preferred choice for most of the academic and non-academic institutions around the world. To highlight the acceptance of the IELTS exam more than 3 million tests were taken in over 140 countries in 2017. It is this wide coverage that gives IELTS exam an edge over all the other standardized test in the market. Further IELTS exam can be taken in paper based format or computer based format.

Paper-based IELTS Exam: This test requires test takers to sit at a desk with the question papers and answer sheets for the Reading, Listening and Writing tests in an official IELTS test centre. Test takers will write their answers in either pen or HB-pencils. The Speaking test is carried out face-to-face with a trained IELTS examiner

Computer-based IELTS Exam: This test requires test takers to sit the Reading, Listening and Writing tests in front of a computer with the questions presented on the screen in an official IELTS test centre. The test takers then submit their answers through the use of a keyboard and a mouse. The Speaking test is not on computer and is carried out face-to-face with a trained IELTS examiner.

IELTS exam sections

IELTS exam as mentioned above is divided into 4 sections. Total test time is 2 hours 45 minutes. Listening, Reading and Writing sections of all IELTS exam are completed on the same day, with no breaks in between them. The Speaking section, however, can be completed up to a week before or after the other tests as advisable by the Test Center. Time given for each section on IELTS exam is listed below:

Reading: 60 minutes

Writing: 60 minutes

Listening: 30 minutes

Speaking: 11-15 minutes

IELTS  exam results

Often a lot of people undertaking IELTS exam have questions regarding how to read the test scores and what does a good score actually mean. While good score would generally depend on institutions the below write-up allows to answer some question around IELTS exam results.

IELTS exam reports its score on a 9-band scale with each section’s score reported differently on the same scale and then an average score based on 4 sections score.

The IELTS exam result scale is given below:

Band score	Skill level	Description
9	Expert used	The test taker has fully operational command of the language. Their use of English is appropriate, accurate and fluent, and shows complete understanding.
8	Very good user	The test taker has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriate usage. They may misunderstand some things in unfamiliar situations. They handle complex and detailed argumentation well.
7	Good user	The test taker has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings in some situations. They generally handle complex language well and understand detailed reasoning.
6	Competent user	The test taker has an effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings. They can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
5	Modest user	The test taker has a partial command of the language and copes with overall meaning in most situations, although they are likely to make many mistakes. They should be able to handle basic communication in their own field.
4	Limited user	The test taker’s basic competence is limited to familiar situations. They frequently show problems in understanding and expression. They are not able to use complex language.
3	Extremely limited user	The test taker conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. There are frequent breakdowns in communication.
2	Intermittent user	The test taker has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
1	Non-user	The test taker has no ability to use the language except a few isolated words.
0	Did not attempt the test	The test taker did not answer the questions.

All the sections are marked in half band increments and if the average of 4 sections ends in .25, the Overall Band Score is rounded up to the next half band, and if it ends in .75, the Overall Band Score is rounded up to the next whole band.

The IELTS exam result is generally valid for 2 years. There used to be a minimum time limit of 90 days before which a person was not allowed to retake the test. This restriction has been withdrawn and currently there is no limit for applicants to retake the test in case applicant is not satisfied with the score.

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