International English Language Testing System
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS /ˈaɪ.ɛlts/) is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. It is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge English, and was established in 1989. IELTS is one of the major English-language tests in the world. The IELTS test has two modules: Academic and General Training. IELTS One Skill Retake was introduced in 2023, which allows a test taker to retake any one section (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) of the test.
| Acronym | IELTS |
|---|---|
| Type | Standardised test (either computer-delivered or paper-based). Available in 2 modules: "Academic" and "General Training". The IELTS test partners also offer IELTS Life Skills, a speaking and listening test used for UK Visas and Immigration. |
| Developer / administrator | British Council, IDP Education, Cambridge Assessment English. |
| Knowledge / skills tested | Listening, reading, writing, and speaking of the English language. |
| Purpose | To assess the English language proficiency of non-native English speakers. |
| Year started | 1980 |
| Duration | Listening: 40 minutes (including 10-minute transfer time in paper-based test), Reading: 60 minutes, Writing: 60 minutes, Speaking: 10- 15 minutes. Total: (2 hours 45 minutes till 3 hour. |
| Score / grade range | 0 to 9, in 0.5 band increments. |
| Score / grade validity | 24 Months |
| Offered | Up to 4 times a month. Up to 48 times a year. |
| Countries / regions | More than 4,000 test centres in over 140 countries |
| Languages | English |
| Annual number of test takers | Over 3.5 million in 2018 |
| Prerequisites / eligibility criteria | No official prerequisite. Intended for non-native English speakers. |
| Fee | Around 250 USD |
| Scores / grades used by | More than 12,000 colleges, agencies and other institutions in over 140 countries |
| Website | ielts |
IELTS is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian, European, Irish and New Zealand academic institutions, by over 3,000 academic institutions in the United States, and by various professional organisations across the world.
IELTS is approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as a Secure English Language Test for visa applicants both outside and inside the UK. It also meets requirements for immigration to Australia, where Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Pearson Test of English Academic are also accepted, and New Zealand. In Canada, IELTS, TEF, or CELPIP are accepted by the immigration authority.
No minimum score is required to pass the test. An IELTS result or Test Report Form is issued to all test takers with a score from "band 1" ("non-user") to "band 9" ("expert user") and each institution sets a different threshold. There is also a "band 0" score for those who did not attempt the test. Institutions are advised not to consider a report older than two years to be valid, unless the user proves that they have worked to maintain their level.
In 2017, over 3 million tests were taken in more than 140 countries, up from 2 million tests in 2012, 1.7 million tests in 2011 and 1.4 million tests in 2009. In 2007, IELTS administered more than one million tests in a single 12-month period for the first time ever, making it the world's most popular English language test for higher education and immigration.
In 2019, over 508,000 international students came to study in the UK, making it the world's most popular UK ELT destination. Over half (54%) of those students were under 18 years old.