International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the most sought after English proficiency test in the world. It assesses all facets of the language- listening, reading, writing and speaking- to test your fluency. This exam is a prerequisite in many academic and professional institutions opening up avenues for myriad higher education and job opportunities.

There are two types of IELTS exam- the General Test and the Academic Test. The General Test is for anyone who is seeking job opportunities in countries such as UK, USA, Australia and Canada, among many others. The Academic Test is for students who wish to go abroad to complete their higher studies.

The IELTS Academic is meant for-.

1. Students who wish to complete their undergraduate or postgraduate level studies in the leading countries of the world.
2. People who want to work in a professional setting in an English speaking country.
3. Individuals who plan to apply for a Tier 4 Student Visa in selected educational institutions in the UK.

The IELTS General is meant for-.

1. If you plan to study in institutions below the undergraduate level.
2. If you need to migrate to an English speaking nation or country.
3. Starting a business or commerce training in an English speaking nation or country.
4. People who want to qualify for a higher level of job in their homeland.

The test is divided into four sections of reading, writing, listening and speaking assignments.

The exam lasts for a total of 2 hours and 45 minutes. The reading and the writing section lasts for 60 minutes each and the listening section is for 30 minutes. These 3 sections of the test are taken together, without a break. the last section of speaking can take anywhere between 11-14 minutes.

The reading, writing and listening assignments are always taken on the same day. Depending on the test centre, the candidate may take the speaking test 7 days before or after the other tasks. The candidates can always take all four assignments on the same day as well.

The IELTS score band ranges from 0-9. Most colleges ask for a score range of 6 to 7.5. This means that your score and range anywhere between 6 to 8 and it would be considered marvelous!

The IELTS examination fee is usually non-refundable. However, suppose a candidate misses the examination due to a real medical condition. In that case, she will have to submit a refund application within five days, along with medical documentation. A 75 % refund will be initiated if the cause is determined to be genuine.

You can request a cancellation or postponement at least five weeks before the test date. The request has to be in person or through email only. In case of postponement, the new test date has to be within three months of the original date.

You can re-take the IELTS test as soon as you wish. We, however, recommend that you re-take the examination only after thorough preparation.

The Listening, Reading and Writing assignments of both IELTS tests are completed on the same day, with no breaks in between them. The speaking test can be taken 7 days before or after the other three components.

If a candidate has appeared for IELTS more than once, they can use the higher score as long as the scores are not more than two years old.

IELTS does not have a ‘pass-mark’ per se. The different accepting organisations and universities set their own requirements as per their individual benchmarks.

There is no eligibility criterion for the IELTS test. Any person wishing to appear for the examination can register. There are, however, a few extra steps a minor booking the test needs to follow.

A candidate can register for IELTS through IDP or British Council by registering on their portals online. Alternatively, a candidate can visit their nearest IELTS test centre and apply in person.

The test report for the paper-based test will be declared within 13 days of taking the test. The computer-delivered test results are announced with 5-7 days. A single test report is generated for each candidate. However, if you are applying to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), or the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA), you can request two reports by submitting the required documentation.

The IELTS application fee varies from country to country. It comes to INR 14,000 for Indian candidates. The IELTS test fee is the same for both variants of the test (Academic and General Training).

A candidate is allowed to take only pens, pencils and erasers inside the examination hall. Proof of national identity is required. No devices, electronic or otherwise are permitted. Non-compliance with the rules will result in disqualification of the candidate.

The IELTS score, like any other language exam, is valid for 2 years. This should cover 4 admission cycles.

The payment for this exam is always through cash. Neither the BC nor IDP will ask for payment through any other means. If you pay through cash or cheque, that will be at your own risk.

If you booked your exam through IDP, then you need to follow the given steps. If you are unhappy with your band score then you can apply for an Enquiry on Results. This needs to be done within 6 weeks of the band declaration.

1. The candidate may choose which modules are to be re-marked.
2. Complete the application form and submit/courier the same, along with the fee of INR 10,500/- (Ten Thousand Five Hundred only) (inclusive of all taxes).
3. The fee must be paid by Demand Draft drawn in favour of “IDP EDUCATION INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED”, payable at New Delhi.
4. This fee will be refunded if the result is changed. A re-mark can take two to four weeks to be processed.

In order for a re-mark (Enquiry on Results) to be processed, the candidate must return their original TRF along with a re-mark (Enquiry on Results) form which is available in the “Downloads” section on their website. Once the re-mark (Enquiry on Results) has been announced, the result is final and no other re-mark (Enquiry on Result) for the same test/s is permitted.

There are two modes in which you can give the exam- paper-based or computer-based. The difference in these two lies in the time required to declare the results and an extra 10 minutes given to write down your listening answers. Apart from this, both these means are the same.

Appearing for this exam and securing a good band, opens up a multitude of opportunities for you. Starting from admission into the top universities of the world, this certificate also allows you to secure jobs in immigration departments, government bodies, multinational companies and professional bodies among much more.

The IELTS speaking test marks you on your comprehension, cohesion, diction and vocabulary. It checks whether you can converse easily and clearly. The guidelines set by British Council or IDP do not take into consideration your accent unless it impedes your pronunciation.