IELTS is the International English Language Testing System.

IELTS conforms to the highest international standards of language assessment. It tests the four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking. IELTS is a secure, valid and reliable test of real-life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation.

Candidates can sit an IELTS test in 500 locations around the world. This global test has the highest levels of quality control.

Find out more in the Test format and results section or download the Guide for Stakeholders (PDF, 598KB)

IELTS is jointly managed by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL) and delivered through more than 500 locations in 120 countries.

University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL) is the world's leading provider of exams for learners of English. Each year the exams are taken by around 1.4 million people, in 135 countries.

British Council connects people worldwide with the learning opportunities and creative ideas from the UK and builds lasting relationships between the UK and other countries. British Council is the UK's international organisation for educational opportunity and cultural relations and is represented in 109 countries worldwide.

IDP: IELTS Australia is one of the world’s leading international education and development organisations offering international student placement, English language training and testing services, and the management of international aid projects on behalf of government sponsors. IDP Education was established in 1969 by Australian universities and has placed more international students into Australian educational institutions than any other organisation.

IDP Education, through its subsidiary IELTS Australia, manages a network of IELTS test centres in more than 30 countries. 

IELTS is at the cutting edge of English language testing. The effectiveness of IELTS has been proven since 1989. IELTS test design has continued to incorporate advances in applied linguistics, language pedagogy, language assessment and technology.

Through decades of progressive change, IELTS has remained committed to assessing all four language skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) with a face-to-face speaking component. This continues to set IELTS apart from other English language tests.

IELTS – a history of innovation
The forerunner to IELTS was the English Language Testing Service (ELTS) introduced in 1980. The test had an innovative format that reflected changes in language learning and teaching theory and developments in language testing. In particular, the ELTS was influenced by the growth in ‘communicative’ language learning and ‘English for specific purposes’. Test tasks were based on an analysis of the ways in which language was used in academic contexts and were intended to reflect the use of language in the ‘real world’.

Ongoing research and development by the British Council and UCLES EFL (now known as Cambridge ESOL) led to a revised testing system and broader international participation with the involvement of the International Development Program of Australian Universities and Colleges (IDP), now known as IDP Education Australia.

IDP, British Council and UCLES formed an international partnership, reflected in the new name for the test: The International English Language Testing System.

IELTS 1989 – 20 years of setting the standard
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) first became operational in 1989. From 1989 IELTS candidates took two non-specialised modules, Listening and Speaking, and two specialised modules, Reading and Writing.

Further modifications to the test were implemented in April 1995. In keeping with this history of innovation, the IELTS partners continue to be committed to the ongoing development of the test. A revised IELTS Speaking Test was introduced in July 2001. New assessment criteria for the Writing Test were operational from January 2005. A computerised version of IELTS was also introduced in 2005 at a number of IELTS centres. Information on all these projects can be found in past issues of the IELTS Annual Review, and in Cambridge ESOL’s quarterly publication – Research Notes.

The current test retains many of the features of the 1980 ELTS including the emphasis on the comprehension of extended text in the receptive papers (Reading and Listening), and the direct testing of performance through a face-to-face Speaking test and the use of the essay and report formats in the Writing test.

Ongoing research and development
International teams of writers contribute to IELTS test materials. Ongoing research ensures that IELTS remains fair and unbiased – wherever and whenever the test is taken – and that IELTS encourages, reflects and respects international diversity and is fair to anyone who sits the test, regardless of nationality, background, gender or lifestyle.

The rigorous processes used to produce the test materials ensure that every version of the test is of a comparable level of difficulty, so that candidates’ results are consistent wherever and whenever they take the test.

These and the other benefits of IELTS today build on our history of English language testing over many decades.

For a more detailed history, click here.

To find out more about the success and operations of IELTS in 2008, download the latest IELTS Annual Review.

• IELTS Annual Review 2008 (PDF, 40KB)

For all the latest news and announcements about IELTS, please visit the Media centre.

IELTS is internationally available, internationally accessible, internationally recognised and internationally focused.

Candidates can sit the test at one of 500 centres in 125 countries. Tests are held on fixed dates throughout the year in the same examination conditions across the world.

The test has four parts – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. It assesses the candidate’s ability to use English in real-life situations. There are two formats – Academic (for university and tertiary education) and General Training.

Tests are marked rigorously and consistently. Results are scored on a unique 9-band system from 1 (Non User) to 9 (Expert). IELTS scores are valid for two years.

For more details on the test, download the Stakeholder Guide (PDF, 598KB)

IELTS provides an analysis of test data for each year. It also has information on how IELTS compares to other tests in the Common European Framework.

For detailed explanations of the separate parts of the test, see the Teachers section. For more information on research undertaken or commissioned by IELTS, see the Researchers section.

The IELTS test has four parts – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Candidates must do all four parts to receive an IELTS result. The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes.

IELTS is available in two test formats: Academic or General Training. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking modules but different Reading and Writing modules. Listening, Reading and Writing must be completed in one day. The Speaking test may be offered on the same day or up to a week before or after the other parts. See below for a diagram of the test format.



For more information, see the Stakeholder Guide (PDF, 598KB)

IELTS is available in two formats – Academic and General Training.

The following definitions are to be used as a general guide only.

Academic – Institutions of Higher and Further Education
The Academic format is, broadly speaking, for those who want to study or train in an English-speaking university or Institutions of Higher and Further Education. Admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses is based on the results of the Academic test.

General Training – for school, work or migration
The General Training format focuses on basic survival skills in broad social and workplace contexts. It is typically for those who are going to English-speaking countries to do secondary education, work experience or training programs. People migrating to Australia, Canada and New Zealand must sit the General Training test.

IELTS has a rigorous, quality-assured system for marking every IELTS test.

Marking is carried out by trained examiners who follow standardised guidelines. The examiners hold relevant teaching qualifications and are certificated by Cambridge ESOL. Each examiner is tested every two years to retain their certification. They are also involved in ongoing training.

The IELTS integrated system of recruitment, training, benchmarking, certification and monitoring for IELTS examiners ensures they are fully qualified, experienced and effective.

For more detailed information, see the Stakeholder Guide (PDF, 598KB) or Score processing, reporting and interpretation.

There is no pass or fail in IELTS. Candidates are graded on their performance, using scores from 1 to 9 for each part of the test – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The results from the four parts then produce an Overall Band Score.

This unique 9-band system measures scores in a consistent manner – wherever and whenever the test is taken. It is internationally recognised and understood, giving you a reliable international currency. IELTS scores are valid for two years.

The IELTS 9-band scale

Each band corresponds to a level of English competence. All parts of the test and the Overall Band Score can be reported in whole and half bands, eg 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0.

Band 9: Expert user: has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.

Band 8: Very good user: has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.

Band 7: Good user: has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.

Band 6: Competent user: has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.

Band 5: Modest user: has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.

Band 4: Limited user: basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.

Band 3: Extremely limited user: conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.

Band 2: Intermittent user: no real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.

Band 1: Non-user: essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.

Band 0: Did not attempt the test: No assessable information provided.

For more information, see the Stakeholder Guide (PDF, 598KB) or IELTS Scores Explained DVD.

IELTS provides a profile of a candidate’s ability to use English.

Candidates receive scores on a Band Score from 1 (Non User) to 9 (Expert User). Candidates receive a score for each test component – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The individual scores are then averaged and rounded to produce an Overall Band Score.

See the IELTS band scores above for an explanation of each band. Also see How do institutions set their IELTS requirements?

IELTS Scores Explained DVD

For an in-depth explanation of IELTS scores, institutions can order the IELTS Scores Explained DVD. It contains:

 information about IELTS

 a detailed description of the content of the test

 sample test materials

 examples of candidates’ Writing and Speaking performance at different band levels.

The DVD will be helpful for organisations that use IELTS, as well as course designers, teachers and anyone who needs to understand how IELTS scores relate to language ability.

Click here to order the IELTS Scores Explained DVD

To help institutions and other organisations better understand and use IELTS results, the IELTS Test Partners hold individual seminars.

If your institution is interested in an IELTS seminar, please fill in the enquiry form. The provision of seminars is dependent on country, location, seminar numbers and IELTS staffing.