International English Language Testing System
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| Acronym | IELTS |
|---|---|
| Type |
Standardised test. Available in 2 modules: "Academic", "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 English Language Assessment. |
| Knowledge / skills tested | Listening, reading, writing and speaking of the English language. |
| Purpose | To assess the English language proficiency of non-native English speakers. |
| Duration | Listening: 40 minutes (including the 10-minute transfer time), Reading: 60 minutes, Writing: 60 minutes, Speaking: 11–14 minutes. Total: 2 hours, 55 minutes. |
| Score / grade range | 0 to 9, in 0.5 band increments. |
| Score / grade validity | 2 years |
| Offered | Up to 4 times a month. Up to 48 times a year. |
| Countries / regions | More than 1,000 test centres in over 140 countries. |
| Languages | English |
| Annual no. of test takers |
 Over 2.5 million in 2014. |
| Prerequisites / eligibility criteria | No official prerequisite. Intended for non-native English speakers. |
| Fee | To find out the test fee in local currency, use the IELTS Worldwide search to identify a local centre. |
| Scores / grades used by | More than 9,000 education institutions, governments, professional registration bodies and employers worldwide. |
| Website | www |
Standardised test. Available in 2 modules: "Academic", "General training".
The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS /ˈaɪ.ɛlts/, is an international standardised test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. It is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment, and was established in 1989. IELTS is one of the major English-language tests in the world, others being the TOEFL, TOEIC, PTE:A and OPI/OPIc.
IELTS is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian 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 the only Secure English Language Test approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for visa customers applying both outside and inside the UK. It is also a requirement for immigration to Australia and New Zealand. In Canada, IELTS, TEF, or CELPIP are accepted by the immigration authority.
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