Step one

• Find an IELTS test center near you . 

• With over 1,600 IELTS test centers in over 140 countries, there is bound to be one near you.

Step two

• Register for your IELTS test

• You can register and pay online, or you can print, fill out, and submit an application form to your local test center.

• Don't forget to bring a copy of your valid identification with you. On the day of the test, you must produce the same form of identification.

• It is not mandatory to provide the name of the university when scheduling your test.

Step three

• Your IELTS exam has been scheduled. 

• Your test center will provide you written confirmation of the day and time of your test once your application has been approved. However, you can take the Speaking test up to a week before or after the other tests. Your test center offer guidance.

You must be able to demonstrate a high level of English language ability if you want to work, reside, or study in an English-speaking country.

With 379 million speakers globally, English is the world's third most spoken language.

Being able to communicate in the native language of the country you wish to work or study in, has a number of benefits. It's also crucial for getting a job and integrating into the community.

IELTS is the standard test for people who want to move to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom. More than 11,000 employers, universities, schools, and immigration bodies around the world recognise it, including 3,400 in the United States.

Anyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality or religion, can take the IELTS test; however, it is not suggested for those under the age of 16.

As such , the IELTS conducting authorities have not established any minimum eligibility requirement. Anyone who intends to pursue higher education or work in a foreign country can take the IELTS exam (both Academic and General Training). Candidates should, however, thoroughly check the educational institution's or organization's criteria before applying.

There are two modules of the IELTS:

· Academic Module and

· General Training Module

There’s also a separate test offered by the IELTS test partners, called IELTS Life Skills:

• IELTS Academic is aimed at students interested in enrolling in universities and other higher education institutions, as well as professionals such as doctors and nurses who wish to study or practice in an English-speaking nation.

• IELTS General Training is intended for people who want to do non-academic training, obtain work experience, or apply for immigration.

• IELTS Life Skills is designed for those who need to demonstrate their English speaking and listening skills at CEFR level A1 or B1 and can be used to apply for a 'family of a settled Person' visa, indefinite leave to remain, or citizenship in the United Kingdom.

Up to 4 times a month. Up to 48 times a year.

The results will be available in 5–7 days (computer-delivered) and 13 days (paper-based).

IELTS doesn't have a pass/fail system. You are graded on your performance in the test, using scores from 1–9 for each part of the test: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. After that, you'll get an overall score based on the results of the four components. Wherever and whenever the test is taken, the unique 9-band scoring system measures performance in a consistent fashion. It is well-known and well-understood on a global scale.

• Listening

The module is divided into four sections, each with ten questions. It takes 40 minutes to complete: 30 minutes for testing and 10 minutes for transferring the results to an answer sheet.

· Sections 1 and 2 are about Every day, social situations.

· Section 1 has a conversation between two speakers (for example, a conversation about travel arrangements)

· Section 2 has one person speaking (for example, a speech about local facilities).

· Sections 3 and 4 are about educational and training situations

· Section 3 is a conversation between two main speakers (for example, a discussion between two university students, perhaps guided by a tutor)

· Section 4 has one person speaking about an academic subject.

Each segment begins with a brief explanation of the scenario and the speakers to the test taker. After that, they have some time to go over the questions. The questions are arranged in the same sequence as the information in the recording, thus the first question's answer will come before the second question's answer, and so on. A pause in the midst of the first three parts allows test takers to review the remaining questions. Each part is only heard once.

Students are given 10 minutes at the end of the test to transfer their responses to an answer sheet. Test takers will lose marks if their spelling and grammar are improper.

• Reading

The reading paper is divided into three segments, with texts ranging from 2,150 to 2,750 words in length. Multiple-choice and short-answer questions, identifying information, identifying writer's perspectives, labelling diagrams, producing a summary using terms extracted from the text, and matching information/headings/features in the text/sentence ends will be among the question types. Test takers should be cautious while putting down their answers because improper spelling and grammar will result in a loss of marks.

Texts in IELTS Academic

Three reading texts for non-specialist audiences are drawn from books, journals, periodicals, newspapers, and online resources. All of the themes are of general relevance to undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Texts in IELTS General Training

Section 1 consists of two or three short pieces (or multiple shorter texts) dealing with common topics. For example, schedules or notices — anything that a person living in an English-speaking country would need to be aware of.

Section 2 contains two texts, which deal with work.

Section 3 contains one long text regarding a topic of wide interest, such as job descriptions, contracts, and training materials. The text is more descriptive, longer, and sophisticated than the first and second sections. The text will be pulled from a newspaper, magazine, book, or website.

• Writing

There are two activities on the Writing paper that must be completed. Test takers must write at least 150 words in roughly 20 minutes for task 1. Test takers must write at least 250 words in roughly 40 minutes for task 2. If a test taker's answer is too brief or does not relate to the topic, they will be penalized. Complete sentences should be written in the answers (test takers must not use notes or bullet points).

IELTS Academic

Task 1: In their own words, test takers describe a graph, table, chart, map, procedure, pie chart, or diagram.

Task 2: test takers discuss a point of view, argument, or problem. Test takers may be asked to offer a solution to a problem, present and justify an opinion, compare and contrast evidence, viewpoints, and consequences, and evaluate and criticise ideas, evidence, or an argument, depending on the job.

IELTS General Training

Task 1: test takers compose a letter in response to a real-life scenario. For example, writing to an accommodation officer about problems with your accommodation, writing to a new employer about time management issues, or writing to a local newspaper about a plan to construct a local airport are all examples of writing to an accommodation officer.

Task 2: test takers write an essay about a topic of general interest. For instance, whether smoking should be prohibited in public areas, if children's leisure activities should be educational, and how to address environmental issues.

• Speaking

The speaking test consists of a one-on-one conversation between the test taker and the examiner.

The speaking test contains three sections:

Section 1 (4–5 minutes): introduction and interview : Test takers may be asked questions about their home, family, employment, studies, hobbies, interests, reasons for taking the IELTS exam, and other general themes like clothing, spare time, computers, and the Internet.

Section 2: long turn (3–4 minutes). A task card about a specific topic is presented to test takers. Test takers have one minute to prepare to talk about this topic. The task card outlines the topics that should be covered in the talk as well as one facet of the topic that must be explained throughout the talk. After that, test takers are asked to discuss for 1 to 2 minutes about the topic, after which the examiner may ask one or two questions.

Section 3: discussions (4–5 minutes). The third section consists of a discussion between the examiner and the test taker, usually about questions related to the theme that they discussed in Section 2. These questions are normally divided into two sections of four or five questions each.