IELTS: An Overview of the Test
One test, two versions, nine bands — explained by Philo and Sophia.
•IELTS, at a glance
IELTS (the International English Language Testing System) is one test for everyone. You don’t choose a level and you can’t pass or fail: you receive a band score from 0 to 9, in half bands, for each of the four skills, and an overall band. Universities, employers and governments then decide which band they require.
PhiloSophia, with Cambridge I choose B1 or B2. With Trinity I choose a grade. With IELTS, what do I choose?
SophiaOnly the version. Everyone sits the same test, and the score tells you your level. A 6.5 opens many university doors; a 7 or more is often needed for doctors or nurses.
SophiaNot exactly. But you can score lower than you need, which feels much the same!
The two versions
IELTS Academic
- For university study, and for professional registration (doctors, nurses, teachers…).
- Reading: academic texts from books, journals and newspapers.
- Writing Task 1: describe a graph, chart, table, process or map.
IELTS General Training
- For work, training, secondary school and immigration (eg Canada, Australia, New Zealand).
- Reading: everyday and workplace texts.
- Writing Task 1: write a letter.
Listening and Speaking are the same in both versions. IELTS for UKVI is the same test taken at approved centres for UK visas; IELTS Life Skills is a separate short speaking-and-listening test at A1, A2 or B1 for some UK visas.
The four papers
Listening
about 30 min · 40 questions
Reading
60 min · 40 questions
Speaking
11–14 min · 3 parts
Listening, Reading and Writing are taken together, on paper or on computer. Speaking is a face-to-face interview with one examiner, sometimes on the same day, sometimes up to a week before or after.
1How the scores work (bands 0–9)
Each paper gets a band. The overall band is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half band (an average of 6.25 becomes 6.5; 6.75 becomes 7).
Band 9 · ExpertFull command of the language: accurate, fluent and fully understood.
Band 8 · Very goodFull command with only occasional, unsystematic mistakes.
Band 7 · GoodOperational command; some inaccuracies, but handles complex language well.
Band 6 · CompetentGenerally effective, despite some mistakes and misunderstandings.
Band 5 · ModestPartial command; copes with overall meaning in most situations.
Band 4 · LimitedBasic competence, limited to familiar situations.
IELTS, Cambridge and Trinity
An approximate guide on the CEFR
B1
IELTS 4.0–5.0 · B1 Preliminary · GESE 5–6
B2
IELTS 5.5–6.5 · B2 First · GESE 7–9
C1
IELTS 7.0–8.0 · C1 Advanced · GESE 10–11
C2
IELTS 8.5–9.0 · C2 Proficiency · GESE 12
2The guides (skill by skill)
Before you book
- Check exactly which version and which band your university, employer or visa requires, and whether there is a minimum band for each skill.
- Results are usually available in a few days on computer and about two weeks on paper, and are normally accepted for two years.
- Practise with real timing: the hardest thing in IELTS is often the clock.
Based on the published IELTS test format. Score conversions are approximate and vary slightly from test to test. Always check ielts.org for the latest information.