IELTS

Overview

The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, is one of the largest English Proficiency Tests available worldwide. It is designed to evaluate the language proficiency of individuals who want to pursue their education, work, or migrate to nations that use English as their primary language. The test consists of four sections, listening, reading, writing and speaking, all of which measure the candidate’s ability to communicate effectively in the English language. Each section looks at a specific area of the candidate’s language proficiency.

There are two primary versions of the IELTS, IELTS Academic, which is for people who want to apply for higher education or register with a professional body, and IELTS General Training, for people who wish to migrate to countries, such as the UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, for example, or apply for secondary education or work experience. Both forms assess the candidate’s English proficiency at varying degrees of formality and for different types of context.

The IELTS test employs a 9-band scoring system where Band 1 indicates that the test taker has no ability in English. The highest band is Band 9 that indicates an expert-user of the English language. IELTS provides a consistent standard of interpretation for language capabilities used by educational institutions and employers. There are two means of taking the test (i.e., via computer or on paper) with the Speaking section requiring a face-to-face interview with an accredited examiner to evaluate how well a candidate can communicate in a day-to-day situation. IELTS is internationally recognized, with over 11,000 organizations throughout the world recognizing the test as a means to assess an individual’s potential to use English effectively and successfully in an international workplace or educational environment.