Information
for Candidates
Introducing IELTS
to test takers

www.ielts.org

The test that
opens doors
around the world
This booklet contains
important information
to help you prepare
for your IELTS test.
IELTS, the International English
Language Testing System, isdesigned to assess the language
ability of people who want tostudy or work where English is
the language of communication.
IELTS is recognised and accepted byover 9,000 organisations worldwide,
including universities, employers,
professional bodies, immigration
authorities and other government
agencies. For a list of organisations
that accept IELTS scores,
visit www.ielts.org/recognition.

Accessible and convenient
IELTS is offered up to four times a month in more than
140 countries. Tests are held on Saturdays and Thursdays.
To find out test dates in your area, please contact yournearest IELTS test centre. A list of all IELTS test locations
worldwide is available at www.ielts.org.
The international test
IELTS is internationally focused in its content. For example,
texts and tasks are sourced from publications from all overthe English-speaking world; a range of native-speaker accents(North American, Australian, New Zealand, British etc.) areused in the Listening test; and all standard varieties of English
are accepted in test takers’ written and spoken responses.
The test that’s tried and trusted
IELTS has been developed by some of the world’s leading
experts in language assessment, and is supported by
an extensive programme of research, validation andtest development.
The level of the test
IELTS is designed to assess English language skills acrossa wide range of levels. There is no such thing as a pass or
fail in IELTS. Results are reported as band scores on a scalefrom 1 (the lowest) to 9 (the highest).
The IELTS band score scale
9

Expert user

8

Very good user

7

Good user

6

Competent user

5

Modest user

4

Limited user

3

Extremely limited user

2

Intermittent user

1

Non user0

Did not attempt the test

IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration
Find out how you can use an IELTS result forthis purpose at www.ielts.org/uk. For more
information on going to or staying in the UK,
visit www.gov.uk.

Preparing for your test

Test format

Make sure you are ready to demonstrate your English
1. Familiarise yourself with the format of the test by reading thisbooklet. If you would like more information about the formatof the test and the question types used, you can find the test
specifications at www.ielts.org/testtakers.

There are two modules to choose from –Academic and General Training.

2. Practice using sample questions from www.ielts.org/samples.
3. Consider doing a practice test. Two volumes of Official IELTS
Practice Materials are available for purchase from test centres
or at www.ielts.org/testtakers. These materials include a fullpractice test with answers, and sample Writing and Speaking
performances with examiner comments.
4. Consider enrolling in a preparation course to improve yourperformance in the test. IELTS test centres and language
schools around the world offer IELTS preparation courses.
More information is available from:www.ielts.org
www.britishcouncil.org/takeielts
www.ieltsessentials.com/preparewww.cambridgeenglish.org/ielts
www.ielts.org/usa
Know the IELTS rules and regulations
It’s important to familiarise yourself with the IELTS rules andregulations. These are laid out in the Notice to Candidates
and Declaration which are included in the application form.
When you sign the application form declaration, or agree tothe terms online, you are confirming that you have read andunderstood the IELTS rules and regulations and agree toabide by them.

IELTS Academic
IELTS Academic is for test takers wishing to study atundergraduate or postgraduate levels, and for thoseseeking professional registration.
IELTS General Training
IELTS General Training is for test takers wishing to migrate to an
English-speaking country (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK),and for those wishing to train or study at below degree level.
Each organisation sets its own entry requirements. In some cases
both Academic or General Training may be accepted. If you arein doubt as to which to take, you should contact the organisation
you are applying to in order to check their requirements.
You are tested on all four language skills – listening, reading,writing and speaking, unless you have an exemption due toa disability (see section on special requirements). Everyone
takes the same Listening and Speaking tests. There aredifferent Reading and Writing tests for IELTS Academic andGeneral Training.
The Listening, Reading and Writing tests must be completed
on the same day. The order in which these tests are taken
may vary. There are no breaks between these three tests.
The Speaking test may be taken up to seven days before
or after the other three tests.

Register as soon as possible
When you feel you are ready to take the test, you need toregister for a test date with an IELTS centre. Contact thecentre as soon as possible, as the number of test takers
who can take the test on a particular date may be limited.
You will need to pay the test fee when you register.
Tell your centre if you have special requirements
In order to ensure that the language ability of all test takers
is assessed fairly and objectively, IELTS provides acomprehensive service for test takers who have special
requirements, including specific learning difficulties, hearing
difficulties and visual difficulties.
If you require a modified version of the test, for example a Large
Print or Braille version, you must give the test centre threemonths’ notice. This notice period is necessary for the modified
test version to be prepared. If your circumstances require special
administrative arrangements to be made, for example if you needextra time or you need to use access technology such as a screen
reader, you must give the test centre six weeks’ notice. Pleasecontact your test centre to discuss your requirements. Any special
arrangements agreed are in accordance with the Joint Council
for Qualifications (JCQ).

Listening

Academic Reading

General Training Reading

Academic Writing

General Training Writing

Speaking

3

The four components of the IELTS test
Listening
TimingApproximately 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes’ transfer time).
Questions
There are 40 questions. A variety of question types are used,chosen from the following: multiple choice, matching, plan/
map/diagram labelling, form completion, note completion,
table completion, flow-chart completion, summary completion,
sentence completion, short-answer questions.
Test Parts
There are 4 sections:
Section
1 is a conversation between two people set
in an everyday social context (e.g. a conversation inan accommodation agency).
Section 2 is a monologue set in an everyday social context(e.g. a speech about local facilities or a talk about thearrangements for meals during a conference).

Section 3 is a conversation between up to four people
set in an educational or training context (e.g. a university
tutor and a student discussing an assignment, or a groupof students planning a research project).
Section 4 is a monologue on an academic subject(e.g. a university lecture).
Each section is heard once only.
A variety of voices and native-speaker accents are used.
Skills assessed
A wide range of listening skills are assessed, including:•u nderstanding of main ideas•u nderstanding of specific factual information• r ecognising opinions, attitudes and purpose of a speaker• following the development of an argument.
Marking
Each correct answer receives 1 mark. Scores outof 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale.
Scores are reported in whole and half bands.

Reading
Timing60 minutes (no extra transfer time).
Questions
There are 40 questions. A variety of question types areused, chosen from the following: multiple choice, identifying
information (True/False/Not Given), identifying a writer’sviews/claims (Yes/No/Not Given), matching information,
matching headings, matching features, matching sentence
endings, sentence completion, summary completion,note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion,
diagram label completion, short-answer questions.
Test Parts
There are 3 sections. The total text length is 2,150-2,750 words.
Academic Reading
Each section contains one long text. Texts are authentic andare taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers.
They have been written for a non-specialist audience and areon academic topics of general interest. Texts are appropriate
to, and accessible to, test takers entering undergraduate or
postgraduate courses or seeking professional registration.
Texts range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive
and analytical. Texts may contain non-verbal materials suchas diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If texts contain technicalterms, then a simple glossary is provided.

General Training Reading
Section 1 contains two or three short factual texts, one of which
may be composite (consisting of 6-8 short texts related by topic,
e.g. hotel advertisements). Topics are relevant to everyday life
in an English-speaking country.
Section 2 contains two short factual texts focusing on workrelated issues (e.g. applying for jobs, company policies, pay andconditions, workplace facilities, staff development and training).
Section 3 contains one longer, more complex text on a topic
of general interest.
Texts are authentic and are taken from notices, advertisements,
company handbooks, official documents, books, magazinesand newspapers.
Skills assessed
A wide range of reading skills are assessed, including:• r eading for gist• r eading for main ideas• reading for detail•u nderstanding inferences and implied meaning• r ecognising writer’s opinions, attitudes and purpose• following the development of an argument.
Marking
Each correct answer receives 1 mark. Scores outof 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale.
Scores are reported in whole and half bands.

For test specifications visit www.ielts.org/testtakers
For marking information visit www.ielts.org/criteria
For sample questions visit www.ielts.org/samples

IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration
Find out how you can use an IELTS result for this purposeat www.ielts.org/uk. For more information on going to or
staying in the UK, visit www.gov.uk.

Writing
Timing60 minutes
Tasks
There are 2 tasks. You are required to write at least
150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2.
Test Parts
There are 2 parts.
Academic Writing
In Task 1, you are presented with a graph, table, chart ordiagram and are asked to describe, summarise or explain
the information in your own words. You may be asked todescribe and explain data, describe the stages of a process,how something works or describe an object or event.
In Task 2, you are asked to write an essay in response
to a point of view, argument or problem.
The issues raised are of general interest to, suitable forand easily understood by test takers entering undergraduate
or postgraduate studies or seeking professional registration.
Responses to Task 1 and Task 2 should be written
in an academic, semi-formal/neutral style.
General Training Writing
In Task 1, you are presented with a situation and are asked towrite a letter requesting information or explaining the situation.
The letter may be personal or semi-formal/neutral in style.
In Task 2, you are asked to write an essay in response to apoint of view, argument or problem. The essay can be slightly
more personal in style than the Academic Writing Task 2 essay.
Topics are of general interest.

Skills assessed
In both tasks, you are assessed on your ability towrite a response which is appropriate in terms of:• c ontent• the organisation of ideas• the accuracy and range of vocabulary and grammar.
Academic Writing
In Task 1, depending on the task type, you are assessed on yourability to organise, present and possibly compare data; to describe
the stages of a process or procedure; to describe an object orevent or sequence of events; to explain how something works.
In Task 2, depending on the task type, you are assessed onyour ability to present a solution to a problem; to present andjustify an opinion; to compare and contrast evidence, opinions
and implications; to evaluate and challenge ideas, evidenceor an argument.
General Training Writing
In Task 1, depending on the task type, you are assessed on yourability to engage in personal correspondence in order to: elicit
and provide general factual information; express needs, wants,
likes and dislikes; express opinions (views, complaints etc.).
In Task 2, you are assessed on your ability to provide general
factual information; to outline a problem and present a solution;
to present and possibly justify an opinion; to evaluate andchallenge ideas, evidence or an argument.
Marking
You are assessed on your performance on each task
by certificated IELTS examiners according to the IELTS
Writing test assessment criteria (Task Achievement/Response,
Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, GrammaticalRange and Accuracy). The public version of the assessment
criteria can be found at www.ielts.org/criteria.
Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score.
Scores are reported in whole and half bands.

Speaking
Timing
11-14 minutes
Test Parts
There are 3 parts.
Part 1 Introduction and interview (4-5 minutes)
The examiner introduces him/herself and asks you to introduce
yourself and confirm your identity. The examiner asks you
general questions on familiar topics, e.g. home, family, work,
studies and interests.
Part 2 Individual long turn (3-4 minutes)
The examiner gives you a task card which asks you to talk abouta particular topic and which includes points you can cover in yourtalk. You are given 1 minute to prepare your talk, and are givena pencil and paper to make notes. You talk for 1-2 minutes on
the topic. The examiner may then ask you one or two questions
on the same topic.

Part 3 Two-way discussion (4-5 minutes)
The examiner asks further questions which are connectedto the topic of Part 2. These questions give you an opportunity
to discuss more abstract issues and ideas.
Skills assessed
A wide range of speaking skills are assessed, including:• t he ability to communicate opinions and information
on everyday topics and common experiences andsituations by answering a range of questions• t he ability to speak at length on a given topic using
appropriate language and organising ideas coherently• the ability to express and justify opinions and to analyse,
discuss and speculate about issues.
Marking
You are assessed on your performance throughout thetest by certificated IELTS examiners according to the IELTS
Speaking test assessment criteria (Fluency and Coherence,
Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy,
Pronunciation). The public version of the assessment criteria
can be found at www.ielts.org/criteria.
Scores are reported in whole and half bands.

5Test tips
Listening• Each recording in the Listening test is heard once only.
• You will be given time to read through the questions before
you listen.
• As you listen, write your answers on the question paper.
At the end of the test, you will have 10 minutes to transfer
your answers to the answer sheet. It is essential that you
transfer your answers to the answer sheet as nothing you
write on the question paper will be marked.
• You must write your answers in pencil.
• An example of a completed Listening answer sheet
is given on the next page.
• ‘Completion’ question types (e.g. note completion):– Pay attention to the word limit. For example, if you are
asked to complete a sentence using NO MORE THAN
TWO WORDS, and the correct answer is ‘leather coat’,
the answer ‘coat made of leather’ would be incorrect.
– Transfer only the missing word(s) to the answer sheet.
For example, if you have to complete the note ‘in the … ’,and the correct answer is ‘morning’, the answer ‘in the morning’
would be incorrect.
– You will hear the word(s) you need to use in the recording.
You will not need to change the form of the word(s) you hear.
– Pay attention to spelling and grammar: you will lose
marks for mistakes.
– You may write your answers in lower case or in capitals.

Reading• You may write your answers directly on the answer sheetor you may write them on the question paper and transfer
them to the answer sheet before the end of the test. You will
not be given extra time to transfer answers at the end of thetest. Nothing you write on the question paper will be marked.
• You must write your answers in pencil.
• An example of a completed Reading answer sheet is givenon the next page.
• ‘Completion’ question types (e.g. note completion):– The same rules apply to ‘completion’ question types
as in Listening (see above).
–The word(s) you use must be taken from the Reading text.
You will not need to change the form of the word(s) in the text.
Writing• You may write your answers in pencil or pen.
• Pay attention to the number of words required for eachtask. You will lose marks if you do not write at least
150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2.
• You should spend approximately 20 minutes on Task 1
and approximately 40 minutes on Task 2.
• You must write your answers in full; answers written
in note form or in bullet points will lose marks.
• Pay attention to spelling, grammar and punctuation;
you will lose marks for mistakes.
• You may write your answers entirely in capitals if you wish.
• You may make notes on the question paper but nothing you
write on the question paper will be marked.

Test results
The Test Report Form
You will receive a Test Report Form which reports a score foreach of the four skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking),
as well as an overall band score. Half band scores may beawarded to indicate a strong performance within a particular
band. You can find more information on score processing
and score interpretation at www.ielts.org/criteria.
Results are available 13 calendar days after the test. At sometest centres test takers may collect their results on the 13th day;at others, results are mailed on the 13th day. Test centres are
not permitted to give results over the phone or by fax or email.
You will receive
only one copy of the
Test Report Form.
It’s important thatyou keep it safe
as replacement
Test Report Forms
cannot be issued.
Test centres will
send copies ofyour Test Report
Form to up to fiveorganisations freeof charge.

6

Preview your results online
You can preview your results online 13 calendar days after
the test. Results remain online for 28 days. Please note thatthe online preview of results should not be used as an official
confirmation of your performance.
Results validity period
Organisations will not usually accept a Test Report Form thatis more than two years old unless you provide evidence thatyou have actively maintained or tried to improve your English
since taking the test. The IELTS Test Partners cannot confirm
the validity of test results that are more than two years old.

Re-taking IELTS
There are no restrictions on re-taking IELTS. You can register
for a test as soon as you feel you are ready to do so. Please
note that your score is unlikely to increase unless you makea significant effort to improve your English before re-taking thetest. More information is available from www.ielts.org/resitting.

Enquiries on results
If you are unhappy with your test result, you can apply for a
re-mark (Enquiry on Results) at the centre where you took
the test. You must make the application no later than six weeks
after the test date. You can choose which test components
are re-marked. There is a fee for this service which will be
refunded if your score on any component is increased.
Enquiries on Results take six to eight weeks to complete.
IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration
Find out how you can use an IELTS result for this purposeat www.ielts.org/uk. For more information on going to or
staying in the UK, visit www.gov.uk.

Do not write
anything in the✓/✗ columns

If you want
to change ananswer, erase
or cross out theoriginal answer
and write in the
new answer

Write youranswers inthe boxes

Shade the boxes
to indicate thetest date

Write your namein capital letters

Write your candidate number in the boxes
indicated and shade the corresponding boxes

Pencil must be used to complete the answer sheet

Shade a box toindicate which version
you are taking

Shade a box toindicate your gender

Write yourcandidate number

Write your namein capital letters

Write your language code in the boxes indicated andshade the corresponding boxes. (Your language
code will be written on your desk label)Completing the Listening/Reading answer sheets

7

IELTS five steps to success1

Enquiry

4

Contact details for all IELTS test centres worldwide
can be found at www.ielts.org, where you can also
download the application form.

2

Your identity will be checked on the day of the test
and before the Speaking test. You must present thesame identity document that you used when you
registered for the test. Your photograph will be taken
as an additional security measure, and it will appear
on your IELTS Test Report Form. In addition a finger
scan may be taken.

Registration
Read through all the information you receive withthe application form carefully. Complete the paper
application form or online registration and submit it
to your nearest test centre. You will need to enclose
the test fee or make the payment online.
Make sure you enter the number of your identity
document (your passport or national identity card)
and attach a clear colour photocopy or scanned
copy of your identity document to the application
form. The identity document must be valid at thetime of registration and the same ID document
must be presented on the day of the test.

3

Confirmation

Test day

5

Results
Results will be available 13 calendar days after the
test. At some test centres test takers can collect theirresults on the 13th day. At other test centres results
are mailed to test takers on the 13th day. Test centres
are not permitted to give results out over the phoneor by scan or email.
Preview of your results is available online 13 calendar
days after the test. Results will remain online for28 days. Please note that the online preview of yourresults should not be used as an official confirmationof your performance.

The test centre will give you written confirmation of
the date and time of the test. Your Speaking test time
will be scheduled on the same day as the written tests
or on a different day within a 7-day window before
or after the written tests. The test centre will confirm
your Speaking test time.

Find out more at www.ielts.org
Join the conversation atwww.facebook.com/IELTSofficial
Watch our videos at
www.youtube.com/IELTSofficial

IELTS for UK, Australian, Canadian and
New Zealand visas and immigration
Find out how you can use an IELTS result
for these purposes at:
www.ielts.org/uk
www.ielts.org/australia
www.ielts.org/canada
www.ielts.org/nz

Your privacy
The IELTS Test Partners recognise and support the right of genuine IELTS test candidates to privacy.
For more information visit www.ielts.org/privacy.
British Council
Bridgewater House58 Whitworth Street
Manchester, M1 6BB
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 161 957 7755
ielts@britishcouncil.org

IDP: IELTS Australia
Level 8, 535 Bourke St
Melbourne VIC 3000
Australia
Tel: +61 3 9612 4400
ielts@idp.com

Cambridge English
Language Assessment
1 Hills Road
Cambridge, CB1 2EU
United Kingdom
www.cambridgeenglish.org/
helpdesk

IELTS USA825 Colorado Boulevard
Suite 221
Los Angeles, CA 90041
USA
Tel: +1 323 255 2771
ielts@ieltsusa.org

IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment. The IELTS test is designed and set by the world’s leading experts in language assessment
to give a true picture of a test taker’s language skills. IELTS Bands 4-9 (NQF levels Entry 3 to Level 3) are accredited by Ofqual, England’s Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation.