Planning to move to a place where English is primarily used but unsure where to start? Well, begin by proving your English proficiency, and to do this, you need to bag the required score or bands in tests like the International English Language Testing System, aka IELTS.
As the exam is conducted in a range of countries and is attended by aspirants belonging to diverse backgrounds, certain facets of it remain oblivious to the applicants.
To decipher the core and peripheral aspects of this exam, here is a detailed explanation of the IELTS meaning and all related dimensions to facilitate the candidates in formulating a strategy.
What is IELTS Exam? What is the IELTS full form?
Let’s get directly into the topic of what is the ielts exam. The IELTS full form stands for International English Language Testing System. The exam is structured and conducted to gauge the proficiency of candidates in the English language.
This 2-hour 45-minute exam has been recognized by more than 10,000 organizations and institutions globally for educational and employment purposes, which makes it a highly pursued exam.
Some prestigious organizations collaborate to design the exam pattern and conduct the tests. These institutions are the British Council, IDP Education, and Cambridge English. The full form of IDP in IELTS stands for “International Development Program.”
To make this exam more inclusive and provide a decent level of equity in opportunity, the sole criterion for taking the exam has been set at to have a minimum age of 16 years. However, there is no upper limit for it, i.e., no maximum age limit for taking the exam.
Despite being a generis exam, several aspirants are not familiar with certain crucial facets of it.
Let’s delve into them and get a thorough understanding of each one of them.
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Types of IELTS Exam
The first perspective in addressing the question “What is the IELTS exam?” is getting a brief about the types of it. The IELTS exam is conducted in 4 manners, all differing in their basic exam patterns and purpose. Here are all 4 of them, corresponding to a brief account.
- IELTS Academic: This exam has been designed for students aiming to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate level education or aspiring for any professional registration, such as doctors.
- IELTS General Training: It has been framed to provide an opportunity for people who want to migrate to selected English-speaking countries or want to study the below degree-level courses.
- IELTS for UKVI: UKVI stands for UK Visa and Immigration. As the name signifies, it is an exam for people to prove their proficiency in the English language to become eligible for a UK visa and immigration application. It helps the applicant secure permission to live, work, or study in the UK. Its exam format is similar to the IELTS Academic and General Training exams.
- IELTS for UKVI Life Skills: It is an offshoot of the IELTS UKVI but differs from it in certain aspects, such as that it only tests speaking and listening skills, and the result is not declared in band scores but provides a dichotomous result of pass or fail.
To get a deeper understanding of it, let’s understand the exam pattern to help the students strategize better.
Tests in the IELTS Exam
As the fundamental aim of the exam is to test the competency of the candidate in the English language, its tests are also formulated in a manner to assess the overall proficiency of the examinee.
For this, the aspirants need to be mindful of the 4 most important tests, i.e., the listening test, the reading test, the writing test, and the speaking test.
- Listening Test: This test is composed of 4 parts with 10 questions each, which are explained below:
| Part 1 | Conversation between 2 speakers on any everyday social situation |
| Part 2 | Voice of only one speaker in everyday social situations |
| Part 3 | 2 people talking over educational or training situations. |
| Part 4 | One person speaking on academic topics. |
The recording may have a different accent, i.e., Australian, British, or American, and the candidate will get to hear the recording only once. After listening to the recording, the student needs to put it on the answer sheet.
| Total time | 30 Minutes |
| Marking Scheme | 1 mark for each correct answer, marking will be either the whole or half pattern, i.e., 7 or 7.5. |
- Reading Test:
This test assesses the candidate’s ability to understand and interpret English text taken from general texts from books, journals, magazines, newspapers, online resources, etc. This text can be in different styles, such as narrative, argumentative, descriptive, etc., and may contain diagrams, graphs, illustrations, etc.
| Number of Sections | 3 |
| Number of Questions | 40 |
| Time Allotted | 60 minutes |
| Marking Scheme | 1 mark is awarded for every correct answer. Marks awarded on whole or halves, such as 4 or 4.5. |
- Writing Test:
It examines the aspirant’s ability to write clearly and effectively in English. This test contains 2 writing tasks which are explained below.
| Tasks | Task 1 | Task 2 |
| Basic Description | Describe some visual information in your own words | Discussing any argument, problem, or point of view. |
| Word limit | 150 words | 250 words |
| Time allotted | 20 minutes | 40 minutes |
The candidates are advised to use full sentences to answer the questions instead of using bullet points or writing in notes form.
| Total time | 60 minutes |
| Marking scheme | Task 2 has double marks than task 1. |
- Speaking Test:
The last test in the sequence is the speaking test, which is an in-person interview between the candidate and examiner. It is composed of 3 sections:
| Section 1 | Introduction and Interview: General conversation over general topics such as family, homework, etc. |
| Section 2 | Individual Long Turn: A task card having a particular topic given on which the candidate needs to speak. 1 minute will be provided for preparing the topic. The point on the card needs to be included. The candidate needs to speak for 2 minutes. |
| Section 3 | Discussion: The topic of section 2 is further used by the interviewer to have a much more general discussion. |
| Total Time Allotted | 11–14 Minutes |
All these tests assess the overall grasp of the candidate of the English language.
To further facilitate the students to ensure equity in opportunity, the exam is conducted in different modes.
Let’s get a brief about them as well.
IELTS Exam Modes — Online and Offline
As per the prevalent estimates, 3.5 million candidates apply for the IELTS exam every year. To cater to the convenience of this massive count, the respective authorities have come up with online and offline exam modes to facilitate applicants to take exams appropriately.
Based on the modes of the exam, IELTS is conducted through the following means:
- Offline Mode: It is the normal exam format i.e., paper-pen mode where all tests, except the speaking test, are conducted offline. The exam is conducted at the pre-designated test center and the examinee has to appear in-person at the exam center and take the test.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Easy for students not familiar with computer operations. | Takes time to assess and release results. |
| No technical glitches. | Logistic challenges. |
| Higher security, no data breach or possibility of cheating. | |
- Online Mode: It is a complete system-based exam with 3 tests of listening, reading, and writing taken on a computer, while the speaking test is conducted in person. It has been devised to simplify the exam pattern and accelerate the process.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Convenience in accessibility. | System hacking or remote access to the system leads to the possibility of cheating. |
| Quick results. | Technical issues. |
| Easy for analyzing big exam data. | |
| Flexibility for students in taking tests. | |
The IELTS online exam is further conducted through two modes, i.e., IELTS online and IELTS computer.
| IELTS Online | IELTS Computer |
| Test type | Academic | Academic, General Training, and UKVI |
| Location of exam | Home or other suitable location | At test center |
| Can all tests be taken on a computer | Yes | Yes |
| Speaking Test | Online, with the interviewer accessing from a remote location. | Can be taken online through the system or offline, i.e., face to face. |
| Requirements | Requires its own system (PC/laptop) with headphones. | System and other equipment provided by the center. |
| Result | In 3–6 days; released in electronic form only. | In 3–5 days; results received in paper and electronic report form. |
| Benefits | Taken anywhere in a private space with a stable internet connection. | – Can attend for academic, general training, and UKVI.
– Test report in paper form at doorsteps. |
These options furnish opportune modes to the students to make the exam more inclusive and bring all candidates on equal footing.
Another ambiguous question in the sequence is what is a good score in the IELTS exam?
Here is the answer.
What is a Good Score in the IELTS Exam?
The band score of IELTS depicts the overall performance of the examinee and also provides insight into their competencies.
Here is a table elucidating the score and respective skill level in the exam.
| IELTS Band Score | Skill Level |
| 9 | Expert |
| 8 | Very good |
| 7 | Good |
| 6 | Competent |
| 5 | Modest |
| 4 | Limited |
| 3 | Extremely limited |
| 2 | Intermittent |
| 1 | Non-User |
| 0 | Exam not attended |
Although there is no fixed score band to fulfill a specific motive, there are certain scores that are considered ideal for specific purposes. To apply for a foreign university, a 7.0 band score is considered good, but aiming to score more is highly advised to the students.
Similarly, a score of 6.5 to 7.0 is favored for professional purposes. However, it may vary owing to different factors, such as the employment policy of the host country and the firm’s qualification standards.
The next step to consider while approaching this exam is how to prepare for it and get through it in minimum time.
Let’s clear this doubt.
How to Prepare for the IELTS Exam?
An impromptu attempt for IELTS will cost a candidate significant time and dedicated effort. To dodge it, one must prudently strategize and prepare for it to score well in their respective exam type.
Here are some valuable tips to facilitate students in their endeavors and help them finetune their approach to preparing for this exam.
- Go Through Basic Book Resources: Certain books have been suggested by the toppers and veterans of the exam which one must not overlook. Some of these books are IELTS Trainer, IELTS Cambridge test books, grammar for IELTS Task 2, Ideas for IELTS essay topics, and the IELTS official practice material such as the official Cambridge guide to IELTS.
- Utilize Free Resources: Beginners can also go with the free resources available on social media such as YouTube channels or IELTS preparation apps. Some highly productive websites also provide commendable study material related to the IELTS exam, such as dictation words for boosting vocabulary.
- Webinar: Some institutions conduct orientation and supportive webinars to aid the students in optimizing their strategy, which can be immensely helpful in calibrating the overall strategy.
- Take Practice Tests: Taking the mock test is highly recommended by the previously selected candidates and veterans of the IELTS exam. This not only facilitates gauging performance but also provides new questions and information that can be added to the notes.
- Seek Guidance From Private Tutors: If aspirants find it hard to cope with the study strategy and rigor of completing the syllabus, a tutor, or a mentor can help in tracing the ideal strategy for approaching the IELTS exam.
- Prepare for Paper or Computer Tests Accordingly: The aspirants need to take the practice test as per the mode of the exam they have selected while applying for the exam, to acclimatize the mind for the exam-like condition.
- Connect With the Community: Social media apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram have certain groups and communities dedicated to IELTS. The discussion forums over various IELTS preparation websites are also a valuable resource to interact with like-minded people.
These tips will help the aspirants draw up a perfect strategy and approach the exam.
The dedication and relentless pursuit of a student will reap productive results, which are next to be discussed.
What is the IELTS Exam Famous for?
This single exam opens the gates for a gamut of opportunities. Out of them, some of them are highly admired and pursued by the aspirants, which are comprehensively explained below.
- Better Educational Scope: Certain prestigious educational institutions have IELTS scores particularly mentioned in their admission criteria, while some others have it as an optional criterion. Some examples of such institutes are Oxford University and Southern Methodist University.
- Exploring New Opportunities: As it is recognized globally, it helps the aspirants explore more dynamic opportunities and derive the most advantage out of it.
- Professional Purposes: Clearing this exam assures overseas employers of the proficiency of the candidate in the English language, thus providing them with an unmatchable edge in the employment domain.
- Provides Convenient Options for Taking Exams: As compared to other prevalent exams with similar intent, the IELTS exam is conducted in different modes, thus ensuring inclusivity.
- Facilitate Visa Issuance: After clearing the IELTS exam with a good score, one stands at the advantage of getting a visa easily, with the least chance of its cancellation.
After taking the IELTS exam, a test report form is released by the respective authority, which remains valid for 2 years. The test report form can be submitted with the visa application to get its benefit.
However, the candidates are required to pay heed to the domestic visa guidelines and IELTS score criteria before applying for it.
How Does the IELTS Exam Differ from Other Similar Tests?
The IELTS exam is not the sole option for people aspiring to claim an ideal opportunity to settle in an English-speaking country. There are other options as well that aid in migrating to other nations for educational and professional purposes. However, they differ from the IELTS exam in various aspects, which are discussed below.
IELTS vs TOEFL
| IELTS | TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) |
| Offline and online modes | Only online mode |
| Interview conducted in person | Recorded videos are accessed |
| Scoring band — 0-9 | Scoring band — 0-120 |
| Widely accepted in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand | Widely accepted in the US |
IELTS vs PTE
| IELTS | PTE (Pearson Test of English) |
| Online and offline exam mode | Only online exam mode |
| Distinct test for speaking and writing skills. | A common test for speaking and writing skills. |
| A grading scale of 0-9 | A grading scale of 10-90 |
IELTS vs DET (Duolingo English Test)
| IELTS | DET (Duolingo English Test) |
| Online or offline mode | Computer-based test (Online mode) |
| Score band — 0-9 | Score band — 10-160 |
| More recognized globally | Less recognized globally |
| Generally longer questions than DET | Shorter questions |
IELTS vs C1 Advanced
| IELTS | C1 Advanced |
| Access general English-level proficiency | Access C1 level English proficiency |
| Score band of 0-9 | Cambridge English score |
| Validity 2 years | No expiry date |
These differences highlight the fact that IELTS stands at an advantage over other options in all perspectives, making it the best way to realize their dream of migrating to a developed country.
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Conclusion
The above-discussed facets are highly instrumental in clarifying the doubt looming over the question “What is the IELTS exam”. Aspirants should utilize these details to frame an exam strategy and approach it to reap the best results in the least possible time.
FAQs
Ans: The candidate must be 16 years or older to appear for the exam, regardless of any other factor.
Ans: No, Stanford University does not require an IELTS score; rather, its eligibility criteria possess a TOEFL score for admission.
Ans: The score band of the IELTS exam is 0-9, where the candidates either get a score in whole numbers or whole with ½ numbers, for example, 6 marks or 6.5 marks.
Ans: As per the known records, about 3.5 million aspirants apply for the exam annually to take any of the 4 types of exam.
