IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills - listening, reading, writing and speaking - for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication.
Since 1989, IELTS has been proven and trusted worldwide to provide a secure, global, authentic and customer-focused test which measures true to life ability to communicate in English. More than 11,000 education institutions, faculties, government agencies and professional organisations around the world recognise IELTS scores as a trusted and valid indicator of ability to communicate in English.
Over 3.5 million people a year are now using IELTS to open doors throughout the English-speaking world and beyond. The test is taken every year across 140 countries, and is one of the fastest growing English language tests in the world, setting the standard in integrity, research and innovation. More information, plese see Global IELTS official website, takeIELTS website.
IELTS is available in two formats-Academic and General Training. The Academic module and the General Training module are designed for different purposes and thus require different language abilities.
ACADEMIC
GENERAL TRAINING
The Academic IELTS assesses whether a candidate is ready to study or train in the medium of English at an undergraduate or postgraduate level.
Admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses is based on the results of this format. Choose Academic module, if you plan to undertake further or higher education aboard. (for example, Exchange programme)
The General Training IELTS is not designed to test the full range of formal language skills required for academic purposes, but emphasizes basic survival skills in a broad social and educational context.
Training is suitable for candidates who are going to English speaking countries to complete their secondary education, to undertake work experience or training programmes not at degree level, or for immigration purposes.
All candidates must complete four Modules - Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking to obtain an IELTS Test Report Form.
All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Modules. There is a choice between Academic and General Training in the Reading and Writing Modules. Total Test Time: 2 hours 45 minutes.
The actual test taken is the same for both IELTS and IELTS for UKVI, with the same content, examiners, format, level of difficulty, scoring and so on. The only difference between the two is that IELTS for UKVI is administered in a test venue with video recording and CCTV facilities.
The Listening, Reading and Writing components of all IELTS tests are 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 component, however, can be completed up to a week before or after the other tests.