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IELTS (International English Language Testing System) tests Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking and is accepted by universities and visa authorities in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the USA and Europe. In India it is delivered by IDP, on computer or paper.
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At a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | IDP and British Council / Cambridge (delivered by IDP in India) |
| Test types | IELTS Academic, General Training, IELTS for UKVI |
| Duration | About 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Score scale | Band 0–9 in half bands, for each skill and overall |
| Fee in India | Around ₹18,000 (check IDP India for the current fee) |
| Results | 1–2 days (computer), about 13 days (paper) |
| Validity | 2 years (recommended by IELTS partners) |
| Retakes | Unlimited full retakes; One Skill Retake on computer-delivered tests |
IELTS Academic is the version required for undergraduate and postgraduate admissions. IELTS General Training is mainly used for migration and work.
IELTS for UKVI is the same test taken at UKVI-approved centres, needed for some UK visa routes (for example, courses below degree level). Most UK universities accept regular IELTS Academic for degree-level study.
Exam pattern
| Section | Duration | Questions / tasks | What it tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 30 minutes | 4 parts, 40 questions | Understanding conversations and academic talks, heard once |
| Reading (Academic) | 60 minutes | 3 passages, 40 questions | Skimming, detail, opinions and argument in long texts |
| Writing (Academic) | 60 minutes | Task 1 (150+ words), Task 2 (250+ words) | Describing data and writing an argumentative essay |
| Speaking | 11–14 minutes | 3 parts, face-to-face | Fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation |
Section by section
Four recordings: an everyday conversation, an everyday monologue, an academic discussion and a lecture. Question types include form completion, multiple choice, matching and map labelling.
Tips
Three long academic passages from books, journals and newspapers. Question types include True/False/Not Given, matching headings, sentence completion and multiple choice.
Tips
Task 1 asks you to summarise a chart, table, process or map in 150+ words. Task 2 is a 250+ word essay giving your opinion or discussing a problem. Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1.
Tips
Part 1 is a short interview on familiar topics; Part 2 is a 1–2 minute talk on a cue card after 1 minute of preparation; Part 3 is a deeper discussion linked to Part 2.
Tips
Scores
Each skill gets a band from 0 to 9. The overall band is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half band.
| Band | User level |
|---|---|
| 9 | Expert user |
| 8 | Very good user |
| 7 | Good user |
| 6 | Competent user |
| 5 | Modest user |
| 4 | Limited user |
| 3 and below | Extremely limited / intermittent / non-user |
Typical requirements for Indian students. Always check your exact program — some need higher section scores.
| Destination / program | Typical requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| USA (master's) | 6.5 – 7.0 overall | Top programs 7.0–7.5 |
| UK (master's) | 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0 | Russell Group often 7.0 |
| Canada | 6.0 – 6.5 (college), 6.5 (university) | PGWP also needs CLB 5/7 |
| Australia | 6.0 minimum for the visa | Universities usually 6.5 |
| Germany / Europe | 6.5 overall | English-taught programs |
| Ireland | 6.5 overall | No band below 6.0 |
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Booking
IELTS Academic for admissions; IELTS for UKVI only if your UK route requires it.
Computer-delivered tests give faster results and allow One Skill Retake.
Select a city, date and slot, and pay online.
Use the same passport on test day that you used to book.
Study plan
List the minimum overall and section scores for every university and the visa. Your target is the highest of these, plus a small buffer.
Sit a full timed practice test to find your starting level and weakest sections.
Plan 6–10 weeks of practice that covers every section, with more time for your weakest skill.
Do full mock tests in exam conditions at least once a week in the final month.
Keep an error log — question type, why you got it wrong and the fix — and revisit it weekly.
Book your test early enough to retake once before your earliest application or visa deadline.
Avoid these
Booking General Training or UKVI when your university wants IELTS Academic.
Preparing without knowing the section minimums your universities require.
Writing is usually the lowest band for Indian students — it needs structured practice and feedback.
Rehearsed answers sound unnatural and can lower your score.
Leaving no time for a retake before deadlines.
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FAQs
IELTS Academic, unless your university or a specific UK visa route asks for IELTS for UKVI.
About 2 hours 45 minutes. Speaking may be on the same day or within a few days.
6.5 overall with no band below 6.0 meets most master's requirements; top universities often ask for 7.0–7.5.
Around ₹18,000 for IELTS Academic or General Training. Check IDP India for the current fee and any UKVI surcharge.
Two years from the test date, as recommended by IELTS. Some institutions may set their own policy.
Yes, with One Skill Retake for computer-delivered IELTS, within a limited window after the original test. Not all institutions accept it, so check first.
Not harder, just different. IELTS has a human examiner for Speaking and handwritten/typed essays; PTE is fully computer-scored; Duolingo is shorter and adaptive.
There is no single English test requirement for the study permit itself, but most institutions require one, and the PGWP later needs approved language test results.
IELTS Online is available in some regions for some purposes, but most Indian students take the test at an IDP centre.
Yes. We set your target score based on your shortlist, plan your test date around deadlines and connect it with your applications and visa.
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