What is IELTS?
Quick answer
IELTS, the International English Language Testing System, is an English test for study, work and migration, jointly owned by the British Council, IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. It tests Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking in 2 hours and 45 minutes, and reports each section and an overall score on a nine-band scale.
Practise what this page describes in the app: Speaking and Writing marked on the four official criteria as a band range, Reading and Listening tests marked the moment you finish.
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Part of The IELTS test, answered
IELTS.org describes the test as trusted by governments, employers and thousands of universities around the world. It was first launched in 1980 as ELTS, according to IELTS.org, and is jointly owned by three organisations: the British Council, IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
The tests you can book
IELTS.org lists these versions:
- IELTS Academic assesses whether you are ready to begin studying in English. It is the test for undergraduate and postgraduate study and for professional registration.
- IELTS General Training assesses the everyday English you need in social situations and at work. It is the usual test for work and migration.
- IELTS for UKVI is the version UK Visas and Immigration accepts as proof of English for a UK visa.
- IELTS for UKVI Life Skills is a Secure English Language Test that assesses only speaking and listening.
In both Academic and General Training, IELTS.org states that the Listening and Speaking sections are the same. Reading and Writing differ. The difference between Academic and General Training has the detail.
The four sections
| Section | Time allowed |
|---|---|
| Listening | approximately 30 minutes |
| Reading | 60 minutes |
| Writing | 60 minutes |
| Speaking | 11 to 14 minutes |
The whole test takes 2 hours and 45 minutes, and the format is the same wherever it is taken. Speaking is a face-to-face conversation with an examiner in three parts. It is usually on the same day as the other three sections, and at some centres up to seven days before or after (when the Speaking test is).
How IELTS is scored
Each section gets a band from 1 to 9, reported as a whole or half band. Listening and Reading have 40 questions each, one mark per correct answer, converted to a band. Writing and Speaking are marked by examiners against four criteria. The overall band is the average of the four section bands, rounded to the nearest half band (how the overall score is calculated). There is no pass mark: each organisation sets the band it accepts.
On computer, on paper and online
At most test centres you take Listening, Reading and Writing on a computer. Paper-based IELTS is being withdrawn from mid-2026, market by market (IELTS.org, 5 March 2026). IELTS Online is the Academic test taken at home, and it is not accepted for immigration or professional registration. Results for IELTS on computer come in about one to five days (when IELTS results come out), and IELTS recommends treating a result as valid for two years.
How to start
Check which test and which band your university, employer or visa needs, then book at an official centre (how to register for IELTS). Sit one full practice test before you book a date, so the 2 hours and 45 minutes and the three-part Speaking test are familiar when they count.
What this means for your score
A student applying to a university abroad usually needs IELTS Academic and a minimum overall band set by the university, often with a minimum for each section too. Someone moving to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the UK for work is more often asked for General Training. The requirement comes from the organisation, so check its own page before you book.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a pass or fail in IELTS?
No. IELTS reports a band for each section and an overall band, and there is no pass mark. Each university, employer or immigration authority sets the band it needs, so the same result can be enough for one application and short for another. Look up the requirement of the organisation you are applying to before you choose your target.
Which IELTS test should I take, Academic or General Training?
IELTS.org says Academic is for study at undergraduate or postgraduate level and for professional registration, such as doctors and nurses. General Training assesses the everyday English needed in social and workplace situations, and is the usual choice for work and migration. When an organisation names the test it accepts, that decides it.
How long does the IELTS test take?
IELTS.org gives 2 hours and 45 minutes in all. Listening takes approximately 30 minutes, Reading 60 minutes and Writing 60 minutes, and the Speaking test lasts 11 to 14 minutes. Speaking is usually on the same day as the other three sections, and at some centres up to seven days before or after.
Is IELTS Online accepted everywhere?
No. IELTS Online is the Academic test taken at home, and IELTS.org states it is not accepted by governments and organisations for immigration or professional registration. For a visa or a professional licence, book IELTS at a test centre (on computer, or on paper where it is still offered), or the UKVI version when UK Visas and Immigration asks for it.
Sources
- About IELTS — IELTS.org
- IELTS test types — IELTS.org
- IELTS Academic test — IELTS.org
Last verified 5 Nov 2026
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