exams.sec.overview
Applicants to English-taught programmes and, for some countries, student-visa applicants. Check whether your target programme and visa route need IELTS Academic, IELTS for UKVI, or another variant.
exams.accepted: Accepted by very many universities worldwide; some visa routes require a specific, officially approved version. Always confirm with the university and the immigration authority.
exams.sec.format
Listening
Four recorded sections with questions of different types.
Reading
Three long academic-style texts with a range of question types.
Writing
Two tasks: describing visual information and writing an argumentative essay.
Speaking
A face-to-face interview with an examiner in three parts.
exams.scoring
Each skill and the overall result are reported on a 0–9 band scale (half bands allowed). Universities usually set an overall minimum and sometimes a minimum per skill.
exams.sec.prep
- Take an official practice test first to see your starting level.
- Practise Writing Task 2 with a clear structure and get feedback.
- Listen to varied accents and practise note-taking.
- Practise speaking aloud for 2 minutes on a topic without notes.
exams.sec.testday
- Bring the same ID you used to register.
- Arrive early; Speaking may be on a different time or day than the other parts.
- Follow the centre's rules about phones and personal items.
exams.sec.faq
exams.disclaimer