What is IELTS Exam? Purpose, Types, Eligibility, Test Pattern

What is IELTS Exam?: The IELTS full form is the International English Language Testing System. The IELTS is an internationally recognised English language proficiency test that assesses the English language knowledge and skills of candidates who wish to study, work, or migrate abroad. Whether you are planning to pursue higher education, exploring work opportunities, or simply migrating to abroad countries, IELTS is a mandatory requirement for for proving your English language proficiency. 

The IELTS test has four major components: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The duration of the test is 2 hours and 45 minutes. The exam is conducted by the IDP in more than 140 countries with over 4,000 test locations all over the world. As per the latest reports, IELTS exam is accepted by over 12,500 organizations in 140 countries worldwide, including universities, colleges, businesses, and government agencies. Here, we will discuss all the details of IELTS test, its structure, format, eligibility criteria, and more. 

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What is IELTS Exam?

The IELTS exam is a standardized test accepted by popular universities in USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and 140+ more. IELTS has major two formats: IELTS Computer-delivered test and a Paper-based exam. The IELTS exam fees have been increased by INR 1,000. Currently, the IELTS exam fees 2025 is INR 18,000 for Indian students. 

Purpose of IELTS Exam

The IELTS exam is considered for study, work, and migration purposes in popular English-speaking countries such as the USA, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and more. Here are the main reasons why you should take IELTS exam:

Academic Purpose

The IELTS is a standard exam that has been accepted by over 12,000 organizations worldwide who wish to study abroad. Many prestigious universities such as Harvard, Oxford, MIT, etc use use IELTS exam to evaluate the English language proficiency of international students coming from non-English countries. Some popular countries accepting IELTS band score are as follows: 

• Canada

• United Kingdom

• Australia

• New Zealand

• United States

• Ireland

• Germany

• France

• Netherlands

Professional Use

IELTS band score is accepted by various professional licensing bodies in fields like medicine, engineering, law, and education. Candidates can use IELTS TRF to achieve a licensing or certification in popular fields.  

Migration Requirements

Many countries use the IELTS score as a standarized test for immigration and permanent residency. IELTS General Training test is widely accepted for visa and migration purposes.

Types of IELTS Tests

The IELTS test has major two types: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Apart from the two types, IELTS also conducts IELTS for UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) and IELTS Life Skills. Here are the details of the different types of IELTS exams:

• IELTS Academic: Conducted for aspirants who wish to study higher education in popular abroad destinations.

• IELTS General Training: Conducted to assess the practical English language skills of candidates in everyday complex situations.

• IELTS for UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration): IELTS for UKVI is a Secure English Language Test (SELT) approved by the UK Home Office for visa and immigration purposes.

• IELTS Life Skills: The IELTS Life Skills test is a simplified version of the exam, designed to assess speaking and listening skills at the A1 or B1 levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Eligibility for the IELTS Exam

The IELTS exam has no official eligibility criteria for international students. Anyone aged 16 or above can take the test, irrespective of educational background, nationality, or sex. 

IELTS Test Pattern

Here is a detailed description of the IELTS exam format for international candidates. 

IELTS Accepted Countries

IELTS is recognised in countries where English is the main language of instruction or work. Each country has its own minimum band score criteria, usually ranging between 5.5 and 7.0 depending on the purpose.

Guidance of PW IELTS

Physics Wallah offers multiple online IELTS courses for all students. Follow the IELTS pages to better prepare for the exam.