The International English Language Testing System (IELTS), is designed to assess the English language skills of candidates who want to study or work in countries where English is the language of communication.

IELTS is recognised by universities and employers in many countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the USA. It is also recognised by professional bodies, immigration authorities and other government agencies. More than 700,000 people take the test every year.

What is the IELTS test like?
Candidates can choose either the Academic Module or the General Training Module: The Academic Module is intended for those who seek admission to universities and other institutions of higher education. The General Training Module is intended for those planning to undertake non-academic training or to gain work experience, or for immigration purposes. IELTS tests the ability to listen, read, write and speak in English.

The test has four sections:

Listening - 4 sections, 40 questions, 30 minutes
Speaking - interview, 15 minutes
Reading - different for Academic or General Training - 3 sections, 40 questions, 60 minutes
Writing - different for Academic or General Training - 2 pieces of writing, 60 minutes

Score

You get a score between 1 and 9. Half scores such as 7.5 are possible. Universities often demand an IELTS score of 6 or 7. They may also demand a minimum score in each of the 4 sections.

Test centres

IELTS tests are administered at accredited Test Centres throughout the world - there are currently more than 300 Centres, in over 120 countries. There are up to 48 test dates available per year. Each test centre offers tests up to four times a month depending on local demand. At some centres you can take the computer-based version of IELTS. This is only available for academic modules.

The author is an English language instructor based in Mumbai. Her website http://www.perfectyourenglish.com provides free reference materials on English grammar and practical English usage