IELTS for UK
IELTS is an English language exam that is required to be taken by international candidates considering studying or working in a country where English is the main language of communication.
The most popular countries where IELTS is accepted for university admissions are the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and Canada. The exam mainly measures the ability of test-takers to communicate in the four basic English language skills – listening, reading, speaking, and writing. IELTS exam is jointly owned and conducted by IDP Education Australia, British Council, and Cambridge English Language.
It is the only English Language Test approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for visa applicants applying both outside and inside the UK. A lot of students get confused about why the IELTS scores are required. The simple answer to this is that foreign universities and visa granting authorities need to be sure that you will not have communication issues while staying in the country. You need to show a good understanding and strong command of the English language and that is why your overall IELTS scores are so important. Another common doubt students have is whether IELTS is a compulsory exam or not. No, IELTS isn’t compulsory in all university admissions. Many universities might not even require IELTS scores for admission purposes. But remember that if you don’t give IELTS, your chances of getting the student visa might suffer as the visa officers may not be convinced about your English proficiency without IELTS scores. So it is safer to appear for IELTS and aim to score at least 6 bands overall.
IELTS Exam Details
There are two modules of the IELTS:
Academic Module and
General Training Module
The four parts of the IELTS test
Listening: 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes' transfer time)[
Reading: 60 minutes
Writing: 60 minutes
Speaking: 11–14 minutes
The test total time is: 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Listening, Reading and Writing are completed in one sitting. The Speaking test may be taken on the same day or up to seven days before or after the other tests.
All test takers take the same Listening and Speaking tests, while the Reading and Writing tests differ depending on whether the test taker is taking the Academic or General Training versions of the test.
How to book your IELTS Test?
Log on to the IELTS India website.
Select the option ‘Register for Test.
Select your preferred test — computer-delivered IELTS/ paper-based (IELTS, IELTS for the UK VI or Life Skills).
Select your test type/module — Academic or General Training for IELTS, IELTS for the UK VI, A1 and B1 for Life Skills (be extremely careful while choosing the module you wish to take).
Pick your desired test location/city (from the available IELTS test centers in India).
Once done, you will find a list of dates available for your preferences. Select your desired date and time slot.
Fill up the required details and complete your online application. Remember, you will also have to upload a clear, scanned color copy of your passport to complete the process.
Proceed to pay the test fee.
Once your test date is booked, you will receive an acknowledgment on your registered email/phone number. For the Speaking test, you can book a slot online on your preferred date and time. If you fail to choose a slot within the stated time period, a time slot will be automatically allocated to you. (Note - *applicable for Paper-Based IELTS test takers)
Booking Confirmation
A final confirmation email with details including your test date, time, and venue will be sent five to seven days before your IELTS test.
Ensure that your email account settings allow emails from IDP and keep checking your spam/junk folder in case you don’t seem to receive any.
How much does IELTS Test cost?
Computer-delivered IELTS
Fees: INR 14,700
Paper-based IELTS
Fees: INR 14,700
IELTS for UKVI
Fees: INR 15,100
Life Skills
Fees: INR 13, 940
How to prepare for IELTS exam?
The first step to making sure you are ready to take IELTS is to prepare for it so you know what to expect on the test day.
Even if you believe you are a proficient user of English, it is still recommended that you prepare thoroughly for your test with helpful IELTS training resources.
Test takers who understand the format of IELTS are at an advantage.
Make sure you’re familiar with how IELTS testing works.
Familiarise yourself with the test format so that you know what to expect on test day.
Speaking components are the same for both tests but the Reading and the Writing components are different.
Generally, students spend at least 6-8 weeks preparing for the IELTS exam, focusing on basic grammar, reading speed, test strategies, and writing skills.
Each part of the IELTS exam is different, so ensure you fully understand what is expected of you.
Dates, Time and Location for taking the test
You can take the IELTS exam with the British Council or IDP up to once a week (four times a month). The British Council and IDP global schedule for test dates are 48 days per year.
IELTS Exam Dates June 2021
Saturday, 12 June 2021
Academic and General Training
Thursday, 17 June 2021
Academic only
Saturday, 19 June 2021
Academic and General Training
IELTS Exam Dates July 2021
Thursday, 2 Jul. 2021
Academic only
Saturday, 11 Jul. 2021
Academic and General Training
Saturday, 18 Jul. 2021
Academic only
Saturday, 25 Jul. 2021
Academic and General Training
There used to be a minimum time limit of 90 days before which a person was not allowed to retake the test. However, this restriction has been withdrawn and currently, there is no limit for applicants to retake the test.