IELTS is an English language proficiency test that is widely accepted by over

3000 universities worldwide for the purpose of migration or higher education in

countries like UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. It is available in
two formats: IELTS Academic and IELTS General. IELTS registration can be
done by selecting a suitable test center and date. The exam fee for online and
pen and paper-based IELTS is INR 17,000. The total duration of the test is 2
hours and 45 minutes. You can take the test up to four times a month, a total
of 48 IELTS exam dates are available every year.

IELTS scores range from 0 to 9, and you must achieve a minimum of 6 bands
for a successful application process. IELTS cut off requirements vary and
depend on the application purposes. You will receive your IELTS results within 3
to 5 days for the computer-delivered exam, and 13 days for the paper-
based exam. You can check your IELTS band score from the IDP official
website, and your scores will be valid for 2 years.

IELTS exam is specifically designed to evaluate a candidate’s English reading,

writing, speaking, and listening skills. There are in total of 85 questions divided
into 4 sections respectively. The exam pattern for academic and general is the
same, but the contents and topics vary. Reading comprehensive books, and
regularly solving sample papers will help the candidates understand IELTS
syllabus, and lead them to a higher score.
In IELTS Speaking, candidates are assessed in three different parts and each
part is recorded. The total duration for this section is 11-14 minutes.

IELTS Speaking Practice Papers – Check

In IELTS Listening, candidates have to listen to four recordings of native

English speakers to answer a series of questions. The total duration for this
section is 30 minutes.

IELTS Listening Practice Papers – Check

Candidates get two different kinds of IELTS Reading questions for IELTS
Academic and IELTS General Training. In both exam patterns, test takers have
to attempt 40 questions in 60 minutes.

IELTS Reading Practice Papers – Check

IELTS Writing is different for candidates appearing in IELTS Academic and

IELTS General Training. Two writing tasks have to be attempted within 60
minutes for IELTS Writing section. In IELTS Writing task 1, candidates will
have to explain and analyze the graphical representation presented in the form
of a bar graph, chart, pie, or line graph. For IELTS Writing Task 2, an essay
has to be written expressing one’s own opinion. For both IELTS Academic and
General Training IELTS, Writing task 2 remains the same. IELTS Writing task 1
for General IELTS is slightly different as the candidates have to write a formal
or semi-formal letter addressing an issue.
IELTS Writing Practice Papers – Check

IELTS Score
IELTS scores are designed to be deciphered easily by any individual. IELTS
score validity is for 2 years. As IDP IELTS collected data from the test-takers
and analyzed that irrespective of gender, candidates score the most in listening
and least in writing. Since childhood, in India, one starts learning English by
listening to an electronic medium, therefore it is quite easy to analyze an
argument by listening to the recordings present in the test. Whereas the least
score-secured section is writing. The least marks are secured in writing for a
lack of language construction and grammatical errors. Candidates should start
practicing writing within a particular time to improve all these mistakes. As
compared to other bands, the Writing band has the least score range for both
male and female candidates. IELTS band scores are calculated on a scale of 1-
9.
Band
Skill Level Description
Score
The test taker has a fully operational command of the language. Their use of
9 Expert user English is appropriate, accurate, and fluent, and shows complete
understanding.
The test taker has a fully operational command of the language with only
occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriate usage. They may
8 Very good user
misunderstand some things in unfamiliar situations. They handle complex and
detailed argumentation well.
The test taker has operational command of the language, though with
occasional inaccuracies, inappropriate usage, and misunderstandings in some
7 Good user
situations. They generally handle complex language well and understand
detailed reasoning.
The test taker has an effective command of the language despite some
Competent
6 inaccuracies, inappropriate usage, and misunderstandings. They can use and
user
understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
The test taker has partial command of the language and copes with overall
5 Modest user meaning in most situations, although they are likely to make many mistakes.
They should be able to handle basic communication in their field.
The test taker's basic competence is limited to familiar situations. They
4 Limited user frequently show problems in understanding and expression. They are not able
to use complex language.
Band
Skill Level Description
Score
Extremely The test taker conveys and understands the only general meaning in very
3
limited user familiar situations. There are frequent breakdowns in communication.
Intermittent
2 The test taker has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
user
1 Non-user The test taker cannot use the language except for a few isolated words.

IELTS Result
The test Report Form or IELTS Result will be declared 13 days after the test
is taken. Candidates can access IELTS scorecards online as well as offline. To
access IELTS score, a candidate has to submit an identification document
number. Along with ID proof, the candidate also has to provide a candidate
number generated during IELTS application. IELTS exam dates and date of
birth are other required information. Results will also be available on IDP or
British Council IELTS website. If the candidates have applied for Citizenship
and Immigration Canada, 2 copies IELTS TRF (Test Result Form) will be
provided. The online results will be displayed only for 28 days from your test
date.

Generally, an IELTS score of 7 and above is considered a good score for

ensuring admission to the top-ranking universities in the UK, US, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, and other English-speaking nations. IELTS cutoff is set
differently for each of the four sections, therefore, candidates need to focus
more on improving each of the skills rather than the overall IELTS score.

IELTS Cutoff
IELTS Cutoff generally ranges between 7- 8 for the top universities.
Universities have a pre-determined sectional cutoff for each of the sections
of IELTS syllabus. Harvard, Stanford, MIT, California Institute of Technology,
and other top-ranking universities across the world require IELTS scores above
7. The following table shows IELTS cutoff for the top universities in the
world: