IELTS Overview

Pragya Sharma ✅

Pragya Sharma ✅

Co-Founder @ Ace My Prep & Study Abroad Expert

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What is IELTS?

The International English Language Test (IELTS) is formulated for non-native English language speakers to help them work, study, or migrate to a country where English is the native language. It includes countries like the USA, Canada, UK,  Australia, and New Zealand.

This exam tests a candidate’s listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills. Overall, IELTS is graded on a band scale of 1-9.

IELTS is one of the major English language tests in the world and is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English.

Why take IELTS?

If you’re seeking to work or pursue your studies in a country where English is used as the first language, then you have to display your proficiency in the English language.

IELTS is recognized worldwide regardless of the place you want to send your application to. It is trusted across the globe because of its high-quality criteria for assessment and methodology of its questions.

Having the ability to communicate in the native language of the country offers you a wide range of benefits which include job opportunities as well as amalgamation into the community.

IELTS score scale

ScoreUser CategoryDescription
9Expert UserYou have a full operational command of the language. Your use of English is appropriate, accurate and fluent, and you show complete understanding.
8Very Good UserYou have a fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriate usage. You may misunderstand some things in unfamiliar situations. You handle complex detailed argumentation well.
7Good UserYou have an operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriate usage, and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally, you handle complex language well and understand detailed reasoning.
6Competent UserGenerally, you have an effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage, and misunderstandings. You can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
5Modest UserYou have a partial command of the language, and cope with overall meaning in most situations, although you are likely to make many mistakes. You should be able to handle basic communication in your own field.
4Limited UserYour basic competence is limited to familiar situations. You frequently show problems in understanding and expression. You are not able to use complex language.
3Extremely Limited UserYou convey and understand only general meaning in very familiar situations. There are frequent breakdowns in communication.
2Intermittent UserYou have great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
1Non-UserYou have no ability to use the language except a few isolated words.
0Did not attempt the testYou did not answer the questions.

What IELTS score do I need?

Your score in IELTS reflects the level of your understanding and ability to communicate in English. The score requirements are different for each university, workplace, institute, or immigration body depending on what you’re seeking to do in a specific country, i.e study or work.

How IELTS is developed

IELTS is curated to offer an accurate, fair, and unbiased assessment of English language proficiency.

The questions of the IELTS are developed by the language specialists from different countries including the UK, Canada, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand.

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