IELTS tests the complete range of English language skills which will commonly be encountered by students when studying or training in the medium of English. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Modules. There is an option of either Academic or General Training Reading and Writing Modules. Academic is suitable for candidates planning to undertake higher education study. General Training is suitable for candidates planning to undertake non academic training or work experience, or for immigration purposes.

Most Australian, British, Canadian and New Zealand academic institutions accept IELTS. American academic institutions are increasingly accepting IELTS for admission purposes.

IELTS is accepted by many professional organizations including the New Zealand Immigration Service, the Australian Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, the Australian Medical Council, the UK General Medical Council and the UK Ministry of Defense.

IELTS is jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL), British Council and IDP Education Australia: IELTS Australia.

University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL) is an internationally recognized body in the provision of academic and vocational examinations. In the field of English language alone, Cambridge ESOL examines more than one million candidates each year. Please see (http://www.CambridgeESOL.org) for further information, or contact (ielts@ucles.org.uk)

Total Test Time = 2 hours 45 minutes

All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Modules. If you are planning to undertake academic study it is recommended that you sit for the Academic Reading and Writing Modules. If you are planning to undertake non-academic training or apply for immigration to Australia, New Zealand or Canada it is recommended that you sit for the General Training Reading and Writing Modules. Please ask at the IELTS centre if you are unsure of which module to take.

IELTS -The Results

Results are returned to the candidates within one week in the form of a Test Report Form (see next item).

Candidates receive scores on a band scale from 1 to 9

Candidates receive a score for each module of the test as well as an overall score.

Overall Band Scores and Listening and Reading Band Scores are reported in half bands; Writing and Speaking Band Scores are reported in whole Bands.

There is no pass or fail mark.

The IELTS Handbook provides a written Interpretation of Results.

Results are recommended as valid for two years.

The Test Report Form

IELTS provides a profile of English language ability in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.

A Band Score for each of the four modules as well as an overall score is recorded on the Test Report Form. This allows receiving institutions to clearly identify the candidates' strengths and weaknesses.

These Band Scores are recorded on the Test Report Form along with details of the candidate's nationality, first language and date of birth.

The Test Report Form indicates whether it is for an Academic or General Training candidate. Marking at the test centre ensures that test results are available without any administrative delay. A valid Test Report Form bears a centre stamp, a validation stamp and the IELTS administrator's signature.

Test Report Forms should be sent directly from the test centre to the receiving institution or organization. Photocopies should not be accepted.

Interpretation of Results

Each Band corresponds to a descriptive statement giving a summary of the English of a candidate classified at that level. Overall Band Scores can be reported in either whole or half Bands. The nine bands and their descriptive statements are as follows

9 - Expert User

Has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.

8 - Very Good User

Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.

7 - Good User

Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations.