International English Language Testing System - Wikipedia

International
English Language
Testing System
The International English Language

Testing System,[6] or IELTS /ˈaɪ.ɛlts/, is
an international standardised test of
English language proficiency for non-
native English language speakers. It is
jointly managed by the British Council,
IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge
English Language Assessment,[6] and
was established in 1989. IELTS is one of
the major English-language tests in the
world, others being the TOEFL, TOEIC,
PTE:A and OPI/OPIc.
International English Language Testing System
Acronym IELTS
Type Standardised test.

Available in 2 modules:
"Academic", "General
training". The IELTS
test partners also offer
IELTS Life Skills, a
speaking and listening
test used for UK Visas
and Immigration.
Developer / British Council, IDP

administrator Education, Cambridge
English Language
Assessment.
Knowledge / skills Listening, reading,

tested writing and speaking of
the English language.
the English language.
Purpose To assess the English

language proficiency
of non-native English
speakers.
Year started 1980
Duration Listening: 40 minutes

(including the 10-
minute transfer time),
Reading: 60 minutes,
Writing: 60 minutes,
Speaking: 11–14
minutes.
Total: 2 hours, 55
minutes.
Score / grade range 0 to 9, in 0.5 band

increments.
Score / grade validity 2 years
Offered Up to 4 times a month.

Up to 48 times a
year.[1]
Countries / regions More than 1,100 test
centres in over 140
countries.[2]
Languages English
Annual number of test Over 3 million in

takers 2016.[3]
Prerequisites / No official prerequisite.

eligibility criteria Intended for non-native
English speakers.
Fee To find out the test fee

in local currency, use
the IELTS Worldwide
search to identify a
local centre.[4]
Scores / grades used More than 10,000

by colleges, agencies and
other institutions in
Website www.ielts.org
over 130 countries.[5]
IELTS is accepted by most Australian,

British, Canadian and New Zealand
academic institutions, by over 3,000
academic institutions in the United
States, and by various professional
organisations across the world.
IELTS is the only Secure English

Language Test approved by UK Visas and
Immigration (UKVI) for visa customers
applying both outside and inside the UK.
It is also a requirement for immigration
to Australia and New Zealand. In Canada,
IELTS, TEF, or CELPIP are accepted by
the immigration authority.[7]
No minimum score is required to pass

the test. An IELTS result or Test Report
Form is issued to all test takers with a
score from "band 1" ("non-user") to "band
9" ("expert user") and each institution
sets a different threshold. There is also a
"band 0" score for those who did not
attempt the test. Institutions are advised
not to consider a report older than two
years to be valid, unless the user proves
that they have worked to maintain their
level.[8][9]
In 2016, 3 million tests were taken in

more than 140 countries, up from 2
million tests in 2012, 1.7 million tests in
2011 and 1.4 million tests in 2009. In
2007, IELTS administered more than one
million tests in a single 12-month period
for the first time ever, making it the
world's most popular English language
test for higher education and
immigration.[3]
History
The English Language Testing Service
(ELTS), as IELTS was then known, was
launched in 1980 by Cambridge English
Language Assessment (then known as
UCLES) and the British Council. It had an
innovative format, which reflected
changes in language learning and
teaching, including the growth in
‘communicative’ language learning and
‘English for specific purposes’. Test tasks
were intended to reflect the use of
language in the ‘real world’.
During the 1980s, test taker numbers

were low (4,000 in 1981 rising to 10,000
in 1985) and there were practical
difficulties administering the test. As a
result, the ELTS Revision Project was set
up to oversee the redesign of the test. In
order to have international participation
in the redesign, the International
Development Program of Australian
Universities and Colleges (IDP), now
known as IDP: IELTS Australia, joined
Cambridge English Language
Assessment and the British Council to
form the international IELTS partnership
which delivers the test to this day. This
international partnership was reflected in
the new name for the test: The
International English Language Testing
System (IELTS).
IELTS went live in 1989. Test takers took

two non-specialised modules, Listening
and Speaking, and two specialised
modules, Reading and Writing. Test taker
numbers rose by approximately 15% per
year and by 1995 there were 43,000 test
takers in 210 test centres around the
world.
IELTS was revised again in 1995, with

three main changes:
There was ONE Academic Reading

Module and ONE Academic Writing
Module (previously there had been a
choice of three field-specific Reading
and Writing modules)
The thematic link between the Reading
and Writing tasks was removed to
avoid confusing the assessment of
reading and writing ability
The General Training Reading and
Writing modules were brought into line
with the Academic Reading and
Writing modules (same timing, length
of responses, reporting of scores).
Further revisions went live in 2001

(revised Speaking Test) and 2005 (new
assessment criteria for the Writing
test).[10]
IELTS characteristics
IELTS Academic and IELTS General
Training are designed to cover the full
range of ability from non-user to expert
user. The Academic version is for test
takers who want to study at tertiary level
in an English-speaking country seek
professional registration. The General
Training version is for test takers who
want to work, train, study at a secondary
school or migrate to an English-speaking
country.[11]
The difference between the Academic

and General Training versions is the
content, context and purpose of the
tasks. All other features, such as timing
allocation, length of written responses
and reporting of scores, are the same.[10]
IELTS Academic and General Training

both incorporate the following features:
IELTS tests the ability to listen, read,

write and speak in English.
The speaking module is a key
component of IELTS. It is conducted in
the form of a one-to-one interview with
an examiner. The examiner assesses
the test taker as he or she is speaking.
The speaking session is also recorded
for monitoring and for re-marking in
case of an appeal against the score
given.
A variety of accents and writing styles
have been presented in test materials
in order to minimise linguistic bias.
The accents in the listening section are
generally 80% British, Australian, New
Zealander and 20% others (mostly
American).
IELTS is developed by experts at
Assessment with input from item
writers from around the world. Teams
are located in the USA, Great Britain,
Australia, New Zealand, Canada and
other English-speaking nations.
Band scores are used for each
language sub-skill (Listening, Reading,
Writing, and Speaking). The Band Scale
ranges from 0 ("Did not attempt the
test") to 9 ("Expert User").
IELTS test structure

Modules
There are two modules of the IELTS:

Academic Module and
General Training Module
There is also a separate test offered by

the IELTS test partners, called IELTS Life
Skills:
IELTS Academic is intended for those

who want to enroll in universities and
other institutions of higher education
and for professionals such as medical
doctors and nurses who want to study
or practise in an English-speaking
country.
IELTS General Training is intended for
those planning to undertake non-
academic training or to gain work
experience, or for immigration
purposes.
IELTS Life Skills is intended for those
who need to prove their English
speaking and listening skills at
Common European Framework of
Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels
A1 or B1 and can be used to apply for
a ‘family of a settled person’ visa,
indefinite leave to remain or citizenship
in the UK.[12]
The IELTS test has four parts
Listening: 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes'

transfer time)[13]
Reading: 60 minutes
Writing: 60 minutes
Speaking: 11–14 minutes
The test total time is: 2 hours and 55

minutes.[11]
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.
Listening
The module comprises four sections,

with ten questions in each section.[14] It
takes 40 minutes: 30 - for testing, plus 10
for transferring the answers to an answer
sheet.[15]
Sections 1 and 2 are about everyday,

social situations.
Section 1 has a conversation between

two speakers (for example, a
conversation about travel
arrangements)
Section 2 has one person speaking (for
example, a speech about local
facilities).
Sections 3 and 4 are about educational

and training situations
Section 3 is a conversation between

two main speakers (for example, a
discussion between two university
students, perhaps guided by a tutor)
Section 4 has one person speaking
about an academic subject.[13]
Each section begins with a short

introduction telling the test taker about
the situation and the speakers. Then they
have some time to look through the
questions. The questions are in the same
order as the information in the recording,
so the answer to the first question will be
before the answer to the second
question, and so on.[13] The first three
sections have a break in the middle
allowing test takers to look at the
remaining questions. Each section is
heard only once.
At the end of the test students are given

10 minutes to transfer their answers to
an answer sheet.[16] Test takers will lose
marks for incorrect spelling and
grammar.[17]
Reading
The Reading paper has three sections

and texts totaling 2,150-2,750 words.
There will be a variety of question types,
such as multiple choice, short-answer
questions, identifying information,
identifying writer’s views, labeling
diagrams, completing a summary using
words taken from the text and matching
information/headings/features in the
text/sentence endings. Test takers
should be careful when writing down
their answers as they will lose marks for
incorrect spelling and grammar.
Texts in IELTS Academic
Three reading texts, which come from

books, journals, magazines,
newspapers and online resources
written for non-specialist audiences.
All the topics are of general interest to
students at undergraduate or
postgraduate level.[18]
Texts in IELTS General Training
Section 1 contains two or three short

texts or several shorter texts, which
deal with everyday topics. For example,
timetables or notices – things a
person would need to understand
when living in an English-speaking
country.
Section 2 contains two texts, which
deal with work. For example, job
descriptions, contracts, training
materials.
Section 3 contains one long text about
a topic of general interest. The text is
generally descriptive, longer and more
complex than the texts in Sections 1
and 2. The text will be taken from a
newspaper, magazine, book or online
resource.[19]
Writing
The Writing paper has two tasks which

must both be completed. In task 1 test
takers write at least 150 words in about
20 minutes. In task 2 test takers write at
least 250 words in about 40 minutes.
Test takers will be penalised if their
answer is too short or does not relate to
the topic. Answers should be written in
full sentences (test takers must not use
notes or bullet points).
IELTS Academic
Task 1: test takers describe a graph,

table, chart or diagram in their own
words.
Task 2: test takers discuss a point of
view, argument or problem. Depending
on the task, test takers may be
required to present a solution to a
problem, present and justify an
opinion, compare and contrast
evidence, opinions and implications,
and evaluate and challenge ideas,
evidence or an argument.[20]
IELTS General Training
Task 1: test takers write a letter in

response to a given everyday situation.
For example, writing to an
accommodation officer about
problems with your accommodation,
writing to a new employer about
problems managing your time, writing
to a local newspaper about a plan to
develop a local airport.
Task 2: test takers write an essay
about a topic of general interests. For
example, whether smoking should be
banned in public places, whether
children’s leisure activities should be
educational, how environmental
problems can be solved.[21]
Speaking
The speaking test is a face-to-face

interview between the test taker and an
examiner.
The speaking test contains three

sections.
Section 1: introduction and interview

(4–5 minutes). Test takers may be
asked about their home, family, work,
studies, hobbies, interests, reasons for
taking IELTS exam as well as other
general topics such as clothing, free
time, computers and the internet.
Section 2: long turn (3–4 minutes).
Test takers are given a task card about
a particular topic. Test takers have one
minute to prepare to talk about this
topic. The task card states the points
that should be included in the talk and
one aspect of the topic which must be
explained during the talk. Test takers
are then expected to talk about the
topic for 2 minutes, after which the
examiner may ask one or two
questions.
Section 3: discussions (4–5 minutes).
The third section involves a discussion
between the examiner and the test
taker, generally on questions relating to
the theme which they have already
spoken about in Section 2.[22]
Scoring
Test takers receive a score for each test
component – Listening, Reading, Writing
and Speaking. The individual scores are
then averaged and rounded to produce
an Overall Band Score.[23]
Band scale
There is no pass or fail.[24] IELTS is

scored on a nine-band scale, with each
band corresponding to a specified
competence in English. Overall Band
Scores are reported to the nearest half
band.
The following rounding convention

applies: if the average across the four
skills ends in .25, it is rounded up to the
next half band, and if it ends in 5.75, it is
rounded up to the next whole band.
The nine bands are described as follows:

Has full operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and
9 Expert User
fluent with complete understanding.
Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional

Very Good
8 unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may
User
occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.
Has operational command of the language, though with occasional

inaccuracies, inappropriateness and misunderstandings in some situations.
7 Good User
Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed
reasoning.
Has generally effective command of the language despite some

Competent
6 inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and
User
understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most
Modest
5 situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle
user
basic communication in own field.
Limited Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in

4
User understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.
Extremely
Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations.
3 Limited
Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.
User
No real communication is possible except for the most basic information

Intermittent using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet
2
User immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written
English.
Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated
1 Non User
words.
Did not
0 attempt the No assessable information provided at all.
test
IELTS and the CEFR

IELTS Band Score CEFR Level[25]
9.0 C2
8.5 C2
8.0 Borderline C2/C1
7.5 C1
7.0 C1
6.5 Borderline C1/B2
6.0 B2
5.5 B2
5.0 Borderline B2/B1
4.5 B1
4.0 B1
3.5 Borderline B1/A2
3.0 A2
2.5 A2
2.0 Borderline A2-A1
1.5 A1
1.0 A1
0.5 Non user
0.0 Did not attempt the test
Conversion table
This table can be used to convert raw
scores (out of 40) to band scores (out of
9). This helps test takers understand how
many correct answers they need to
achieve a particular band score. This
chart is a guide only because sometimes
the scores adjust slightly depending on
how difficult the test is.[26]
Band Score 9.0 8.5 8.0 7.5 7.0 6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5
Listening raw score

39– 37– 35– 32– 30– 26– 23– 18– 16– 13– 10– 6– 4–
(Academic and 8–9
40 38 36 34 31 29 25 22 17 15 12 7 5
General Training)
Reading raw score 39– 37– 35– 33– 30– 27– 23– 19– 15– 13– 10– 6– 4–
8–9
(Academic) 40 38 36 34 32 29 26 22 18 14 12 7 5
Reading raw score 37– 34– 32– 30– 27– 23– 19– 15– 12– 9– 6–
40 39 36
(General Training) 38 35 33 31 29 26 22 18 14 11 8
Results
A Test Report Form is posted to test
takers 13 days after their test. It shows:
An Overall Band Score (from 1-9)

A band score (from 1-9) for each
section of the test (Listening, Reading,
Writing and Speaking)
Whether IELTS Academic or General
Training was completed
The test taker’s photo, nationality, first
language and date of birth.
Test takers receive one copy of their Test

Report Form, apart from test takers who
are applying to the Department of
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(CIC) or UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)
who receive two copies.
Test Report Forms are valid for two

years.[27]
Locations and test dates

Test takers can take IELTS in more than
140 countries and in over 1,000
locations.[28]
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. The Academic version is
available on all 48 dates per year and the
General Training version is available on
24 dates.[29]
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.
Linking IELTS Scores to
TOEFL iBT Score Ranges[30]
IELTS Score TOEFL Score IELTS Description
9 118-120 Expert User
8.5 115-117
Very Good User
8 110-114
7.5 102-109
Good User
7 94-101
6.5 79-93
Competent User
6 60-78
5.5 42-59
Modest User
5 35-41
4.5 32-34 Limited User
0-4 0-31 Extremely Limited/Intermittent/Non User
Global test scores

In 2015, approximately 80% of test takers
took the Academic version and 20% of
test takers took the General Training
version.
The average Overall Band Score in the
Academic version was 6.0 for female
test takers and 5.8 for male test takers.
The average overall band score in the
General Training version was 6.2 for male
and female test takers.[31]
Countries with highest

average scores (Academic)
In 2015, of the 40 most common places

of origin, the top seven countries for
mean band scores for the Academic
IELTS test were:[31]
Ranking Countries Band Score
1 Germany 7.3
2 Greece 6.9
3 (tied) Canada 6.8
3 (tied) France 6.8
3 (tied) Malaysia 6.8
3 (tied) Philippines 6.8
3 (tied) Spain 6.8
Countries with highest

average scores (General
Training)
In 2015, of the 40 most common places

of origin, the top six countries for mean
band scores for the General Training
IELTS test were:[31]
Ranking Countries Band Score
1 Ireland 7.8
2 United States of America 7.7
3 South Africa 7.6
4 Singapore 7.4
5 (tied) Germany 7.0
5 (tied) Malaysia 7.0

Results by first language of
test taker (Academic)
In 2015, of the 40 most common self-

reported first language backgrounds, the
top 5 highest average scores in the
Academic IELTS test were from test
takers whose first languages were:[31]
Ranking Languages Band Score
1 German 7.4
2 Polish 7.0
3 (tied) English 6.9
3 (tied) Filipino 6.9
3 (tied) Romanian 6.9
Results by first language of

test taker (General Training)
In 2015, of the 40 most common self-

reported first language backgrounds, the
top six highest average scores in the
General Training IELTS test were from
test takers whose first languages
were:[31]
Ranking Languages Band Score
1 Afrikaans 7.4
2 (tied) English 7.0
2 (tied) German 7.0
3 (tied) Marathi 6.6
3 (tied) Polish 6.6
3 (tied) Portuguese 6.6
Level required by academic

institutions for admission
Just over half (51%) of test takers take
IELTS to enter higher education in a
foreign country.[32] The IELTS minimum
scores required by academic institutions
and by course vary. As a general rule, the
top ranked universities in the United
States tend to require a higher IELTS
band (typically 7.0). Most universities
accept scores between 6-7 as being
suitable for undergraduate study in
English.[33]
IELTS is used by over 9,000 educational

institutions worldwide. This section
provides just a few examples of IELTS
requirements in different countries. Full
details about the organizations which
accept IELTS and the scores they require
can be found on the IELTS Global
Recognition System .
United States
IELTS is accepted by over 3,000 U.S.
institutions.[34] The highest IELTS Band
required by a university is 8.5,[35] by the
Graduate School of Journalism at
Columbia University.
Most top ranked U.S. universities,[36] as

listed by the TES 2015 World University
Rankings, require a minimum score of
around 7.0. For example:
University Minimum IELTS score (May 2015)
California Institute of Technology 7.0[37]
Columbia University 7.0–8.5[38]
Harvard University 7.0 (apart from Graduate School of Education: 7.5)[39]
Johns Hopkins University 7.0 (apart from Peabody Conservatory: 6.5)[40]
Massachusetts Institute of
6.0–7.5[41]
Technology
Stanford University 7.0[42]
Princeton University 7.0[43]
7.0 (apart from Professional Diploma/Joint

University of California, Berkeley
Programs: 6.5)[44]
University of California, Los Angeles 7.0 (apart from Luskin School of Public Affairs:
(UCLA) 8.0)[45]
University of Chicago 7.0[46]
Yale University 7.0[47]
United Kingdom
Most top ranked UK universities,[36] as

Rankings, require a minimum score of
6.5-7.0. For example:
6.5 (apart from Law, Econ, Medicine and English:

University of Bristol
7.0)[48]
University of Cambridge 6.5 (no subscore less than 6.0)[49]
University of Durham 6.5[50]
University of Edinburgh 6.5[51]
6.0 undergraduate admissions (School of Medicine:

Imperial College London
6.5)[52]
7.0 (apart from Medicine, Dentistry, Physiotherapy,

King's College London
Law and Humanities: 7.5)[53]
London School of Economics and

6.5[54]
Political Science (LSE)
University of Manchester 7.0 (apart from Manchester Business School: 6.5)[55]
7.0 (no subscore less than 6.0). Graduate

University of Oxford
admissions: 6.5[56]
University College London (UCL) 6.5 (apart from UPSCE: 5.5)[57]
Canada
Most top ranked Canadian

universities,[36] as listed by the TES 2015
World University Rankings, require a
minimum score of 6.5.
Australia
Most top ranked Australian
universities,[36] as listed by the TES 2015
World University Rankings, require a
minimum score of approximately 6.5. For
example:
Australian
National 6.5[58]
University
6.0 undergraduate admissions (no subscore less than 6.0)[59]

Monash
University 6.5 postgraduate admissions (no subscore less than 6.0)
University
of 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in writing)[60]
Melbourne
6.5 undergraduate and postgraduate admissions (no subscore less than 6.0),
University
Nursing / Vet Science: 7.0 (no subscore less than 7.0), Law and Media
of Sydney
Communication: 7.5 (no subscore less than 7.0)[61]
Along with the universities, the test

results are directly relevant for applying a
student Visa (Subclass 500). The
candidates need at least an IELTS score
of 5.5. The precise requirements depend
on the university.[62]
Non-native English speaking

countries
Most top ranked universities in non-

native English speaking countries,[36] as
Rankings, require a minimum score
between 6.0-7.0 For example:
World
University Minimum IELTS score (May
University Country
Ranking 2014- 2015)
15
KU Leuven Belgium 55 6.5[63]
5.5-7.0 depending on the

Ghent University Belgium 90
course[64]
7.0 Master Programs in Public

Peking University China 48 Policy and International
Relations[65]
6.5 Master of Public

Tsinghua University China 49 Administration in International
Development[66]
6.5 with a minimum score of

University of Helsinki Finland 103
6.0 in writing[67]
Ecole Polytechnique France 61 6.5[68]
Ecole Normale Superieure France 78 6.5[69]
Ludwig Maximilian University

Germany 29 6.5[70]
of Munich
Heidelberg University Germany 70 6.5[71]
Humboldt University of Berlin Germany 80 6.5[72]
The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong 43 6.0–6.5[73]
Hong Kong University of

Hong Kong 51 6.5[74]
Science and Technology
Kyoto University Japan 59 6.0[75]
Tokyo Institute of Technology Japan 141 6.5[76]
6.0 undergraduate admissions,

Leiden University Netherlands 64 6.5 postgraduate
admissions[77]
Delft University of Technology Netherlands 71 6.5[78]
Erasmus University
Netherlands 72 6.5[79]
Rotterdam
Wageningen University and 6.0 (minimum 6.0 in

Netherlands 73
Research Center speaking)[80]
University of Amsterdam Netherlands 77 6.5[81]
Republic of
Seoul National University 50 6.5[82]
Korea
Korea Advanced Institute of

Republic of
Science and Technology 52 6.5[83]
Korea
(KAIST)
IELTS use for immigration

purposes
A number of Commonwealth countries
use IELTS scores as a proof of
prospective immigrants' competence in
English.[84]
Australia
Australia's immigration authorities have

used IELTS to assess English proficiency
of prospective migrants since May 1998,
when this test replaced the access: test
that had been previously used.[85]
There are different IELTS score

requirements for different types of
visa.[86]
Department of Minimum
Immigration IELTS score Visas
Level of English (May 2015)
Functional Permanent and provisional skilled visas (to avoid paying the
4.5
English English Language Charge)
457 visa, ENS and RSMS visas through the Temporary

Vocational
5.0 Residence Transitional stream for people who have held a
English
457 visa for 2 years with the employer
ENS and RSMS visas through the Direct Entry Stream,

Competent
6.0 Skilled migration (6.0 is the minimum threshold, but
English
receives 0 points)
Proficient
7.0 Points Tested Skilled visas (to obtain 10 points)
English
Superior English 8.0 Points Tested Skilled visas (to obtain 20 points)
New Zealand
New Zealand has used the IELTS test
since 1995. There are different IELTS
score requirements for different types of
visa and type of applicant.[87]
Minimum IELTS score required if the applicant is not

Visa category demonstrating the minimum standard in another way (May
2015)
Principal applicant: 6.5. Partners and children aged 16 and

Skilled Migrant
over: 5.0
Business categories
Principal applicants: 5.0. Partners and children aged 16 and
(Investor, Entrepreneur,
over: In some cases partners and children are not required to
Long Term Business Visa,
meet the minimum level of English at the time the application
Employees of Relocating
is lodged, but can provide evidence at a later stage.
Business)
Originally, applicants who could not

achieve the required score could pay a
NZ$20,000 fee instead, which would be
fully or partially refunded later if the
migrant were able to successfully take
the test within a certain period (3 to 12
months) after his or her arrival to the
country. A few years later, the policy was
changed: the fee was reduced, and,
instead of being potentially refundable, it
became treated as a "pre-purchase" of
post-arrival ESL tuition.[88]
Canada
Citizenship and Immigration Canada

(CIC) uses IELTS and/or TEF as evidence
of one's ability to communicate in
English and/or French. The CELPIP
(Canadian English Language Proficiency
Index Program) test scores are an
alternative to IELTS.[89]
The Canadian Language Benchmarks

(CLB) are the national standards used in
Canada for describing, measuring and
recognizing the English language
proficiency of prospective immigrants.[90]
The following table shows the IELTS
scores needed for each CLB level.[91]
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Reading Writing Listening Speaking
10 8.0 7.5 8.5 7.5
9 7.0 7.0 8.0 7.0
8 6.5 6.5 7.5 6.5
7 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0
6 5.0 5.5 5.5 5.5
5 4.0 5.0 5.0 5.0
4 3.5 4.0 4.5 4.0
There are different language

requirements for different types of
immigration program as shown below:
Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) required
Visa category
(May 2015)
The Federal Skilled Worker

CLB 7[92]
Program
The Federal Skilled Trades CLB 5 for speaking and listening, CLB 4 for reading and
Program writing[93]
The Canadian Experience

CLB 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs, CLB 5 for NOC B jobs[94]
Class
Business start-up visa CLB 5[95]
Provincial Nominee Programs CLB 4 for NOC C and D jobs[96]
Submitting one's IELTS scores is also one

of the several ways to prove one's
proficiency in an official language when
applying for Canadian citizenship
(minimum of CLB level 4 required).[97]
United Kingdom
On 6 April 2015, UK Visas and

Immigration (UKVI) changed its English
language requirements for UK visa and
immigration applications. IELTS tests are
now one of only two exams included on
the UK government list of Secure English
Language Tests (SELTs).
IELTS assesses all four language skills

and is accepted by UK Visas and
Immigration (UKVI) at levels B1 to C2 of
the Common European Framework of
Reference for Languages (CEFR).
A new test, IELTS Life Skills, assesses

Speaking and Listening at CEFR level A1
and at CEFR Level B1. IELTS Life Skills
can be used to meet the English
language requirements for some classes
of visa application, including 'family of a
settled person' visas and indefinite leave
and citizenship.
To be used for visa and immigration
purposes, IELTS and IELTS Life Skills
must be taken in test centres approved
by the UKVI.[98]
Minimum CEFR Minimum IELTS score
Visa level required required overall and in each
(May 2015) skill (May 2015)[99]
7.0 overall, and in each of the

Tier 1 (General) visa C1
four skills

Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa B1
four skills

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa B1
four skills

Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa B1
four skills

Tier 2 (General) visa B1
four skills

Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa A1
four skills

Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa B2
four skills
Tier 4 (General) student visa - below 4.0 overall, and in each of the
B1
degree level four skills
Tier 4 (General) student visa - degree

level and above and including some pre- B2
four skills
sessional courses
IELTS Life Skills at A1 – Pass,

‘Family of a settled person’ visa A1 IELTS – 4.0 in Speaking and
Listening
IELTS Life Skills at B1 – Pass,

Indefinite leave to remain (to settle) or
B1 IELTS – 4.0 in Speaking and
citizenship
Listening
For UK visa purposes the test is designed

to meet certain administrative
requirements specified by UKVI. These
Test Report Forms are slightly different,
to show that the test taker has taken the
test at an IELTS UKVI session. The actual
test taken is the same – same content,
examiners, format, level of difficulty,
scoring and so on.[99]
Criticism
IELTS is a handwritten test and as such
the candidate's handwriting is critical and
may result in poor grading if the
examiner is unable to read a particular
handwriting style. Examiners are required
to make every effort to read handwriting.
Marks are not awarded for good
handwriting, and marks are not
subtracted for poor handwriting.
However, if handwriting is completely
illegible, then examiners will need to
consider the word as a misspelling.[100]
Careful attention must be paid to the type

of English used to demonstrate either
British English or American English
spellings. British or American spelling
can be used and they can be used
together (in the way that Australian and
New Zealanders will use American
spellings for some words and British
spellings for other words). However, once
a test taker spells a word one way, they
must continue to spell the word that
way.[101]
Other English proficiency
tests
ACTFL Assessment of Progress
toward Proficiency in Languages
(AAPPL)
Assessment
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
Cambridge English: First
Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)
CAEL, Canadian Academic English
Language Assessment
CELPIP, Canadian English Language
Proficiency Index Program
EF Standard English Test, an open-
access standardized English test
Examination for the Certificate of
Proficiency in English (ECPE), the
Examination for the Certificate of
Proficiency in English
ITEP, International Test of English
Proficiency.
MUET, Malaysian University English
Test
OPI, OPIc
PTE Academic - The Pearson Test of
English
STEP , Saudi Standardized Test for
English Proficiency
STEP Eiken, Test of English
TELC, The European Language
Certificates
TOEFL, Test of English as a Foreign
Language
TOEIC, Test of English for International
Communication
TrackTest, English Proficiency Test
Online (CEFR-based)
Trinity College London ESOL
TSE, Test of Spoken English
UBELT University of Bath English
Language Test.
See also
IELTS Life Skills
English as a Foreign or Second
Language
Assessment
British Council
IDP: IELTS Australia
International Student Admissions Test
(ISAT)
List of admissions tests
National Accreditation Authority for
Translators and Interpreters (NAATI)
Pearson Test of English Academic
(PTE) Academic
Standardised test
Teaching English as a foreign language
(TEFL)
Canadian English Language
Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
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External links
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International

The International English Language

Type Standardised test.

Developer / British Council, IDP

Knowledge / skills Listening, reading,

Purpose To assess the English

Year started 1980

Duration Listening: 40 minutes

Score / grade range 0 to 9, in 0.5 band

Score / grade validity 2 years

Offered Up to 4 times a month.

Annual number of test Over 3 million in

Prerequisites / No ofﬁcial prerequisite.

Fee To ﬁnd out the test fee

Scores / grades used More than 10,000

IELTS is accepted by most Australian,

IELTS is the only Secure English

No minimum score is required to pass

In 2016, 3 million tests were taken in

During the 1980s, test taker numbers

IELTS went live in 1989. Test takers took

IELTS was revised again in 1995, with

There was ONE Academic Reading

Further revisions went live in 2001

The difference between the Academic

IELTS Academic and General Training

IELTS tests the ability to listen, read,

IELTS test structure

There are two modules of the IELTS:

There is also a separate test offered by

IELTS Academic is intended for those

The IELTS test has four parts

Listening: 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes'

The test total time is: 2 hours and 55

Listening, Reading and Writing are

All test takers take the same Listening

The module comprises four sections,

Sections 1 and 2 are about everyday,

Section 1 has a conversation between

Sections 3 and 4 are about educational

Section 3 is a conversation between

Each section begins with a short

At the end of the test students are given

The Reading paper has three sections

Texts in IELTS Academic

Three reading texts, which come from

Texts in IELTS General Training

Section 1 contains two or three short

The Writing paper has two tasks which

Task 1: test takers describe a graph,

Task 1: test takers write a letter in

The speaking test is a face-to-face

The speaking test contains three

Section 1: introduction and interview

There is no pass or fail.[24] IELTS is

The following rounding convention

The nine bands are described as follows:

Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional

Has operational command of the language, though with occasional

Has generally effective command of the language despite some

Limited Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in

No real communication is possible except for the most basic information

IELTS and the CEFR

8.0 Borderline C2/C1