IELTS is accepted for study, work and migration in more countries than any other test. More than 9,000 universities, employers, professional registration bodies and governments around the world accept IELTS as evidence of your English proficiency. Find out which organisations accept IELTS scores.
Choose from two types of test
There are two versions of the IELTS test available. The organisation to which you are applying will specify whether you need to take IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training.
If your purpose is to pursue higher education abroad or gain professional registration, you would usually take IELTS Academic. If you are migrating to an English-speaking country or wish to train or study at below degree level, you would usually take the IELTS General Training. In some cases both tests may be accepted. Which test do you need to take?
Four formats to test your skills
IELTS assesses your language skills in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The tests have been designed to be internationally focused in their content. This means that a range of native speaker accents are used in the listening test, and all standard varieties of English are accepted in your written and spoken responses.
We strive to give you the best possible chance to perform well in your test. This is why the IELTS Speaking test is conducted with an actual examiner, which gives you the opportunity to ask for the question to be repeated before you attempt to answer. The Speaking test is also conducted in a quiet room to eliminate any distraction that may affect your concentration. Find out more about the IELTS test format.
