The full form of IELTS is the International English Testing System. IELTS is one of the widely accepted English language standardized tests. This test is designed specifically for those who want to work or study abroad where English is the primary language of instruction. Officially established in 1989, the IELTS exam is organized in collaboration with IDP: IELTS Australia, British Council, and Cambridge Assessment English. IELTS is recognized in numerous countries including, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the USA.
The test has various test dates throughout the year, and the scoring is valid for two years. There are about 900 testing locations spread across 130 nations. This test is taken annually by more than 2 million people worldwide.
Also Read: How to Ace IELTS Reading Section
Types of IELTS Exam
There are two types of IELTS exams. Let’s take a look at each one of them:
- Academic IELTS: The academic version of the exam is specially designed for those students who aspire to study abroad and want to be admitted to any undergraduate or postgraduate programs at universities abroad. It is also useful for those professionals, like doctors and engineers who are prepared to serve in an English-language-speaking country.
- General IELTS: This is chosen by those individuals who wish to migrate to English-speaking countries or seek entry to a foreign nation for any non-academic purposes. For people wishing to enroll in any form of the training program, pursue secondary education, or just want to obtain work experience abroad, this type of IELTS exam is also their first choice.
Must Read: Vocabulary for IELTS
Test Structure of the IELTS Exam
Individuals’ four English language skills—reading, writing, listening, and speaking—are evaluated on the IELTS exam. The format of the four sections of the test is shown below:
Section | Time Duration |
Writing | 60 Minutes |
Reading | 60 Minutes |
Listening | 30 minutes |
Speaking | 11- 15 Minutes |
Total Duration of the Test | 2 hours 45 minutes |
This was all about IELTS full form. Planning to study abroad and worried about your IELTS test preparations? Get in touch with the experts at Leverage Edu in order to kickstart your study abroad journey, test preparations, overseas universities, and all about the admissions process in detail.