IELTS

The IELTS exam is a standardised, globally recognised English proficiency test used to assess the English language skills of individuals who wish to study, work or migrate to countries where English is the main language of communication and the official language. 

First held in 1989, the IELTS exam is jointly managed and administered by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English, and was developed to ensure that test takers' English language proficiency is evaluated fairly and as accurately as possible.

The IELTS exam was created in 1989 through the collaboration of the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English. 

The IELTS exam evolved from the English Language Testing Service (ELTS) programme, launched in 1980 by Cambridge English and the British Council to assess the English language proficiency of non-native English-speaking students applying to universities and university colleges in countries where English is the main language of communication and the official language. 

IDP joined Cambridge English and the British Council as a third partner in 1989, and as a result of major changes made to ELTS, the IELTS exam used today emerged.

The IELTS exam has been revised many times so that it can continue to measure the English proficiency of non-native English speakers accurately and reliably. Significant changes were made in 1995 and 2001, improving the exam format, scoring and assessment criteria.

The IELTS exam is designed to assess all of the English skills required for academic, professional and everyday social use of the language. 

Assessing candidates' listening, reading, writing and speaking skills in English, the IELTS exam is one of the world's leading English proficiency tests, taken by people who wish to work or study in countries where English is used as the language of communication, particularly the Anglosphere. It uses a nine-band scale to determine the English language skills and proficiency levels of the candidates who sit the exam.

The questions in the exam are prepared by language experts based in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The questions asked in the exam reflect everyday situations and make it an impartial and fair exam for all test takers, regardless of their background. 

Taken by millions of people each year to achieve their international goals, the IELTS exam is accepted by more than 12,000 organizations in over 150 countries, including universities, employers, immigration authorities and professional bodies in Anglosphere countries.

As of today, the IELTS exam is offered in various types designed for different needs. These types can be listed as follows.

• IELTS Academic

• IELTS Academic is designed for candidates who wish to enrol in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes offered at higher education institutions in countries where English is the main language of communication and the official language, or who wish to pursue professional training. 

• IELTS Academic assesses whether the test taker is ready to study and receive education in English.

• IELTS General Training

• IELTS General Training generally focuses on practical English skills used in everyday life. 

• This type of the IELTS exam is intended for people who will go to English-speaking countries to attend secondary education, to gain work experience, to take part in various training programmes, or for migration purposes.

• IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)

• IELTS UKVI is a special type of the standardised IELTS exam prepared specifically for individuals who wish to study, work or live in the United Kingdom. 

• IELTS UKVI is approved by the UK Home Office as proof of English language proficiency for purposes such as visa and immigration, and it is an exam with serious security measures such as stricter identity checks, CCTV monitoring and test centre auditing, thereby complying with UK immigration regulations. 

• IELTS UKVI has three different sub-types, which are:

• IELTS Academic for UKVI: This exam is for students who wish to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level at universities in the United Kingdom and for professionals who wish to work in occupations subject to various regulations.

• IELTS General Training for UKVI: This is for candidates who wish to migrate to the United Kingdom, receive vocational training or find work.

• IELTS Life Skills for UKVI: This exam assesses speaking and listening skills at levels A1, A2 or B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It is designed for people who need to prove their English speaking and listening skills for certain UK visa categories such as the Family Visa, Spouse Visa or Citizenship/Settlement Visa.

• IELTS Online

• IELTS Online is the online version of the IELTS Academic exam. Designed to provide convenience and flexibility for test takers, this exam can be taken by candidates from home or from anywhere with a stable internet connection. 

• However, IELTS Online may not be accepted by all universities and educational institutions and may not be suitable for immigration and professional purposes. 

• Candidates who are going to take this exam should contact the institution or organisation to which they will submit their exam result before taking the exam and verify that the exam will be accepted.

There has also been an online academic version of the IELTS exam offered under the name IELTS Indicator, which was carried out during the period when face-to-face exams could not be held due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, it is necessary to check whether this exam is still accepted by institutions.

The IELTS exam assesses four core language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. The total exam duration is 2 hours and 45 minutes. The listening, reading and writing sections of the IELTS exam are completed on the same day without any breaks, while the speaking test may be taken on the same day or up to one week before or after the other sections.

Among the IELTS exam types mentioned above, the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training exams differ in their Reading and Writing sections, whereas the Listening and Speaking sections are identical in both exams.

Candidates who wish to sit the IELTS exam can access sample practice tests on the British Council website.

Test takers are given approximately 30 minutes for this section of the exam. In paper-based tests, an additional 10 minutes is added to these 30 minutes, and this 10-minute period is used to transfer the answers onto the answer sheet. In computer-based tests, this time is 2 minutes.

The IELTS Listening section consists of 4 parts, each containing 10 questions. The Listening section is designed so that the answers test takers must provide come in the same order as the questions asked in the audio recordings they listen to. 

The Listening section evaluates test takers' ability to understand main ideas and detailed factual information, their ability to recognize the emphasis, intonation, opinions and attitudes expressed during a conversation, and whether they can follow the development of ideas presented in the conversations.

In the Listening section, the audio recordings are played to test takers only once, and the recordings played in this section contain various emphases, accents and expressions from the English spoken in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada. 

Test takers must write the exam answers on paper while listening to the audio recordings, and at the end of the test, they are given 10 minutes to transfer their answers onto an answer sheet. 

A point that should be underlined here is that when writing on the answer sheet, points are deducted for careless spelling and incorrect grammar usage, and therefore care must be taken when writing the answers.

The IELTS Listening test consists of 40 questions, and each question is worth 1 point. Although it may vary from exam to exam, the audio recordings played are generally structured as follows;

• Recording 1: Test takers listen to a conversation between two people in an everyday social context, for example about travel plans.

• Recording 2: Test takers listen to a monologue set in an everyday social context, for example about the facilities available at a certain place.

• Recording 3: Test takers listen to a conversation among up to four people that takes place in an educational or training setting, for example a conversation between a university lecturer and a student about an assignment.

• Recording 4: Test takers listen to a monologue on an academic subject, for example a talk taken from a lecture given at a university.

The types of questions that may be posed to test takers in the Listening section include multiple-choice questions, matching questions, plan, map or diagram labelling questions, and form, note, flowchart or summary completion questions.

Individuals who wish to take the exam can access sample listening materials on the British Council website.

IELTS Listening Section Sample Questions

For the Reading Section of the IELTS exam, test takers are given 60 minutes, which for paper-based tests also includes the time needed to transfer answers onto the answer sheet. 

This section of the IELTS exam consists of 40 questions designed to assess a variety of reading skills, and there are significant differences in the content of the reading passages between the Academic and General Training versions of the exam.

IELTS Academic Reading Section

The Reading Section of the IELTS Academic exam is designed to measure a wide range of reading skills, such as understanding the general topic of a text, understanding main ideas, understanding details, understanding inferences and implied meaning, and identifying the writer's opinions, attitude and purpose. 

In the reading test, test takers need to read the given texts quickly, use their allotted time efficiently, and answer the relevant questions by reading three different passages.

A point worth noting here is that, as mentioned above, the content of the reading sections of the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training exam types differs from one another. The IELTS Academic Reading Section contains 40 questions, with each correct answer worth one mark. Scores are given in whole and half bands and converted to the 9-band IELTS scale.

The IELTS Academic Reading Section contains three long passages of many types, such as descriptive, factual, discursive and analytical. These texts are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. Although the texts are selected for a non-specialist audience, they are appropriate for people who will enter university courses or undertake professional training.

Individuals wishing to take the exam can access sample reading tests for the IELTS Academic exam type on the British Council website.

Sample Questions for the IELTS Academic Reading Section

IELTS General Training Reading Section

The reading section of the IELTS General Training exam consists of three subsections. 

The first section contains two or three factual texts or several short texts related to everyday life, such as advertisements, notices and timetables. 

The second section contains short factual texts focusing on work-related topics, such as job descriptions, contracts, staff development and training materials. 

The third section contains a longer and more complex text on a topic of general interest, usually taken from newspapers, magazines, books or online sources.

The question types found in the reading sections of the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training exam types are generally as follows: 

• multiple choice, 

• true/false information-identification questions, 

• yes/no questions identifying the writer's views and claims, 

• information-matching questions, 

• heading-matching questions, 

• questions matching text features, 

• sentence-ending matching questions, 

• sentence-completion questions,

• summary, note, table or flow-chart completion questions,

• diagram-label completion questions and

• short-answer questions.

The reading section of the IELTS General Training exam assesses test takers' ability to read the main ideas and details of a text, understand inferences and implied meanings, identify the writer's opinions, attitudes and purpose, and follow the development of an argument.

Individuals wishing to take the exam can access sample reading tests for the IELTS General Training exam type on the British Council website.

Sample Questions for the IELTS General Training Reading Section

Candidates are given 60 minutes for the Writing Section of the IELTS exam. In this part of the exam, candidates are usually given two tasks. Task 2 contributes more to the overall Writing band score for this section than Task 1. Just as in the Reading section, the tasks given to candidates in the Writing section differ between the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training versions.

IELTS Academic Writing Section

The IELTS Academic Writing Section is designed to assess many writing skills, such as writing an appropriate response, organising ideas, and using a rich vocabulary and accurate grammar. 

In the IELTS Academic Writing Section, candidates are required to use formal language. The IELTS Academic Writing test consists of 2 parts. 

The Writing Section is assessed by a certified IELTS examiner, and in the IELTS Writing Section the score for Task 2 is worth twice as much as the score for Task 1. Scores are given in whole and half bands.

• Task 1

• For this task, candidates are shown a graph, table, chart, or diagram and are asked to describe, summarise, or explain the information it contains in their own words. 

• Candidates may be asked to describe and explain data, describe the stages of a process or how something works, or describe an object or event. 

• The text candidates write must consist of at least 150 words and use formal language. The recommended time to spend on this task is 20 minutes.

Sample IELTS Academic Writing Section Task 1 Question

• Task 2

• For this task, candidates are asked to write an essay of at least 250 words in response to a point of view, argument, or problem.

• The topics chosen for this task appeal to general interests, and their level is suitable for students about to begin undergraduate or postgraduate study.

• The essay must be written in a formal style, and candidates are advised to spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Sample IELTS Academic Writing Section Task 2 Question

IELTS General Training Writing Section

The IELTS General Training Writing Section is designed to assess many writing skills, such as writing an appropriate response, organising ideas, and using a rich vocabulary and accurate grammar. 

The IELTS General Training Writing Section covers general topics and consists of 2 tasks. The Writing test is assessed by a certified IELTS examiner, and the score for Task 2 is worth twice as much as the score for Task 1. Scores are given in whole and half bands.

• Task 1

• For this task, candidates are given a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information about or explaining that situation.

• This letter may be personal and can be written in a semi-formal or formal style. The letter must consist of at least 150 words, and candidates are advised to spend 20 minutes completing this task.

Sample IELTS General Training Writing Section Task 1 Question

• Task 2

• For this task, candidates are asked to write an essay of at least 250 words in response to a point of view, argument, or problem. 

• This essay can be written in a slightly more personal style compared to the second task in the IELTS Academic Writing section, but it should still be relatively formal.

• Candidates are advised to spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Sample IELTS General Training Writing Section Task 2 Question

The IELTS Speaking Section consists of 3 subsections and assesses candidates' English speaking skills. The time allocated for the Speaking Section is in the range of 11–14 minutes, and it is conducted as a face-to-face interview with a certified IELTS examiner and is recorded. The speaking section is the same for the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training test types.

• Part 1

• In this part, the examiner first introduces themselves and asks the candidate to introduce themselves and verify their identity. Afterwards, the examiner asks the candidate general questions about familiar topics such as themselves, their family, their work, their education and their interests. This part is allotted 4–5 minutes. The following can be given as examples of the questions asked to candidates in this part.

• Part 2

• In this part, the examiner gives the candidate a task card asking them to speak about a particular topic. The card given to the candidate includes points that the candidate may touch on in their talk. Candidates are given 1 minute to prepare and take notes, and are then asked to speak about the given topic for 1–2 minutes. The examiner may ask the candidate one or two additional questions related to the same topic. This part lasts approximately 3–4 minutes. The following can be given as examples of the questions asked to candidates in this part.

• Part 3

• In this part, the examiner asks the candidate questions related to the topic given in Part 2. These questions allow the examiner and the candidate to discuss more abstract ideas and topics. This part lasts approximately 4–5 minutes. The following can be given as examples of the questions asked to candidates in this part.

The Speaking Section of the IELTS exam assesses candidates' ability to convey ideas and information about everyday topics and common experiences, to speak at length about a given topic using appropriate language and organising ideas coherently, to express and justify ideas, and to analyse, discuss and speculate about topics of conversation. This part of the exam is conducted on the basis of fluency, coherence, vocabulary, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation.

In general, anyone who needs to prove their English language proficiency for academic, professional, or immigration purposes can take the IELTS exam. 

No restrictions based on nationality, gender, or background are applied to those wishing to take the exam, and candidates can sit the IELTS exam regardless of the country they come from or the language they speak.

Although there is no upper age limit for taking the IELTS exam, it is recommended that candidates be at least 16 years old. This is because the exam content and tasks are more suitable for individuals aged 16 and over. While it is possible for younger participants to take the exam, parental consent may be required depending on the test centre.

Candidates do not need to hold any educational qualification, such as a high school diploma or university degree, in order to register for and take the IELTS exam. 

The IELTS exam assesses candidates' English language skills, not their academic background. However, the institutions or organisations to which candidates will submit their IELTS scores, such as universities or immigration offices, may have their own educational and other prerequisites, such as an IELTS score within a specific band.

The most important factor in determining who should take the IELTS exam and which type of exam should be chosen is the purpose of taking the exam. As we mentioned above under the heading Types of the IELTS Exam, the IELTS exam has different types that vary according to purpose.

• People who wish to pursue higher education in countries where English is the main language of communication and the official language generally need to take the IELTS Academic exam.

• Again, in countries where English is the main language of communication and the official language, many professional bodies operating in fields such as medicine, nursing, engineering, and accounting may require an IELTS Academic score for application.

• Individuals wishing to immigrate to countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom may generally need to provide an IELTS General Training score as part of their visa applications.

• Individuals aiming to work in an English-speaking country or in a multinational organisation where English is the main language of communication may need to take the IELTS General Training exam, or, for certain professions, the IELTS Academic exam.

For education programmes below undergraduate level, such as secondary-level education or vocational training programmes, an IELTS General Training exam score may be required.

The IELTS exam uses a nine-band scale to determine test takers' English language skills and proficiency levels. Although there is no such thing as failing the exam, the higher the score, the stronger the test taker's command of the language.

The IELTS exam is scored between 1 and 9 for each of the Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking sections. The average of the four sections determines the overall score. 

Test takers can receive whole (5.0, 6.0, 7.0, etc.) or half (5.5, 6.5, 7.5, etc.) scores. If the average of the four sections ends in .25, the Overall Band Score is rounded up to the next half band. If the average ends in .75, the Overall Band Score is rounded up to the next whole number.

The interface used for the digital version of the IELTS exam is shown below. Individuals who wish to take the IELTS exam can access sample questions and full practice tests at this link.

The question of what counts as a good IELTS score is one we encounter very frequently. What a good IELTS score should be generally depends on the individual goals of the test takers and the requirements of the institutions to which they will submit their scores. 

As we mentioned earlier, the IELTS exam assesses test takers' English communication skills in four different areas: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Each section is scored between 0 and 9, where 9 corresponds to an expert user, while 0 indicates that the test taker did not sit the exam. 

At this point, it would not be wrong to say that there is no single, universally "good" IELTS score, and that the value of the scores test takers receive is determined by where and in what context the score will be used.

Individuals who will use their exam scores for academic purposes should be aware that universities in English-speaking countries, particularly the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA, have high IELTS requirements.

While a “good” IELTS score for general undergraduate programs should be in the range of 6.0 – 6.5, highly competitive universities and their medicine, law, engineering and language-intensive departments generally require an overall score of 7.0 or even 7.5, and sometimes a minimum score in each section, for example at least 6.5 in the Writing section.

Master's programs generally require higher IELTS scores than undergraduate programs. The overall score usually starts at 6.5 and can climb up to 7.5 or 8.0 for the most prestigious programs, and minimum scores may apply for certain sections of the exam, such as Writing and Speaking.

One point to keep in mind here is that there is a difference between obtaining the minimum required score and obtaining a competitive score. For example, even though the minimum score for an undergraduate program may be stated as 6.5, the number of candidates achieving this score can be very high, and accordingly a higher score such as 7.5 or 8.0 can make applicants' profiles stand out, especially for popular departments with limited places.

Although the overall score obtained by test takers is an important indicator, many higher education institutions also look at the section-specific scores of the exam. For example, for an undergraduate or master's program that involves very intensive essay writing and requires giving numerous presentations, a university will place greater importance on the Writing and Speaking section scores. 

An imbalance, such as a significantly low score in one section despite a high overall score, can be a source of concern for some institutions. Therefore, it is advisable to deliver consistent performance across all four modules.

Many professional bodies and organizations rely on IELTS scores to assess the English language proficiency of applicants. 

Although the score that test takers need may vary depending on the profession and the country, healthcare workers such as doctors and nurses, for example, are generally required to score 7.0 – 7.5 and to meet a minimum score requirement in certain sections of the test in order to satisfy professional application requirements in English-speaking countries.

For corporate positions, an IELTS score in the range of 6.5 – 7.0 can be considered a good score, and it demonstrates that candidates applying for these positions have a sufficient level of English for workplace communication.

Governments in English-speaking countries use IELTS scores as part of their points-based immigration systems. For example, countries such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand have IELTS score requirements for various visa categories, including skilled migration. While a sufficient level generally corresponds to a score of around 6.0, scores of 7.0 and above significantly strengthen an applicant's profile.

Choosing the right English proficiency test is an important step for people who want to study, work or emigrate to a country where English is the main language of communication and an official language. IELTS and TOEFL, the two most widely recognized and accepted English proficiency tests in the world, generally assess four core language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. 

On the other hand, these two tests differ significantly in terms of format, scoring, test method and regional preferences. We can list these differences as follows.

Test Types and Purposes

• IELTS

• The IELTS test has three different types: IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training and IELTS for UKVI. 

• IELTS Academic is designed for individuals who wish to pursue higher education or engage in professional activities in an English-speaking environment. 

• IELTS General Training is intended for individuals who wish to undertake secondary education, gain work experience or participate in training programs in an English-speaking country, or who wish to emigrate to countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. 

• IELTS UKVI is a special type of the standardized IELTS test prepared specifically for individuals who wish to study, work or live in the United Kingdom. 

• TOEFL

• The TOEFL test is an academic English exam. It is generally used for admission to universities and colleges where English is the language of instruction. Some institutions may also accept it for other purposes, but it usually serves academic objectives.

Test Format and Administration

• IELTS

• The IELTS test offers the flexibility to choose between a paper-based test and a computer-based test.

• TOEFL

• The TOEFL iBT is administered on a computer at a secure test center. All sections of the test, including speaking, are completed on the computer, and the TOEFL iBT Home Edition provides the option to take the test from home online under the supervision of a proctor.

Differences Between the Test Sections

• IELTS Listening

• It features accents from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Canada. Test takers answer questions while listening to recordings of conversations and monologues set in everyday social and academic contexts. The question types are highly varied and include multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form/note/table/flow-chart completion and sentence completion.

• TOEFL Listening

• North American accents are mostly used. Test takers listen to passages from university lectures and to discussions and conversations that take place in classrooms, and then answer multiple-choice questions. The content is academic.

• IELTS Academic Reading

• It consists of three long texts taken from books, magazines and newspapers. The texts are academic in nature. A wide variety of question types are used, such as multiple choice, identifying true/false information, identifying the writer's views/claims, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram labelling and short-answer questions.

• IELTS General Training Reading

• It uses texts encountered in daily life and the work environment. These include notices, advertisements, company handbooks, official documents, books, magazines and newspapers. It contains a variety of question types similar to the Academic version, but the texts are generally less complex.

• TOEFL Reading

• It contains 2 reading passages taken from academic texts of the kind typically found in university textbooks. The questions are mostly multiple choice and assess understanding of main ideas, details, inferences, vocabulary, rhetorical purpose and overall structure. It also includes questions that involve classifying or summarizing information.

• IELTS Academic Writing

• Test takers are given two writing tasks. Task 1 requires describing, summarizing or explaining in at least 150 words the visual information presented in a graph, table, chart or diagram. Task 2 requires writing an essay of at least 250 words in response to a point of view, argument or problem.

• IELTS General Training Writing

• Test takers are given two writing tasks. Task 1 requires writing a letter of at least 150 words in response to a given situation. Task 2 requires writing an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem on a more general topic than the one asked in the IELTS Academic test.

• TOEFL Writing

• Test takers are given two writing tasks. Both writing tasks are completed on the computer.

• The first task involves reading a short text and listening to a short lecture on the same topic. Test takers must then write a summary of the lecture and explain how it relates to the main points in the text they read

• The second task requires test takers to write an essay that states and supports their opinion on a particular topic in an academic discussion format.

• IELTS Speaking

• It is conducted as a face-to-face interview with a certified examiner. It is recorded for assessment purposes. It consists of three parts.

• Part 1: The test taker is asked general questions about themselves, where they live, their family, their job, their academic studies and their interests.

• Part 2: Test takers are given a task card on a particular topic and, after preparing for 1 minute, are asked to speak for 1–2 minutes on the given topic.

• Part 3: The examiner asks questions related to the topic given to the test taker in Part 2, enabling a more advanced discussion to be conducted.

• TOEFL Speaking

• Test takers speak into a microphone and their responses are recorded. The responses are then evaluated by artificial intelligence and certified examiners. It consists of four tasks.

• Task 1 requires test takers to express their opinion on a familiar topic.

• The remaining 3 tasks require reading a short text and/or listening to a short audio recording and then responding.

Scoring of the IELTS and TOEFL Tests

• IELTS

• It uses a band scale from 0 to 9 for each section (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking). The overall band score is the average of the four sections' scores and is rounded to the nearest half band. For example, a score of 6.75 is rounded to 7.0, and a score of 6.25 is rounded to 6.5.

• TOEFL

• Each of the four sections is scored from 0 to 30. The total score is the sum of the four sections' scores and ranges from 0 to 120.

Recognition of the IELTS and TOEFL Tests

• IELTS

• The IELTS test is recognized in more than 140 countries. It is especially popular in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. It is also accepted by many universities in the USA.

• TOEFL

• It is recognized in more than 160 countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. It is the most widely accepted English proficiency test in the USA.

Which Test Is Easier?

The difficulty of the IELTS and TOEFL tests varies from person to person and depends on the areas in which test takers are stronger, their preferences, the different test formats and their familiarity with English accents.

If;

• You prefer to have a face-to-face interview for the speaking section,

• You are more successful with a variety of question types rather than multiple-choice questions,

• You are proficient in a wider range of English accents, and

• You think you would perform better in a paper-based test

you should choose the IELTS test.

If;

• You are more inclined to use a computer for all sections of the test, including writing an essay and speaking into a microphone,

• You perform better on multiple-choice questions,

• You are more accustomed to North American English and academic content, and

• You prefer integrated tasks that combine several skills, such as reading–listening followed by writing–speaking

you should choose the TOEFL test.

If you are having trouble choosing the most suitable test for you, you can contact us.

Preparing for the IELTS exam is a lengthy process that involves steps such as determining a target score range, sitting practice tests, and creating a study schedule based on the results obtained. 

In this regard, it is recommended that individuals who will take the exam first sit a timed IELTS practice test and assess their strengths and weaknesses across the four sections that make up the exam. Online IELTS practice tests can be accessed from this link. 

Individuals who will take the exam should also research the IELTS score requirements of the institutions and organizations to which they intend to apply with their IELTS scores. In this way, they should set a target score and prepare their study plans by taking into account the baseline score they obtained in the practice test they sat and the score they are aiming for.

Subsequently, they should set aside time slots for IELTS preparation every day or every week, and focus on the areas in which they are weak by keeping in mind the mistakes they made in their first practice test. Of course, solving practice tests alone will not be sufficient, and it is also important for individuals who will take the exam to do skill-building exercises, vocabulary-development exercises, and grammar rule revision.

In addition, it is recommended that candidates break the preparation process down into small and achievable goals in order to maintain their motivation. To get help with IELTS exam preparation, you can contact us.

IELTS exam fees are as shown in the table below.