International English Language Testing System or IELTS, is the English language proficiency test specially prepared for non-native English speakers. It is owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment, and was established in 1989.
The IELTS exam tests a person in four categories, ie, Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. The test lasts for exactly 2 hours and 45 minutes. Reading, Writing, and Listening are conducted in one sitting. However, the Speaking Test is conducted on a different day, either before or after the Reading, Writing, and Listening Tests. Each of the four sections consists of 40 marks and the exam is ultimately conducted out of 9 bands. There’s a skill level assigned for each band a person acquires out of 9.
- 9 out of 9 bands – ‘Expert’ user of English.
- 8 out of 9 bands – ‘Very Good’ user of English.
- 7 out of 9 bands – ‘Good’ users of English.
- 6 out of 9 bands – ‘Competent’ users of English.
- 5 out of 9 bands – ‘Modest’ user of English.
- 4 out of 9 bands – ‘Limited’ user of English.
- 3 out of 9 bands – ‘Extremely Limited’ user of English.
- 2 out of 9 bands – ‘Intermittent’ users of English.
- 1 out of 9 bands – ‘Non’ user of English.
- 0 out of 9 bands – did not attempt the test.
This test is now accepted worldwide, in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, and in Australia. Normally, universities expect a student to acquire 6.5 – 7 bands to get accepted into their institution.
