An international standardized exam of English language ability for non-native English speakers is called the International English Language Testing System. It was started in 1989 and is jointly supervised by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English. One of the most popular English language exams in the world is IELTS.
Most academic institutions in Australia, Britain, Canada, Europe, Ireland, and New Zealand as well as more than 3,000 academic institutions in the United States and several professional organizations across the world recognise IELTS as a valid test score.
To pass the test, there is no minimum score requirement. Every test taker who receives a score between “band 1” (“non-user”) to “band 9” (“expert user”)—each institution has a different cutoff—receives an IELTS result or Test Report Form. Additionally, individuals who chose not to take the test will receive a “band 0” score. A report older than two years should not be taken into account by institutions unless the user can demonstrate that they have made an effort to maintain their level.
Modules
There are two modules of the IELTS:
*Academic Module and
*General Training Module
There’s 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 practice 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.