What is the IELTS exam?

Your goal decides the test (ielts.org). Listening and Speaking are identical in both versions; Reading and Writing differ. If you are unsure, check the exact wording of your university, regulator or visa page. More in IELTS Academic vs General Training.

The test takes about 2 hours 45 minutes. Listening, Reading and Writing are taken on the same day with no breaks; Speaking is on the same day or within 7 days, depending on the centre (British Council). From mid-2026 IELTS is delivered on computer, with a Writing on Paper option in selected markets (ielts.org). The full breakdown is in the IELTS exam pattern.

Each skill gets a band from 0 to 9, in whole or half bands, and the overall band is their average rounded to the nearest half band. Listening and Reading are marked out of 40 and converted to a band; Writing and Speaking are marked by examiners on four criteria each, set out in the public band descriptors. Work out your own overall with the IELTS band score calculator.

There is no pass mark (IELTS pass mark). Many universities ask for an overall 6.0 to 7.0, often with a minimum in each skill, and visas set their own levels. The band labels run from 9 (expert) and 7 (good) down to 5 (modest) and 4 (limited).

The fee is set by the provider in each country and can change; the figures below come from our country fee guides, each checked against the provider's own page. The IELTS fee by country guide covers more countries.

Computer-delivered results usually arrive in 1 to 5 days (IELTS results time). Your Test Report Form prints no expiry date, but most universities and visas accept results for 2 years from the test date; Australian skilled visas accept up to 3 years (IELTS validity).

You can take IELTS as often as you like. Where it is offered, One Skill Retake lets you resit just one skill, though not every organisation accepts the result.

IELTS is not the only option. PTE Academic is fully computer-scored, with results typically within two days; TOEFL iBT is common for US universities; the Duolingo English Test is taken at home and accepted by many universities, but not for most visas. Compare them in IELTS or PTE: which is easier? and convert scores with the PTE to IELTS converter.

Take one timed practice test first, so you know your starting band in each skill, then put most of your time into the weakest one. The free IELTS mock test scores Listening and Reading instantly and gives AI feedback on Writing and Speaking. That feedback is a practice estimate, not an official IELTS score.

A week-by-week plan is in how to prepare for IELTS.