IELTS is a popular English language certification exam. The IELTS certificate is valid for two years, and many universities abroad accept it as a sufficient requirement for admission. The exam has a strong practical focus, which means the certificate can also be useful when applying for jobs.
IELTS has two modules, depending on your purpose:
- Academic – this module is suitable for people who want to apply for an undergraduate or postgraduate programme at an international university.
- General – this module is intended for people who want to work in an English-speaking country (Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, the USA).
The exam assesses candidates’ skills in four language areas – listening, reading, writing and speaking. The Listening and Speaking sections are the same for all candidates, while the Writing and Reading sections differ depending on whether the candidate takes the Academic or General module.
IELTS is scored on a 9-band scale. The score most commonly required by institutions and educational establishments is 6.5–7.0.
