IELTS: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

IELTS is an acronym for International English Language Testing System. It can be taken in more than 100 different countries in the world. The IELTS is designed to determine whether a candidate is fit to train or study in countries where English is the primary language of correspondence. 

If you wish to further your education in diploma, undergraduate or postgraduate level (regardless of your subject of preference) in native English speaking countries like Australia, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Scotland and Ireland you will be required to take the Academic module of the IELTS.  You might also be required to take the IELTS exam in case you are seeking admission in a European country like Denmark, Finland, and Norway. 

The IELTS test comprises four subtests: listening, reading, writing and speaking, and takes approximately 2 hours and 44 minutes to complete. You are marked on a scale of 1-9; Band 1: Non-User; Band 9: Expert User. This is true for all the subsections of the IELTS: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. You should understand that your overall Band Score is an average of the 4 subtest Band Score. 

For instance, say you score         7.5 in listening

                                                         6.0 in Reading

                                                         7.0 in Writing

                                                  and 6.5 in Speaking

Your total score is (7.5+6.0+7.0+6.5) = 27

Your Overall Band Score is 27/4(the number of subtests) = 6.875

The good news is you scored a 7.0. Yes; your factional score is rounded up or down to the nearest X.0 or X.5.  

So, if your overall score is an average of 7.35, your score will be increased to 7.5.

If your overall score is an average of 7.75, your score will be increased to 8.0.

However, if your score is 7.20, your score will go down to 7. 

Many students are oblivious that there is no pass or fail in the IELTS examination. Would it help if you knew you could never fail the test? 

Yes, that's true! And you can take the IELTS exam as many times as you like.

It is, however, always a wise decision to check with the college or university that you are interested in to figure out their IELTS requirements. Once you are informed regarding the overall IELTS Band score that is required of you, you can set your IELTS goals.