IELTS
English-proficiency proof for study abroad (IELTS Academic) and for migration and work visas to the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand (IELTS General Training and UKVI variants). Accepted by 12,500+ organisations in 140+ countries.
Eligibility
There is no educational qualification bar and no attempt limit; IDP recommends candidates be at least 16. A valid passport is the only accepted identification in India and must be carried on test day. Scores are valid for two years.
Age limit: None (16+ recommended)
Exam pattern
Four modules totalling about 2 hours 45 minutes: Listening (30 minutes, 40 questions), Reading (60 minutes, 40 questions), Writing (60 minutes, 2 tasks) and a face-to-face Speaking interview with a human examiner (11–14 minutes, sometimes on a different day). Each module is banded 0–9 in half-band steps and the overall band is their average; there is no negative marking. Computer results arrive in 1–5 days, paper results in 13 days. On the computer version, One Skill Retake lets you re-sit just one module within 60 days instead of the whole test.
Syllabus at a glance
Listening covers conversations and monologues in social and academic settings. Academic Reading uses three long texts from journals and magazines with True/False/Not Given, matching and completion tasks. Writing Task 1 is a report on a chart/diagram (Academic) or a letter (General Training); Task 2 is a 250-word essay. Speaking runs through an interview, a cue-card long turn and a discussion.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS on Computer | Multiple slots daily, year-round through 2026 | confirmed |
| IELTS on Paper | Up to four fixed dates per month through 2026 | confirmed |
| Registration | Rolling — book 3–4 weeks ahead for your preferred city and slot | confirmed |
| Results | 1–5 days (computer) / 13 days (paper) after the test | confirmed |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Cambridge IELTS 15–20 Authentic Practice Tests — Cambridge University Press
- The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS — Pauline Cullen, Amanda French, Vanessa Jakeman
- Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS — Pauline Cullen
- Target Band 7 — Simone Braverman
- Barron's IELTS — Lin Lougheed
How toppers play it
- Writing Task 2 carries double the weight of Task 1 — budget 40 minutes for it and answer every part of the question; ignoring one part caps Task Response at Band 5.
- Know the format differences: paper Listening gives 10 minutes to transfer answers, computer gives only 2 minutes to review — practise on the version you booked.
- Reading has no transfer time; hold a 20-minutes-per-passage discipline and master True/False/Not Given logic, the biggest score-killer for Indian candidates.
- Speaking is with a human examiner — memorised, scripted answers are penalised; practise extending answers naturally with reasons and examples.
- If one module falls short of your target, use the computer-based One Skill Retake (₹12,650, within 60 days) rather than paying ₹19,000 for a full re-sit.