PBT TOEFL Structure Test

TOEFL EXERICISE 1: Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice in each of the following sentences. Then, indicate if the sentences are Correct (C) or Incorrect (I).

_____ 1. Last week went fishing for trout at the nearby mountain lake.
_____ 2. 

PBT TOEFL Listening Test

TOEFL EXERCISE 1

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TOEIC

What is TOEIC?

The Test of English for International Communication® (TOEIC) is "an English language test designed specifically to measure the everyday English skills of people working in an international environment."

There are different forms of the exam: The TOEIC Listening & Reading Test consists of two equally graded tests of comprehension assessment activities totaling a possible 990 score; There are also the TOEIC Speaking and Writing Tests. The TOEIC speaking test is composed of tasks that assess pronunciation, intonation and stress, vocabulary, grammar, cohesion, relevance of content and completeness of content. The TOEIC Writing test is composed of tasks that assess grammar, relevance of sentences to the pictures, quality and variety of sentences, vocabulary, organization, and whether the opinion is supported with reason and/or examples. Both assessments use a score scale of 0 - 200.

TOEIC Listening and Reading Test

The TOEIC Listening & Reading Test lasts two hours [45 minutes for Listening, and 75 minutes for Reading]. It consists of 200 multiple-choice items evenly divided between the listening and reading comprehension section. Each candidate receives independent scores for listening and reading comprehension on a scale from 5 to 495 points. The total score adds up to a scale from 10 to 990 points. The TOEIC certificate exists in five colors, corresponding to achieved results:^[2]

•    orange (10–219)
•    brown (220–469)
•    green (470–729)
•    blue (730–859)
•    gold (860–990)

TOEIC test certificates are optional, unofficial documents that are meant for display only.

TOEIC Speaking and Writing Test

The TOEIC Speaking & Writing Tests were introduced in 2006. Test takers receive separate scores for each of the two tests, or they can take the Speaking test without taking the Writing test and vice versa. The Speaking test assesses pronunciation, intonation and stress, vocabulary, grammar, cohesion, relevance of content and completeness of content, while the Writing test assess grammar, relevance of sentences to the pictures, quality and variety of sentences, vocabulary, organization, and whether the opinion is supported with reason and/or examples. The tests are designed to reflect actual English usage in the workplace, though they do not require any knowledge of specialized business terms. The TOEIC Speaking Test takes approximately 20 minutes to complete; the TOEIC writing test lasts approximately 60 minutes. Each test has a score range between 0-200, with test takers grouped into eight proficiency levels for Speaking and nine proficiency levels for Writing.

Institutional TOEIC Test

In addition to the public testing program, there are also versions that individual businesses and educational institutions can purchase for internal use. These "Institutional" TOEIC tests can be administered at the organization's own choice of location and time to its employees or students.

History

The US-based Educational Testing Service (ETS) developed the TOEIC test to measure achievement in using English in a business setting. Yasuo Kitaoka was the central figure of the Japanese team that conceived the basic idea of the TOEIC test.

According to an Aug. 11, 2009 Japan Times article, "In the 1970s, Kitaoka began negotiating with ETS to create a new test of English communication for use in Japan. ETS responded that it required a nonprofit organization to work with as their partner. Kitaoka tried to enlist the help of the Ministry of Education, but their bureaucrats did not see the need for a new test to compete with the STEP Eiken, an English test already backed by the ministry. To overcome this opposition, Kitaoka received help from his friend, Yaeji Watanabe. Watanabe's influence as a retired high-ranking bureaucrat from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (renamed the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, or METI) proved crucial to TOEIC's establishment.

Watanabe had remained in contact with his old ministry while working on the board of directors for the World Economic Information Services (WEIS) and as chairman of the Japan-China Economic Association, both public-interest corporations operating under MITI. Watanabe declined an interview request, but his memoirs describe how he overcame Ministry of Education opposition to the TOEIC by taking cover "behind the ministry of trade shield." Watanabe convinced his old ministry it should play the lead role in establishing a new English test, and formed a TOEIC Steering Committee under the WEIS umbrella. Members of the committee included other retired MITI bureaucrats and influential business leaders.

Government support secured, ETS began developing the test in 1977. In 1979, English learners in Japan filled in the first of many TOEIC multiple-choice answer forms."

ETS's major competitors are Cambridge University, which administers the IELTS, FCE, CAE, and CPE and Trinity College London, which administers GESE and ISE exams.

2006 Redesigned TOEIC Tests

A new version of the TOEIC Listening & Reading test was released in 2006. The changes can be summarized as follows:

• Overall, passages are longer.
• Part 1 has fewer questions involving photograph descriptions.
• The Listening Section hires speakers of English from Britain, Australia, New Zealand and North America, and uses an equal distribution of the dialects. However, all the voice actors for the audio sections have lived in the United States for an extended period.
• Part 6 no longer contains an error-spotting task, criticized as unrealistic in a corporate environment, instead adopting the use of a task wherein the test taker fills in blanks in incomplete sentences.
• Part 7 contains not only single-passage questions but also double-passage questions wherein the test taker reads and compares the two related passages, such as an e-mail correspondence.

According to a survey conducted in 2006 by the Institute for International Business Communication (財団法人 国際ビジネスコミュニケーション協会 Zaidanhōjin Kokusai Bijinesu Komyunikēshon Kyōkai), 56.8% of the respondents who took both the older and the revised versions of the TOEIC test in Japan find the latter version more difficult.^[6] The lower the score the test taker achieves, the more marked this tendency becomes. As many as 85.6% of those who earned scores ranging from 10 to 395 points find the revised TOEIC test more difficult, while 69.9% of those who earned 400 to 495 points think this way, as do 59.3% of those who earned 500 to 595 points. Among those who achieved 600 to 695 points 58.9% agree with these findings. 700 to 795 points 48.6%, 800 to 895 points 47.9%, and 900 to 990 points 39.8%.

2006 also saw the addition of TOEIC Speaking & Writing tests. In 2007 there were additional changes to the TOEIC Reading & Listening test that decreased emphasis on knowledge of grammatical rules.

How the TOEIC Listening and Reading test is scored

Scores on the TOEIC Listening and Reading test are determined by the number of correct answers. The number of correct responses on each section is converted to a scaled score. Three TOEIC Listening and Reading scaled scores are given for each examinee:

• οne for the Listening Section
• οne for the Reading Section
• οne Total Score that consists of the sum of the Listening Section and Reading Section sub-scores.

Each sub-score can range from 5 to 495 points. The Total Score ranges from 10 to 990. There is no negative scoring. The Total Score consists of the sum of the Listening Section and Reading Section sub-scores.

In 2016, the TOEIC system changed for the first time in 10 years. ETS said that the changes to the TOEIC would reflect the use of online communication in modern society.

In Japan and South Korea, a new version of TOEIC was created that includes chart comprehension questions.

TOEIC in Japan

The Institute for International Business Communication (財団法人国際ビジネスコミュニケーション協会 Zaidanhōjin Kokusai Bijinesu Komyunikēshon Kyōkai) operates the TOEIC test in Japan, where nearly 2.4 million people (as of 2014^[9]) take the test; 1.3M for institutional program (IP) and 1.1M for secure program (SP).

There are two ways to take the TOEIC test properly. One is called the TOEIC SP Test (Secure Program Test; 公開テストKōkai Tesuto), in which one can take the test individually or in a group on specified dates at a test centre specified by the TOEIC Steering Committee. The other is the TOEIC Institutional Program (IP) Test (団体特別受験制度 Dantai Tokubetsu Juken Seido), in which an organization can choose the date and administer the test at its convenience in accordance with the TOEIC Steering Committee. The TOEIC SP Test was renewed on May 2006, followed by the TOEIC IP Test in April 2007 in line so that it would be with the SP Test.

More and more companies use TOEIC scores for personnel assessment instead of the homegrown STEP Eiken test organized by the Society for Testing English Proficiency (STEP) (日本英語検定協会主催実用英語技能検定試験「英検」Nihon Eigo Kentei Kyōkai Shusai Jitsuyō Eigo Ginō Kentei Shiken "Eiken"). The TOEIC Speaking Test/Writing Test started on January 21, 2007 in addition to the TOEIC SP Test and the TOEIC IP Test.

Scandal

The Institute for International Business Communication (IIBC), the non-profit organization that administers the TOEIC in Japan, was the subject of a scandal in 2009.

In May and June 2009, articles in the Japanese weekly magazine FRIDAY accused the IIBC’s 92-year-old chairman Yaeji Watanabe of nepotism when he appointed the son of his girlfriend to the position of chairman of the IIBC Board of Directors. To force the appointment, half of the volunteers serving on the Board were driven out by Watanabe. The magazine article also questioned why Watanabe only showed up for work about one day a week.

In his defense, Watanabe claimed that he held a ceremonial title and was chairman in name only. As a result, Watanabe claimed that he had little to do with the decision to appoint the son of his girlfriend to the position. The magazine article concluded by asking why someone who is chairman only in name and only working one day a week should receive an annual salary in excess of 25 million yen.

In August 2009, the online version of the English-language newspaper The Japan Times published a two-part series examining the TOEIC’s origins and early history as well as the use of test-taker fees by the IIBC on the internet. The August 18 article examined the questionable uses of test fees, including a fivefold increase in utility expenses in one year, 13 million spent annually on research about adapting to Chinese culture, sponsorship of poetry readings by the Chinese Poetry Recitation Association, and membership fees to join the Beautiful Aging Association, for which Watanabe happened to be chairman.

The article also questioned the relationship between the IIBC and its for-profit partner International Communications School with which it shared office space. International Communications School is responsible for selling the TOEIC Institutional Program Test given by companies and schools; publishes IIBC-approved TOEIC preparation textbooks; and administers the TOEIC Japanese language website. One of International Communications School's subsidiaries is E-Communications, which administers the TOEIC’s online application system and provides online TOEIC study materials.

In 2009, Watanabe suddenly resigned from the IIBC, leaving the son of his girlfriend in charge of the non-profit. Watanabe received a 25 million yen retirement payment.

The IIBC lowered the price of the TOEIC Secure Program Test from 6,615 yen to 5,985 yen starting with the September 13, 2009 test. The price had to be lowered due to pressure from the Ministry of Trade, which instructed the IIBC to reduce the profits being generated by the test.^[10]

In July 2010, the Tokyo Tax Bureau announced that International Communications School, IIBC's for-profit partner, hid 100 million yen in income and had to pay 30 million yen in back taxes and fines.

TOEIC in South Korea

Toward the end of 2005, there was a shift in South Korea, regarded as the second biggest consumer of TOEIC per capita.^[12]However, a person's TOEIC score is still a major factor in hiring persons for most professional jobs in South Korea. Starting in 2011, Korean universities will no longer be allowed to use TOEIC and TOEFL scores as part of the admission process. However, many Universities in Korea still require a minimum score of 900.^[13] This is apparently to discourage private English education (there are many private institutions that teach TOEIC-based classes). Another English proficiency test, TEPS(developed by Seoul National University, Chosun Ilbo), has been developed and may replace the status of TOEIC.

TOEIC in EUROPE

In France, some Grandes écoles require a TOEIC score of at least 785 to award the diploma. This policy has been criticized, as it makes state-awarded diplomas dependent on a private institution—despite the fact that it was not the private institution that set the 785 mark but a recommendation from the Commission des titres d'ingénieur indicating a B2+ level on theCommon European Framework of Reference for Languages. Students that cannot achieve a 785 mark are offered to validate their diploma by other means in most of the schools. Some institutions delay the diploma for 1 year after the end of the studies in that case.

In Greece, TOEIC is accepted by Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection|ASEP]], the organisation responsible for hiring new employees to work for the government. It is administrated by the Hellenic American Union and it is offered weekly in most major cities in Greece.

TOEIC in The United Kingdom

The TOEIC was a Home Office accredited test for students applying for a UK visa.

In 2014 an undercover investigation by the BBC program Panorama exposed systematic cheating and fraud by a number of organisations and individuals involved in running the test. Cheating was found to take place at Eden College International in London, where freelance invigilators used to conduct the exam. The college claimed no prior knowledge of the cheating, and had previously sacked three invigilators. ETS stated out it does not hire the invigilators and that it does everything it can to prevent cheating.

On 17 April 2014, ETS decided not to renew its licence as a provider of a Secure English Language Test (SELT). This means that these English language tests are no longer honoured for the purpose of being issued a UK visa.

In June 2014, the Home Office undertook its own investigation and claimed to have found 46,000 “invalid and questionable” tests. It suspended the TOEIC exam as being valid for entry to the UK. It also cancelled the visas of around 45,000 students, seventy percent of which of were Indian. Some left voluntarily with the majority being deported.

In March 2016, a tribunal ruled that the evidence the Home Office used to deport the students was not strong enough.

TOEIC in The United States

Both the TOEIC Listening & Reading and the TOEIC Speaking & Writing tests are now available in the United States. While the TOEIC Listening & Reading test has been available for decades, the TOEIC Speaking & Writing test was introduced in the United States only in 2009. Registration for the TOEIC Speaking & Writing test is handled by the English4Success division of the nonprofit organization Amideast.

TOEIC in Thailand

The Center for Professional Assessment offers regular institutional testing every Monday through Saturday at 9:00AM and 1:00PM (local time). The TOEIC test is a two-hour multiple-choice test that consists of 200 questions divided into 100 questions each in listening comprehension and reading comprehension. Each candidate receives independent marks for written and oral comprehension on a scale from 5 to 495 points. The total score adds up to a scale from 10 to 990 points.

TOEIC Bridge Test

ETS also administers another version of the TOEIC test called TOEIC Bridge. The TOEIC Bridge test targets beginning and intermediate learners and consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, requiring about one hour of testing time.

TOEIC Bridge in Chile

The TOEIC Bridge was used in Chile as part of the 2010 SIMCE test.

Source: Wikipedia

TOEFL

What is TOEFL?

Test of English as a Foreign Language® (TOEFL /ˈtoʊfəl/ TOH-fəl) is astandardized test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enroll in English-speaking universities. The test is accepted by many English-speaking academic and professional institutions. TOEFL is one of the two major English-language tests in the world, the other being the IELTS.

TOEFL is a trademark of the Educational Testing Service (ETS), a private non-profit organization, which designs and administers the tests. ETS issues official score reports, sent independently to institutions, for two years following the test.

History

In 1962, a national council made up of representatives of thirty government and private organizations was formed to address the problem of ensuring English language proficiency for non-native speakers wishing to study at U.S. universities. This council recommended the development and administration of the TOEFL exam for the 1963-1964 time frame.

The test was originally developed at the Center for Applied Linguistics under the direction of Stanford University applied linguistics professor Dr. Charles A. Ferguson.

The TOEFL test was first administered in 1964 by the Modern Language Association financed by grants from the Ford Foundation and Danforth Foundation.

In 1965, The College Board and ETS jointly assumed responsibility for the continuation of the TOEFL testing program. In 1973, a cooperative arrangement was made between ETS, The College Board, and the Graduate Record Examinations board of advisers to oversee and run the program. ETS was to administer the exam with the guidance of the TOEFL board.

To the present day, college admission criteria for international students who are nationals of some of the Commonwealth nations exempt them from taking the TOEFL exam. Nations which are part of the English-speaking world (from most Commonwealth realms to former British colonies e.g., Hong Kong SAR or former protectorates of the United States (Philippines, Puerto Rico) where English is the de facto official language automatically grants a TOEFL exemption with some restrictions (e.g., residents of Quebec are required to take TOEFL while the rest of Canada is exempt - also inclusive of Commonwealth nations where English is not an official language e.g., Mozambique or Namibia (English is co-official but spoken by 3% of the population)). However, this does not apply to some Commonwealth nations outside the Anglosphere, such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh etc., even though they may have English as the de facto official language.

Formats and Content

Internet-based test

Since its introduction in late 2005, the TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT) format has progressively replaced the computer-based tests (CBT) and paper-based tests (PBT), although paper-based testing is still used in select areas. The TOEFL iBT test has been introduced in phases, with the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy in 2005 and the rest of the world in 2006, with test centers added regularly. The CBT was discontinued in September 2006 and these scores are no longer valid^{[citation needed]}.

Initially, the demand for test seats was higher than availability, and candidates had to wait for months. It is now possible to take the test within one to four weeks in most countries.^[9] The four-hour test consists of four sections, each measuring one of the basic language skills (while some tasks require integrating multiple skills), and all tasks focus on language used in an academic, higher-education environment. Note-taking is allowed during the TOEFL iBT test. The test cannot be taken more than once every 12 days.^[10]

1. Reading

   The Reading section consists of questions on 3-4 passages, each approximately 700 words in length. The passages are on academic topics; they are the kind of material that might be found in an undergraduate university textbook. Passages require understanding of rhetorical functions such as cause-effect, compare-contrast and argumentation. Students answer questions about main ideas, details, inferences, essential information, sentence insertion, vocabulary, rhetorical purpose and overall ideas. New types of questions in the TOEFL iBT test require filling out tables or completing summaries. Prior knowledge of the subject under discussion is not necessary to come to the correct answer.

2. Listening

   The Listening section consists of questions on 6-9 passages, each 3–5 minutes in length. These passages include two student conversations and four academic lectures or discussions. The conversations involve a student and either a professor or a campus service provider. The lectures are a self-contained portion of an academic lecture, which may involve student participation and does not assume specialized background knowledge in the subject area. Each conversation and lecture passage is heard only once. Test-takers may take notes while they listen and they may refer to their notes when they answer the questions. Each conversation is associated with five questions and each lecture with six. The questions are meant to measure the ability to understand main ideas, important details, implications, relationships between ideas, organization of information, speaker purpose and speaker attitude.

3. Speaking

   The Speaking section consists of six tasks: two independent and four integrated. In the two independent tasks, test-takers answer opinion questions on familiar topics. They are evaluated on their ability to speak spontaneously and convey their ideas clearly and coherently. In two of the integrated tasks, test-takers read a short passage, listen to an academic course lecture or a conversation about campus life and answer a question by combining appropriate information from the text and the talk. In the two remaining integrated tasks, test-takers listen to an academic course lecture or a conversation about campus life and then respond to a question about what they heard. In the integrated tasks, test-takers are evaluated on their ability to appropriately synthesize and effectively convey information from the reading and listening material. Test-takers may take notes as they read and listen and may use their notes to help prepare their responses. Test-takers are given a short preparation time before they have to begin speaking. The responses are digitally recorded, sent to ETS's Online Scoring Network (OSN), and evaluated by three to six raters.

4. Writing

   The Writing section measures a test taker's ability to write in an academic setting and consists of two tasks: one integrated and one independent. In the integrated task, test-takers read a passage on an academic topic and then listen to a speaker discuss it. The test-taker then writes a summary about the important points in the listening passage and explains how these relate to the key points of the reading passage. In the independent task, the test-taker must write an essay that states their opinion or choice, and then explain it, rather than simply listing personal preferences or choices. Responses are sent to the ETS OSN and evaluated by at least 3 different raters.

   
   

   Task	Description	Approximate time
   Reading	3–4 passages, each containing 12–14 questions	60–80 minutes
   Listening	6–9 passages, each containing 5–6 questions	60–90 minutes
   Break	Mandatory break	10 minutes
   Speaking	6 tasks	20 minutes
   Writing	2 tasks	50 minutes

   One of the sections of the test will include extra, uncounted material. Educational Testing Service includes extra material to pilot test questions for future test forms. When test-takers are given a longer section, they should give equal effort to all of the questions because they do not know which question will count and which will be considered extra. For example, if there are four reading passages instead of three, then one of the passages will not be counted. Any of the four could be the uncounted one.

   Paper-delivered Test

   The TOEFL PDT is an official test for use where the internet test is unavailable, usually due to internet & computer issues.

   It consists of the Listening, Reading, and Writing sections, with scores that are the same scale as the Internet Based Test. There is no total score.

   Paper Based Test

   The TOEFL® paper-based Test (PBT) was available in limited areas until 2017, when it was replaced by the Paper-delivered test. Scores are valid for two years after the test date, and test takers can have their scores sent to institutions or face time.

   1. Listening (30 – 40 minutes)

      The Listening section consists of 3 parts. The first one contains 30 questions about short conversations. The second part has 8 questions about longer conversations. The last part asks 12 questions about lectures or talks.

   2. Structure and Written Expression (25 minutes)

      The Structure and Written Expression section has 15 exercises of completing sentences correctly and 25 exercises of identifying errors.

   3. Reading Comprehension (55 minutes)

      The Reading Comprehension sections has 50 questions about reading passages.

   4. Writing (30 minutes)

      The TOEFL PBT administrations include a writing test called the Test of Written English (TWE). This is one essay question with 250–300 words in average.

      
      

Test Scores

1. TOEFL iBT Test

   • The TOEFL iBT test is scored on a scale of 0 to 120 points.
   • Each of the four sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing) receives a scaled score from 0 to 30. The scaled scores from the four sections are added together to determine the total score.
   • The reading and listening sections are tested first, followed by a ten-minute break. The speaking and writing sections are then completed following the break. A maximum amount of 250 minutes is allowed to complete the whole exam process.
   • Each speaking question is initially given a score of 0 to 4, and each writing question is initially given a score of 0 to 5. These scores are converted to scaled scores of 0 to 30.

   Paper-based Test

   • The final PBT score ranges between 310 and 677 and is based on three subscores: Listening (31–68), Structure (31–68), and Reading (31–67). Unlike the CBT, the score of the Writing component (referred to as the Test of Written English, TWE) is not part of the final score; instead, it is reported separately on a scale of 0–6.
   • The score test takers receive on the Listening, Structure and Reading parts of the TOEFL test is not the percentage of correct answers. The score is converted to take into account the fact that some tests are more difficult than others. The converted scores correct these differences. Therefore, the converted score is a more accurate reflection of the ability than the raw score is.

   The TOEFL PBT was discontinued at the end of May 2017. Official testing in areas without internet or computers now uses the TOEFL PDT.

   Accepted TOEFL Scores

   Most colleges use TOEFL scores as only one factor in their admission process, with a college or program within a college often setting a minimum TOEFL score required. The minimum TOEFL iBT scores range from 61 (Bowling Green State University) to 110 (University of Oxford).

   ETS has released tables to convert between iBT, CBT and PBT scores.

   
   

TOEFL ITP Tests

TOEFL ITP ("ITP" stands for "Institutional Testing Program") tests are paper-based and use academic content to evaluate the English-language proficiency of non-native English speakers. The tests use new and previously administered TOEFL test questions and are used for placement, progress, evaluation, exit testing and other situations. The test scores, format and content of the test matches the "TOEFL PBT", with the exception of not including the TWE (Test of Written Expression).

Unlike the TOEFL iBT and PBT tests, TOEFL ITP tests are administered by the institution and for internal use. It should not replace the need for the TOEFL iBT test, which is administered securely and includes Speaking and Writing components. There are two levels of TOEFL ITP: Level 1 (intermediate to advanced) and Level 2 (high beginning to intermediate).TOEFL ITP scores are mapped to the CEFR and test takers are provided with a certificate of achievement.

TOEFL Junior Tests

ETS also offers the TOEFL Junior tests, a general assessment of middle school-level English-language proficiency. It is intended for students aged 11+.The tests are administered in two formats: TOEFL Junior Standard (on paper) and TOEFL Junior Comprehensive (via computer). The TOEFL Junior Standard test has three sections: Reading Comprehension, Listening Comprehension and Language Form and Meaning. The TOEFL Junior Comprehensive test has four: Reading Comprehension, Listening Comprehension, Speaking and thWriting. TOEFL Junior scores are mapped to the CEFR and test takers are provided with a certificate of achievement.

Linking TOEFL iBT Score Ranges to IELTS Scores

IELTS Score	TOEFL Score	TOEFL PBT Score	IELTS Description
9	118-120	≥ 645	Expert User
8.5	115-117	626 - 644	Very Good User
8	110-114	610 - 625
7.5	102-109	581 - 609	Good User
7	94-101	560 - 580
6.5	79-93	546 - 559	Competent User
6	60-78	530 - 545
5.5	42-59	516 - 529	Modest User
5	35-41	490 - 515
4.5	32-34	450 - 489	Limited User
0-4	0-31	400 - 449	Extremely Limited/Intermittent/Non User

Source: Wikipedia

IELTS

What is IELTS?

The International English Language Testing System, IELTS /ˈaɪ.ɛlts/, is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. It is jointly managed by the British Council,IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English, and was established in 1989. IELTS is one of the major English-language tests in the world, others being the TOEFL, TOEIC, PTE:A, and OPI/OPIc.

IELTS is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian and New Zealandacademic institutions, by over 3,000 academic institutions in the United States, and by various professional organisations across the world.

IELTS is the only Secure English Language Test approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for visa customers applying both outside and inside the UK. It also meets requirement for immigration to Australia, where TOEFL and Pearson Test of English Academic are also accepted,^[7] and New Zealand. In Canada, IELTS, TEF, or CELPIP are accepted by the immigration authority.^[8]

No minimum score is required to pass the test. An IELTS result or Test Report Form is issued to all test takers with a score from "band 1" ("non-user") to "band 9" ("expert user") and each institution sets a different threshold. There is also a "band 0" score for those who did not attempt the test. Institutions are advised not to consider a report older than two years to be valid, unless the user proves that they have worked to maintain their level.^[9][10]

In 2017, over 3 million tests were taken in more than 140 countries, up from 2 million tests in 2012, 1.7 million tests in 2011 and 1.4 million tests in 2009. In 2007, IELTS administered more than one million tests in a single 12-month period for the first time ever, making it the world's most popular English language test for higher education and immigration.

History

The English Language Testing Service (ELTS), as IELTS was then known, was launched in 1980 by Cambridge English Language Assessment (then known as UCLES) and the British Council. It had an innovative format, which reflected changes in language learning and teaching, including the growth in ‘communicative’ language learning and ‘English for specific purposes’. Test tasks were intended to reflect the use of language in the ‘real world’.

During the 1980s, test taker numbers were low (4,000 in 1981 rising to 10,000 in 1985) and there were practical difficulties administering the test. As a result, the ELTS Revision Project was set up to oversee the redesign of the test. In order to have international participation in the redesign, the International Development Program of Australian Universities and Colleges (IDP), now known as IDP: IELTS Australia, joined Cambridge English Language Assessment and the British Council to form the international IELTS partnership which delivers the test to this day. This international partnership was reflected in the new name for the test: The International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

IELTS went live in 1989. Test takers took two non-specialised modules, Listening and Speaking, and two specialised modules, Reading and Writing. Test taker numbers rose by approximately 15% per year and by 1995 there were 43,000 test takers in 210 test centres around the world.

IELTS was revised again in 1995, with three main changes:

• There was ONE Academic Reading Module and ONE Academic Writing Module (previously there had been a choice of three field-specific Reading and Writing modules)
• The thematic link between the Reading and Writing tasks was removed to avoid confusing the assessment of reading and writing ability
• The General Training Reading and Writing modules were brought into line with the Academic Reading and Writing modules (same timing, length of responses, reporting of scores).

Further revisions went live in 2001 (revised Speaking Test) and 2005 (new assessment criteria for the Writing test).

IELTS Characteristics

IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training are designed to cover the full range of ability from non-user to expert user. The Academic version is for test takers who want to study at tertiary level in an English-speaking country or seek professional registration. The General Training version is for test takers who want to work, train, study at a secondary school or migrate to an English-speaking country.

The difference between the Academic and General Training versions is the content, context and purpose of the tasks. All other features, such as timing allocation, length of written responses and reporting of scores, are the same.

IELTS Academic and General Training both incorporate the following features:

• IELTS tests the ability to listen, read, write and speak in English.
• The speaking module is a key component of IELTS. It is conducted in the form of a one-to-one interview with an examiner. The examiner assesses the test taker as he or she is speaking. The speaking session is also recorded for monitoring and for re-marking in case of an appeal against the score given.
• A variety of accents and writing styles have been presented in test materials in order to minimise linguistic bias. The accents in the listening section are generally 80% British, Australian, New Zealander and 20% others (mostly American).
• IELTS is developed by experts at Cambridge English Language Assessment with input from item writers from around the world. Teams are located in the USA, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and other English-speaking nations.
• Band scores are used for each language sub-skill (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking). The Band Scale ranges from 0 ("Did not attempt the test") to 9 ("Expert User").

IELTS Test Structure

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 practise 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.

The four parts of the IELTS test

• Listening: 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes' transfer time)
• Reading: 60 minutes
• Writing: 60 minutes
• Speaking: 11–14 minutes

The test total time is: 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Listening, Reading and Writing are completed in one sitting. The Speaking test may be taken on the same day or up to seven days before or after the other tests.

All test takers take the same Listening and Speaking tests, while the Reading and Writing tests differ depending on whether the test taker is taking the Academic or General Training versions of the test.

Listening

The module comprises four sections, with ten questions in each section.^[15] It takes 40 minutes: 30 - for testing, plus 10 for transferring the answers to an answer sheet.

Sections 1 and 2 are about everyday, social situations.

• Section 1 has a conversation between two speakers (for example, a conversation about travel arrangements)
• Section 2 has one person speaking (for example, a speech about local facilities).

Sections 3 and 4 are about educational and training situations

• Section 3 is a conversation between two main speakers (for example, a discussion between two university students, perhaps guided by a tutor)
• Section 4 has one person speaking about an academic subject.

Each section begins with a short introduction telling the test taker about the situation and the speakers. Then they have some time to look through the questions. The questions are in the same order as the information in the recording, so the answer to the first question will be before the answer to the second question, and so on.^[14] The first three sections have a break in the middle allowing test takers to look at the remaining questions. Each section is heard only once.

At the end of the test students are given 10 minutes to transfer their answers to an answer sheet. Test takers will lose marks for incorrect spelling and grammar.

Reading

The Reading paper has three sections and texts totaling 2,150-2,750 words. There will be a variety of question types, such as multiple choice, short-answer questions, identifying information, identifying writer’s views, labeling diagrams, completing a summary using words taken from the text and matching information/headings/features in the text/sentence endings. Test takers should be careful when writing down their answers as they will lose marks for incorrect spelling and grammar.

Texts in IELTS Academic

• Three reading texts, which come from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online resources written for non-specialist audiences. All the topics are of general interest to students at undergraduate or postgraduate level.

Texts in IELTS General Training

• Section 1 contains two or three short texts or several shorter texts, which deal with everyday topics. For example, timetables or notices – things a person would need to understand when living in an English-speaking country.
• Section 2 contains two texts, which deal with work. For example, job descriptions, contracts, training materials.
• Section 3 contains one long text about a topic of general interest. The text is generally descriptive, longer and more complex than the texts in Sections 1 and 2. The text will be taken from a newspaper, magazine, book or online resource.

Writing

The Writing paper has two tasks which must both be completed. In task 1 test takers write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. In task 2 test takers write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes. Test takers will be penalised if their answer is too short or does not relate to the topic. Answers should be written in full sentences (test takers must not use notes or bullet points).

IELTS Academic

• Task 1: test takers describe a graph, table, chart or diagram in their own words.
• Task 2: test takers discuss a point of view, argument or problem. Depending on the task, test takers may be required to present a solution to a problem, present and justify an opinion, compare and contrast evidence, opinions and implications, and evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an argument.

IELTS General Training

• Task 1: test takers write a letter in response to a given everyday situation. For example, writing to an accommodation officer about problems with your accommodation, writing to a new employer about problems managing your time, writing to a local newspaper about a plan to develop a local airport.
• Task 2: test takers write an essay about a topic of general interests. For example, whether smoking should be banned in public places, whether children’s leisure activities should be educational, how environmental problems can be solved.

Speaking

The speaking test is a face-to-face interview between the test taker and an examiner.

The speaking test contains three sections.

• Section 1: introduction and interview (4–5 minutes). Test takers may be asked about their home, family, work, studies, hobbies, interests, reasons for taking IELTS exam as well as other general topics such as clothing, free time, computers and the internet.
• Section 2: long turn (3–4 minutes). Test takers are given a task card about a particular topic. Test takers have one minute to prepare to talk about this topic. The task card states the points that should be included in the talk and one aspect of the topic which must be explained during the talk. Test takers are then expected to talk about the topic for 2 minutes, after which the examiner may ask one or two questions.
• Section 3: discussions (4–5 minutes). The third section involves a discussion between the examiner and the test taker, generally on questions relating to the theme which they have already spoken about in Section 2.

Scoring
Test takers receive a score for each test component – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The individual scores are then averaged and rounded to produce an Overall Band Score.

Band scale

There is no pass or fail.^[ IELTS is scored on a nine-band scale, with each band corresponding to a specified competence in English. Overall Band Scores are reported to the nearest half band.

The following rounding convention applies: if the average across the four skills ends in .25, it is rounded up to the next half band, and if it ends in 5.75, it is rounded up to the next whole band.

The nine bands are described as follows:

9	Expert User	Has full operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.
8	Very Good User	Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.
7	Good User	Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriateness and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.
6	Competent User	Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
5	Modest user	Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.
4	Limited User	Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.
3	Extremely Limited User	Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.
2	Intermittent User	No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
1	Non User	Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.
0	Did not attempt the test	No assessable information provided at all.

IELTS and the CEFR

IELTS Band Score	CEFR Level[26]
9.0	C2
8.5	C2
8.0	Borderline C2/C1
7.5	C1
7.0	C1
6.5	Borderline C1/B2
6.0	B2
5.5	B2
5.0	Borderline B2/B1
4.5	B1
4.0	B1
3.5	Borderline B1/A2
3.0	A2
2.5	A2
2.0	Borderline A2/A1
1.5	A1
1.0	A1
0.5	Did not attempt the test

Conversion Table
This table can be used to convert raw scores (out of 40) to band scores (out of 9). This helps test takers understand how many correct answers they need to achieve a particular band score. This chart is a guide only because sometimes the scores adjust slightly depending on how difficult the test is.

Band Score	9.0	8.5	8.0	7.5	7.0	6.5	6.0	5.5	5.0	4.5	4.0	3.5	3.0	2.5
Listening raw score (Academic and General Training)	39–40	37–38	35–36	32–34	30–31	26–29	23–25	18–22	16–17	13–15	10–12	8–9	6–7	4–5
Reading raw score (Academic)	39–40	37–38	35–36	33–34	30–32	27–29	23–26	19–22	15–18	13–14	10–12	8–9	6–7	4–5
Reading raw score (General Training)	40	39	37–38	36	34–35	32–33	30–31	27–29	23–26	19–22	15–18	12–14	9–11	6–8

Results

A Test Report Form is posted to test takers 13 days after their test. It shows:

• An Overall Band Score (from 1-9)
• A band score (from 1-9) for each section of the test (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking)
• Whether IELTS Academic or General Training was completed
• The test taker’s photo, nationality, first language and date of birth.

Test takers receive one copy of their Test Report Form, apart from test takers who are applying to the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) or UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) who receive two copies.

Test Report Forms are valid for two years.

Locations and Test Dates

Test takers can take IELTS in more than 140 countries and in over 1,200 locations.^[29]

There are up to 48 test dates available per year. Each test centre offers tests up to four times a month depending on local demand. The Academic version is available on all 48 dates per year and the General Training version is available on 24 dates.^[30]

There used to be a minimum time limit of 90 days before which a person was not allowed to retake the test. However this restriction has been withdrawn and currently there is no limit for applicants to retake the test.

Linking IELTS Scores to TOEFL iBT Score Ranges

IELTS Score	TOEFL Score	IELTS Description
9	118-120	Expert User
8.5	115-117	Very Good User
8	110-114
7.5	102-109	Good User
7	94-101
6.5	79-93	Competent User
6	60-78
5.5	42-59	Modest User
5	35-41
4.5	32-34	Limited User
0-4	0-31	Extremely Limited/Intermittent/Non User

Global Test Scores

In 2015, approximately 80% of test takers took the Academic version and 20% of test takers took the General Training version.

The average Overall Band Score in the Academic version was 6.0 for female test takers and 5.8 for male test takers. The average overall band score in the General Training version was 6.2 for male and female test takers.

Countries with highest average scores (Academic)

In 2015, of the 40 most common places of origin, the top seven countries for mean band scores for the Academic IELTS test were:

Ranking	Countries	Band Score
1	Germany	7.3
2	Greece	6.9
3 (tied)	Canada	6.8
3 (tied)	France	6.8
3 (tied)	Malaysia	6.8
3 (tied)	Philippines	6.8
3 (tied)	Spain	6.8

Countries with highest average scores (General Training)

In 2015, of the 40 most common places of origin, the top six countries for mean band scores for the General Training IELTS test were:

Ranking	Countries	Band Score
1	Ireland	7.6
2	United States of America	7.7
3	South Africa	7.6
4	Singapore	7.4
5 (tied)	Germany	7.0
5 (tied)	Malaysia	7.0

Results by first language of test taker (Academic)

In 2015, of the 40 most common self-reported first language backgrounds, the top 5 highest average scores in the Academic IELTS test were from test takers whose first languages were:

Ranking	Languages	Band Score
1	German	7.4
2	Polish	7.0
3 (tied)	English	6.9
3 (tied)	Filipino	6.9
3 (tied)	Romanian	6.9

Results by first language of test taker (General Training)

In 2015, of the 40 most common self-reported first language backgrounds, the top six highest average scores in the General Training IELTS test were from test takers whose first languages were:

Ranking	Languages	Band Score
1	Afrikaans	7.4
2 (tied)	English	7.0
2 (tied)	German	7.0
3 (tied)	Marathi	6.6
3 (tied)	Polish	6.6
3 (tied)	Portuguese	6.6

Level Required by Academic Institutions for Admission

Just over half (51%) of test takers take IELTS to enter higher education in a foreign country. The IELTS minimum scores required by academic institutions and by course vary. As a general rule, the top ranked universities in the United States tend to require a higher IELTS band (typically 7.0). Most universities accept scores between 6-7 as being suitable for undergraduate study in English.

IELTS is used by over 9,000 educational institutions worldwide. This section provides just a few examples of IELTS requirements in different countries. Full details about the organizations which accept IELTS and the scores they require can be found on the IELTS Global Recognition System.

United States

IELTS is accepted by over 3,000 U.S. institutions. The highest IELTS Band required by a university is 8.5,^[36] by the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University.

Most top ranked U.S. universities, as listed by the TES 2015 World University Rankings, require a minimum score of around 7.0. For example:

University	Minimum IELTS score (May 2015)
California Institute of Technology	7.0[38]
Columbia University	7.0–8.5[39]
Harvard University	7.0 (apart from Graduate School of Education: 7.5)[40]
Johns Hopkins University	7.0 (apart from Peabody Conservatory: 6.5)[41]
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	6.0–7.5[42]
Stanford University	7.0[43]
Princeton University	7.0[44]
University of California, Berkeley	7.0 (apart from Professional Diploma/Joint Programs: 6.5)[45]
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	7.0 (apart from Luskin School of Public Affairs: 8.0)[46]
University of Chicago	7.0[47]
Yale University	7.0[48]

United Kingdom

Most top ranked UK universities, as listed by the TES 2015 World University Rankings, require a minimum score of 6.5-7.0. For example:

University	Minimum IELTS score (May 2015)
University of Bristol	6.5 (apart from Law, Econ, Medicine and English: 7.0)[49]
University of Cambridge	7.0 (no subscore less than 7.0)[50]
University of Durham	6.5[51]
University of Edinburgh	6.5[52]
Imperial College London	6.0 undergraduate admissions (School of Medicine: 6.5)[53]
King's College London	7.0 (apart from Medicine, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Law and Humanities: 7.5)[54]
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)	6.5[55]
University of Manchester	7.0 (apart from Manchester Business School: 6.5)[56]
University of Oxford	7.0 (no subscore less than 6.0). Graduate admissions: 6.5[57]
University College London (UCL)	6.5 (apart from UPSCE: 5.5)[58]

Canada

Most top ranked Canadian universities, as listed by the TES 2015 World University Rankings, require a minimum score of 6.5. Along with 6.0 as minimum the requirement.

Australia

Most top ranked Australian universities, as listed by the TES 2015 World University Rankings, require a minimum score of approximately 6.5. For example:

University	Minimum IELTS score (May 2015)
Australian National University	6.5[59]
Monash University	6.0 undergraduate admissions (no subscore less than 6.0)[60] 6.5 postgraduate admissions (no subscore less than 6.0)
University of Melbourne	6.5 (minimum 6.0 in writing)[61]
University of Sydney	6.5 undergraduate and postgraduate admissions (no subscore less than 6.0), Nursing / Vet Science: 7.0 (no subscore less than 7.0), Law and Media Communication: 7.5 (no subscore less than 7.0)[62]

Along with the universities, the test results are directly relevant for applying a student Visa (Subclass 500). The candidates need at least an IELTS score of 5.5. The precise requirements depend on the university.

Non-native English speaking countrie

Most top ranked universities in non-native English speaking countries as listed by the TES 2015 World University Rankings, require a minimum score between 6.0-7.0 For example:

University	Country	World University Ranking 2014-15	Minimum IELTS score (May 2015)
KU Leuven	Belgium	55	6.5[64]
Ghent University	Belgium	90	5.5-7.0 depending on the course[65]
Peking University	China	48	7.0 Master Programs in Public Policy and International Relations[66]
Tsinghua University	China	49	6.5 Master of Public Administration in International Development[67]
University of Helsinki	Finland	103	6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 in writing[68]
Ecole Polytechnique	France	61	6.5[69]
Ecole Normale Superieure	France	78	6.5[70]
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich	Germany	29	6.5[71]
Heidelberg University	Germany	70	6.5[72]
Humboldt University of Berlin	Germany	80	6.5[73]
The University of Hong Kong	Hong Kong	43	6.0–6.5[74]
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology	Hong Kong	51	6.5[75]
Kyoto University	Japan	59	6.0[76]
Tokyo Institute of Technology	Japan	141	6.5[77]
Leiden University	Netherlands	64	6.0 undergraduate admissions, 6.5 postgraduate admissions[78]
Delft University of Technology	Netherlands	71	6.5[79]
Erasmus University Rotterdam	Netherlands	72	6.5[80]
Wageningen University and Research Center	Netherlands	73	6.0 (minimum 6.0 in speaking)[81]
University of Amsterdam	Netherlands	77	6.5[82]
Seoul National University	Republic of Korea	50	6.5[83]
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)	Republic of Korea	52	6.5[84]
Thammasat University	Thailand	600	6.0 (Undergraduate International Programs and Thai (Scholarship and Early Bird Admission) Programs) 6.5 (Undergraduate Both Thai (Scholarship and Early Bird Admission) and International and Postgraduate Programs) 7.0 (Some Advance Programs such as Medicine and Dentistry International Programs or Scholarships) [85]

IELTS use for Immigration Purposes

A number of Commonwealth countries use IELTS scores as a proof of prospective immigrants' competence in English.

Australia

Australia's immigration authorities have used IELTS to assess English proficiency of prospective migrants since May 1998, when this test replaced the access: test that had been previously used.

There are different IELTS score requirements for different types of visa.

Department of Immigration Level of English	Minimum IELTS score (May 2015)	Visas
Functional English	4.5	Permanent and provisional skilled visas (to avoid paying the English Language Charge)
Vocational English	5.0	457 visa, ENS and RSMS visas through the Temporary Residence Transitional stream for people who have held a 457 visa for 2 years with the employer
Competent English	6.0	ENS and RSMS visas through the Direct Entry Stream, Skilled migration (6.0 is the minimum threshold, but receives 0 points)
Proficient English	7.0	Points Tested Skilled visas (to obtain 10 points)
Superior English	8.0	Points Tested Skilled visas (to obtain 20 points)

New Zealand

New Zealand has used the IELTS test since 1995. There are different IELTS score requirements for different types of visa and type of applicant.

Visa category	Minimum IELTS score required if the applicant is not demonstrating the minimum standard in another way (May 2015)
Skilled Migrant	Principal applicant: 6.5. Partners and children aged 16 and over: 5.0
Business categories (Investor, Entrepreneur, Long Term Business Visa, Employees of Relocating Business)	Principal applicants: 5.0. Partners and children aged 16 and over: In some cases partners and children are not required to meet the minimum level of English at the time the application is lodged, but can provide evidence at a later stage.

Originally, applicants who could not achieve the required score could pay a NZ$20,000 fee instead, which would be fully or partially refunded later if the migrant were able to successfully take the test within a certain period (3 to 12 months) after his or her arrival to the country. A few years later, the policy was changed: the fee was reduced, and, instead of being potentially refundable, it became treated as a "pre-purchase" of post-arrival ESL tuition.

Canada

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) uses IELTS and/or TEF as evidence of one's ability to communicate in English and/or French. The CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) test scores are an alternative to IELTS.

The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) are the national standards used in Canada for describing, measuring and recognizing the English language proficiency of prospective immigrants. The following table shows the IELTS scores needed for each CLB level

Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking
10	8.0	7.5	8.5	7.5
9	7.0	7.0	8.0	7.0
8	6.5	6.5	7.5	6.5
7	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0
6	5.0	5.5	5.5	5.5
5	4.0	5.0	5.0	5.0
4	3.5	4.0	4.5	4.0

There are different language requirements for different types of immigration program as shown below:

Visa category	Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) required (May 2015)
The Federal Skilled Worker Program	CLB 7[93]
The Federal Skilled Trades Program	CLB 5 for speaking and listening, CLB 4 for reading and writing[94]
The Canadian Experience Class	CLB 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs, CLB 5 for NOC B jobs[95]
Business start-up visa	CLB 5[96]
Provincial Nominee Programs	CLB 4 for NOC C and D jobs[97]

Submitting one's IELTS scores is also one of the several ways to prove one's proficiency in an official language when applying for Canadian citizenship (minimum of CLB level 4 required).

United Kingdom

On 6 April 2015, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) changed its English language requirements for UK visa and immigration applications. IELTS tests are now one of only two exams included on the UK government list of Secure English Language Tests (SELTs).

IELTS assesses all four language skills and is accepted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) at levels B1 to C2 of theCommon European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

A new test, IELTS Life Skills, assesses Speaking and Listening at CEFR level A1 and at CEFR Level B1. IELTS Life Skills can be used to meet the English language requirements for some classes of visa application, including 'family of a settled person' visas and indefinite leave and citizenship.

To be used for visa and immigration purposes, IELTS and IELTS Life Skills must be taken in test centres approved by the UKVI.

Visa	Minimum CEFR level required (May 2015)	Minimum IELTS score required overall and in each skill (May 2015)[100]
Tier 1 (General) visa	C1	7.0 overall, and in each of the four skills
Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa	B1	4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa	B1	4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills
Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa	B1	4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills
Tier 2 (General) visa	B1	4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills
Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa	A1	4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills
Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa	B2	5.5 overall, and in each of the four skills
Tier 4 (General) student visa - below degree level	B1	4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills
Tier 4 (General) student visa - degree level and above and including some pre-sessional courses	B2	5.5 overall, and in each of the four skills
‘Family of a settled person’ visa	A1	IELTS Life Skills at A1 – Pass, IELTS – 4.0 in Speaking and Listening
Indefinite leave to remain (to settle) or citizenship	B1	IELTS Life Skills at B1 – Pass, IELTS – 4.0 in Speaking and Listening

For UK visa purposes the test is designed to meet certain administrative requirements specified by UKVI. These Test Report Forms are slightly different, to show that the test taker has taken the test at an IELTS UKVI session. The actual test taken is the same – same content, examiners, format, level of difficulty, scoring and so on.

Criticism

IELTS is a handwritten test and as such, the candidate's handwriting is critical and may result in poor grading if the examiner is unable to read a particular handwriting style. Examiners are required to make every effort to read handwriting. Marks are not awarded for good handwriting, and marks are not subtracted for poor handwriting. However, if handwriting is completely illegible, then examiners will need to consider the word as a misspelling.

Careful attention must be paid to the type of English used to demonstrate either British English or American English spellings. British or American spelling can be used and they can be used together (in the way that Australian and New Zealanders will use American spellings for some words and British spellings for other words). However, once a test taker spells a word one way, they must continue to spell the word that way.

Source: Wikipedia