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IELTS explained
What the test is, who it is for, who accepts it and which version to take. Read these six guides in order, or jump to the question you have.
- 4
- Skills tested: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking
- 0 to 9
- Band scale, reported in whole and half bands
- 2 years
- How long a result is valid, unless an organisation accepts it for longer
IELTS in brief
IELTS is an English language test. Three organisations own it together: the British Council, IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. You sit four papers and get a band for each one, plus an overall band.
People take it to study abroad, to work, or to apply for a visa. The university, employer or government office you apply to decides which version and which score it wants. Your first job is to find out what they ask for.
The six guides, in reading order
- What is IELTS?
The test in plain words: who runs it, what the four papers ask of you and how the band scale works.
- Why take IELTS?
The main reasons people sit it, and what a result can and cannot do for an application.
- Who accepts IELTS?
How universities, employers and governments use it, and how to check a specific organisation yourself.
- IELTS versions explained
Academic, General Training, IELTS for UKVI, Life Skills and IELTS Online, and who each one is for.
- Which IELTS do I need?
A short way to decide, starting from what your receiving organisation asks for.
- IELTS for beginners: where to start
Your first steps, from checking requirements to booking, practising and test day.
Common first questions
Is there a pass mark?
The British Council, IDP and Cambridge each say IELTS has no pass or fail. The organisation you apply to sets the score it needs. IELTS for UKVI Life Skills is the exception, and it is marked pass or fail.
Which version do I take?
It depends on what you are applying for, and the organisation asking for the score decides. The versions guide and the decision guide walk through it.
Is IELTS on paper or on a computer?
The owners announced a move to computer delivery from mid-2026, with timing that varies by market. Check the options where you plan to test.
Once you know the basics
Checked against the owners' own pages on 27 October 2026. Sources: ielts.org on scoring and ways to take IELTS, then IDP's scores page and Cambridge's results page.
Know what you need? Start practising.
Try a practice test that follows the real format.