IELTS or 'International English Language Testing System’ is an international standardized test of English language proficiency. It is jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council and IDP Education Pty Ltd. There

are two versions of the IELTS. The Academic Version and the General Training Version. The Academic Version 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 practice in an English-speaking country. The General Training Version is intended for those planning to undertake non-academic training or to gain work experience, or for immigration purposes. It is generally acknowledged that the reading and writing tests for the Academic Version are more difficult than those for the General Training Version, due to the differences in the level of intellectual and academic rigor between the two versions. IELTS is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian, Irish, New Zealand and South African academic institutions, over 3,000 academic institutions in the United States, and various professional organizations. It is also a requirement for immigration to Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Some facts about IELTS:

1. 1) An IELTS result or Test Report Form (TRF) is valid for two years.
2. 2) In 2007, IELTS tested over a million candidates in a single 12-month period for the first time ever.
3. 3) In 2009, 1.4 million candidates took the IELTS test in over 130 countries.

1. A variety of accents and writing styles have presented in text materials in order to minimize linguistic bias.


2. IELTS tests the ability to listen, read, write and speak in English.


3. Band scores are used for each language sub-skill (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking). The Band Scale is from 0 ("Did not attempt the test") to 9 ("Expert User").


4. The speaking module is a key component of IELTS. This is conducted in the form of a one-to-one interview with an examiner. The examiner assesses the candidate as he or she is speaking, but the speaking session is also recorded for monitoring as well as re-marking in case of an appeal against the banding given.


5. IELTS is developed 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.

All candidates must complete four Modules - Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking to obtain a band score, which is shown on the IELTS Test Report Form (TRF). All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Modules, while the Reading and Writing Modules differ depending on whether the candidate is taking the Academic or General Training Versions of the Test.