Everything to know about the IELTS exam in different countries and the fees

The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, is a proficiency test given by those candidates who aspire to study or migrate abroad for employment. It is accepted in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, and the USA. 

Furthermore, it is recognized globally and accepted by 11,000 organizations worldwide. It is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English. It is mandatory for anyone who plans to move to an English-speaking country, and they must demonstrate their English skills in these sections: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Underlined below is a detailed overview of types of IELTS, test format, and IELTS exam fee. 

Why Should You Opt for IELTS? 

Many universities require their candidates to take IELTS because it is a precondition for getting accepted. Those candidates aiming to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate courses must meet this prerequisite alongside a well-written Statement of Purpose and good marks. 

Moreover, one of the visa prerequisites is proficiency in the English language. Hence, candidates must opt for it nevertheless. Besides, it is also required for permanent citizenship in an English-speaking country and, therefore, is beneficial. 

Types of IELTS 

There are two types of IELTS: Academic and General. It is essential to know the difference between the two and choose accordingly before moving to an English-speaking country. 

Academic 

Candidates must give IELTS Academic if they want to pursue undergraduate or graduate courses. 

General 

Candidates can opt for this if they wish to apply for secondary education or gain professional experience. 

The reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills are assessed in IELTS Academic and General. However, IELTS Academic is the most difficult out of the two. Moreover, the test format remains universal worldwide. 

Writing 

There are two tasks that must be completed in 60 minutes. Underlined below is the test format for Academic. 

For Task 1, candidates have to summarise or explain the information given in graph, chart, or table elaborately. They must present the key features as well as an overview. Furthermore, one must write 150 words in the stipulated time, which is 20 minutes. 

For Task 2, one must present their perspective as a response to the essay. Here, one can discuss opposing views as well. This task requires one to write 250 words in 40 minutes. 

On the other hand, for General Task 1, candidates must write letters apologizing, requesting information, application, etc. Task 2 remains the same as Academic. 

Reading 

This section consists of 40 questions and assesses the candidate’s ability to summarise, skim and scan for critical ideas. They must also understand the logic behind an argument and the writer’s claim, opinions, and intent. These questions may vary from multiple choices, matching sentence endings, completion of sentences, summary completion, note, table, flow-chart, and diagram completion. 

These texts are generally from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers. However, the passages may be factual, analytical, or descriptive. 

Listening 

Candidates must listen to four recordings as these will be played only once. Candidates must answer ten questions each from the four sections. These can be of the four types: 

Recording 1: It is a conversation that is set in everyday situations. 

Recording 2: It is a monologue and can be a speech about local facilities. 

Recording 3: A conversation between four people can be set in an educational context. 

Recording 4: It is a monologue and can be a university lecture. 

The listening section is 40 minutes. The last 10 minutes are allotted for the transfer of answers. 

Speaking 

This generally takes on a different day from the reading, writing, and listening sections. It spans typically from 11-14 minutes and is divided into three parts that are underlined below: 

Part 1: The examiner asks questions about general topics such as family, home, hobbies, and studies. However, this can last between four and five minutes. 

Part 2: Candidates will be given a cue card, and they must speak on the given topic. One minute will be given to prepare for the same. After that, they must speak for two minutes on the given topic. 

Part 3: In this, abstract issues will be discussed. Questions related to part 2 will be asked. This generally spans from four and five minutes. 

IELTS Criteria for Different Countries 

However, countries might have different marking criteria. These might vary from country to country. They are outlined below: 

Canada 

Candidates must score an overall band score of 6.0 for undergraduate courses. On the other hand, for postgraduate studies, it is 6.5. 

USA 

Test-takers must score overall of 7.0. However, this does not apply to all the universities in the USA. 

United Kingdom 

Candidates must score 6.5 bands to apply to postgraduate and undergraduate courses. 

France 

Universities in France generally ask for a 6.0-6.5 band score. 

New Zealand 

A 5.5 band score is generally required for applying to diploma courses. On the other hand, 6.0 is required for undergraduate studies and 6.5 for postgraduate. 

Ireland 

A 6.0 is generally recommended for undergraduate courses in Ireland. However, 6.5 is accepted for postgraduate studies. 

IELTS Exam Fees for Different Countries 

The IELTS exam fees can differ in every country. Underlined below are the fees for different countries: 

Candidates must choose the IELTS exam fee according to the purpose behind their exam. They must decide which types of IELTS will be beneficial and help them in migrating to another country.