IELTSInternational English Language Testing System

IELTS is the most widely taken English-proficiency test among Indian study-abroad aspirants and the default requirement for the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand (it is equally accepted in the USA). The Academic variant is the one universities want; General Training serves migration and work routes. All four skills are tested in a single sitting of about 2 hours 45 minutes, with the Speaking section conducted as a live interview with a human examiner — a deliberate design choice that distinguishes IELTS from fully computer-scored rivals.

Scoring uses the familiar 0–9 band scale in half-band steps, and the overall band is the average of the four section bands rounded to the nearest half band (an average of 6.25 reports as 6.5, and 6.75 as 7.0). There is no pass or fail — each university and visa category sets its own threshold, with competitive universities commonly asking for an overall band around 6.5–7.5 and per-section minimums. Results are typically quick for computer-delivered tests, and candidates can retake the test as often as they wish.