Inga Loch, 18 years
Gymnasium Lilienthal, Germany

I have taken the Academic Module of the IELTS because I want to start studying English next year after having finished school. The university I want to got to asked for an Overall Band of 6.5. Since I found it hard to estimate how good my English was, I was totally afraid.
My brother supported me a lot paying for the exam and he and my sister accompanied me to the test center. They waited with me for two long hours until I could go to the speaking test. That helped me to compete my nervosity and finally reach a score of 7.0 overall!
After having taken the test I was absolutely sure I failed it. That would have meant the end of my goal: studying English, because I probably would not have tried again since the IELTS is not that cheap and because I would have lost the belief that I could make it. However, today I received my results and am the happiest girl in the world.

Markéta Jankovská, 23 yrs
Jan Amos Komenský University in Prague

I decided to take the IELTS two years ago because I wanted to check my English knowledge level as I wasn´t able to judge it and choose the corresponding exam. The attractive advantage for me was that I could not fail it and this fact helped me to control my fear. I got 7.5 and learned on what level my English is and my result also motivated me to take BEC Vantage a year later. Now I am studying for BEC Higher and although I haven´t applied for any scholarship abroad I am glad I took the IELTS first.

Magdaléna Šedivá, 23 yrs
Charles University in Prague

After passing CAE test and attendance of CPE lessons I wanted to try a different format of Cambridge tests and I chose IELTS, because it also appears to be a sufficient proof for British Universities about candidate’s level of English. In comparison to CAE there is no part similar to „English in Use“, then in the listening part you can hear the dialogues once only and, according me, writing is much more challenging.
My score was 7.0 overall, and this year I would like to apply for a place in postgraduate course in the United Kingdom. So cross your fingers, please!
What I personaly appreciate most was that IELTS gave me equal chances, because I am suffering from dyslexia and I was given extra time for reading and writing, and honestly, without this it will be for me much more harder to succeed.

Klára Sabolová, 18 yrs
1^st International School of Ostrava

I was taking the IELTS in order to be accepted to University in United Kingdom. I needed 6.5 and I got it! Consequently, I could send the application form to the University.
I was at a disadvantage because I did not know anyone who had already taken the IELTS test. I was preparing for IELTS for about 2 months. I spent long hours in the library photocopying the IELTS practice tests. (…)
I was especially afraid of the listening part. However, it turned up to be the easiest as I received the highest score for that. The writing was a bit more difficult. On the other hand, I was impressed by the speaking part. I had an interview with very nice British woman. We were taking about cooking. “Nothing hard,” I thought when I finished the exam.
Overall, it was one of my most memorable experiences. I was afraid of failing of course, but I successfully achieved the result I needed. In short, IELTS has simply opened a door for me to University in United Kingdom and I am grateful for that.

Monika Kukolová, 19 yrs
1^st International School of Ostrava

The university in Canada that I applied to required me to take one of the internationally recognized English language tests, so I chose the IELTS test, since I was familiar with its structure from my English classes at school. Apart from fulfilling the English requirement at the university, I also learned on what level my English is, which is, from my point of view, very important for every foreign-language speaker.