Format

IELTS is available in two formats: Academic and General Training.

The Academic Module assesses whether a candidate is ready to study or train in the medium of English at an undergraduate or postgraduate level. Admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses is based on the results of these modules.

The General Training Module emphasises basic survival skills in a broad social and educational context. General Training is suitable for candidates who are going to English speaking countries to complete their secondary education, to undertake work experience or training programmes not at degree level, or for emigration purposes to Australia, Canada or New Zealand.

Candidates are tested in listening, reading, writing and speaking. All candidates take the same listening and speaking modules. Reading and writing papers are different, according to the chosen module – Academic or General Training.

It is the responsibility of the candidate to tell us which module, Academic or General Training, they need to take.

Results

Results are released 13 days after the test. It is not permitted to give results out over the phone or by fax or e-mail.

IELTS candidates are able to see online their test results on the thirteenth day after the test date, starting with 2 pm, by accesing this link.

A score is reported for each module of the test. The individual module scores are then averaged and rounded to produce an Overall Band Score.

The IELTS modules have been designed to reflect accurately the candidate’s abilities to deal with the English language. The design of the test makes it statistically unlikely that there will be a great variation in the module scores. However, in order to ensure that the results genuinely reflect the candidate’s abilities, where there are exceptionally unusual patterns of module scores, the modules will be marked again and the IELTS partners may ask the candidate to re-take some or all of the modules. The candidate will not be charged for any such re-takes and the candidate will not be issued with their results until after the re-take.

The candidate will receive only one copy of their test result (Test Report Form - TRF) but 5 additional copies can be sent direct to receiving organisations.

The Test Report Form - TRF - includes a large number of security features, and the authenticity of any Test Report Form can be verified through the online verification service. The IELTS partners reserve the right to cancel any Test Report Form in the event of any attempt to tamper with or misuse the information it contains.

Test Report Forms will not be issued for tests taken more than two years ago.

For more details about the IELTS format, modules and results, go to www.britishcouncil.org/takeielts