IELTS Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the IELTS, eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$245-$310
Provider
British Council/IDP
Validity
2 years
Available
Global (UK/Australia preferred)
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
6-12 months of relevant experience recommended
Specific Requirements
- There are no academic prerequisites. IELTS does not require any prior qualification, course or English certificate to book a test.
- You need a valid identification document, and it must be the same document you present on test day. IELTS will not admit you with different ID.
- IELTS Online is restricted to test takers aged 18 and above. The centre-based test has no published minimum age, though the content is written for adults.
- For IELTS Online you need a Windows or macOS laptop or desktop with one screen only, a webcam, a microphone, speakers, a stable internet connection and a private, well-lit space. Headphones are not allowed.
- For IELTS Online you also need a phone or tablet with a camera for the pre-test room scan, and you must download and run the Inspera Exam Portal system checks in advance.
- For access arrangements, contact your test centre at least six weeks before the test. Requests based on a specific learning difficulty need a report prepared when you were aged 13 or older, naming the recognised tests used.
Number of Questions
80 marked Listening and Reading questions (40 each), plus 2 Writing tasks and 3 Speaking parts
Duration
2 hours 45 minutes total. Listening approximately 30 minutes, Reading 60 minutes, Writing 60 minutes, Speaking 11 to 14 minutes. The Listening, Reading and Writing sections are taken in one 2 hour 40 minute session with no breaks between them.
Question Format
Listening: multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form/note/table/flow chart/summary completion, sentence completion, short-answer questions, Reading: multiple choice, identifying information (True/False/Not Given), identifying writer's views or claims (Yes/No/Not Given), matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary/note/table/flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions, Academic Writing Task 1: describe a graph, table, chart, diagram, process or object in at least 150 words, General Training Writing Task 1: respond to a situation by writing a letter of at least 150 words, Writing Task 2: discuss a point of view, argument or problem in at least 250 words, Speaking Part 1: examiner checks identity then asks questions on familiar topics for 4 to 5 minutes, Speaking Part 2: a task card with 1 minute of preparation and a 2 minute long turn, 3 to 4 minutes in total, Speaking Part 3: two-way discussion of abstract issues linked to the Part 2 topic, 4 to 5 minutes
Passing Requirement
No fixed cut score. The receiving organisation sets the requirement. Published examples: General Medical Council 7.5 overall with at least 7.0 in each component; Nursing and Midwifery Council 7.0 reading, listening and speaking with 6.5 writing; Australian Superior English 8 in each of the four components; Canadian CLB 9 on General Training at 7.0 reading, 7.0 writing, 8.0 listening and 7.0 speaking.
How It Is Delivered
IELTS on computer at an authorised test centre, with a Writing on Paper option in selected markets. IELTS Online is available for IELTS Academic only, taken remotely with human and AI proctoring on the Inspera Exam Portal. The IELTS partners announced in March 2026 that paper-based IELTS is being withdrawn from mid-2026, with exact timelines varying by market.
Languages Offered
English only. The test assesses English, so there is no translated version of any section.
Visit the official British Council/IDP certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
0 to 9 for each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, plus an overall band, reported in whole and half bands
Score You Need
No fixed cut score. The receiving organisation sets the requirement. Published examples: General Medical Council 7.5 overall with at least 7.0 in each component; Nursing and Midwifery Council 7.0 reading, listening and speaking with 6.5 writing; Australian Superior English 8 in each of the four components; Canadian CLB 9 on General Training at 7.0 reading, 7.0 writing, 8.0 listening and 7.0 speaking.
How It Is Calculated
Listening and Reading are objectively marked out of 40 with one mark per correct answer and no penalty for a wrong one, then converted to the 9-band scale. IELTS states the precise number of marks needed for a given band varies slightly from version to version, which is how it equates different test forms. Writing and Speaking are rated by certificated examiners against four equally weighted criteria each, averaged per skill, except that Writing Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1. The overall band is compensatory, being a simple average, but most institutions add conjunctive per-component minimums on top.
When You Get Results
There are no unofficial or immediate on-screen scores. Official results arrive in 1 to 5 days for IELTS on computer and IELTS for UKVI, 6 to 8 days for IELTS Online, up to 9 days for IELTS for UKVI Life Skills, and within 3 to 5 days for One Skill Retake. An Enquiry on Results re-mark returns anywhere from the same day up to 21 days after you apply.
In raw terms: IELTS publishes average marks out of 40 by band. Listening: 16 for band 5, 23 for band 6, 30 for band 7, 35 for band 8. Academic Reading: 15 for band 5, 23 for band 6, 30 for band 7, 35 for band 8. General Training Reading, graded on the same scale but built from easier texts: 15 for band 4, 23 for band 5, 30 for band 6, 35 for band 7.
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the IELTS?
There are no academic prerequisites. IELTS does not require any prior qualification, course or English certificate to book a test.. You need a valid identification document, and it must be the same document you present on test day. IELTS will not admit you with different ID.. IELTS Online is restricted to test takers aged 18 and above. The centre-based test has no published minimum age, though the content is written for adults.. For IELTS Online you need a Windows or macOS laptop or desktop with one screen only, a webcam, a microphone, speakers, a stable internet connection and a private, well-lit space. Headphones are not allowed.. For IELTS Online you also need a phone or tablet with a camera for the pre-test room scan, and you must download and run the Inspera Exam Portal system checks in advance.. For access arrangements, contact your test centre at least six weeks before the test. Requests based on a specific learning difficulty need a report prepared when you were aged 13 or older, naming the recognised tests used..
How much does the IELTS cost?
The IELTS exam costs $245-$310. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the IELTS?
Visit the official British Council/IDP certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the IELTS?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
Ready to prepare for IELTS?
Get the complete exam guide with study plan, tips, and practice questions.
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