00 / Overview
IELTS
IELTS measures English for study, work and migration. It gives a band score from 0 to 9, in half-band steps.
01 / Purpose
IELTS tests listening, reading, writing and speaking. Candidates take either the Academic or the General Training version. Academic is for university and professional entry. General Training is for work, training and migration.
02 / Examination body
IELTS is owned by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge Assessment English. The British Council and IDP run the test in many countries. Cambridge Assessment English writes and marks it.
03 / Levels and scores
Each skill gets its own band, and the overall band is an average of the four. An overall band can hide a weak skill, so check each one when a course sets a minimum.
| IELTS band | CEFR level |
|---|---|
| 2.0–3.0 | A1 |
| 3.0–4.0 | A2 |
| 4.0–5.0 | B1 |
| 5.5–6.5 | B2 |
| 7.0–8.0 | C1 |
| 8.5–9.0 | C2 |
These are CEFR alignments from the IELTS CEFR concordance, not an official IELTS level. Bands below 4.0 are approximate.
04 / Where to take it
IELTS is taken at test centres run by the British Council and IDP in many countries. In some countries it is also offered online.
05 / How useful it is
Universities, employers and immigration authorities in many countries accept IELTS. Many institutions set a minimum band for each skill, not only the overall band.
Check the rules of the body you apply to, including how recent a result must be.