The International English Language Testing System examination is taken worldwide by students who intend to study in an English speaking country. More than 700.000 candidates take the IELTS every year. IELTS is recognised by higher education institutions, professional bodies and immigration services around the world as a measure of competence to study in English.
The IELTS exam assesses how well you understand and use the kind of English you need to study or work in an English speaking country.
You do not pass or fail IELTS exams. You are given a band of score which indicates your ability in each of the four tests (listening, reading, writing and speaking) and an overall band score. Scores range from 1 to 9. For higher education, a University or College you are applying to usually specifies which band you must achieve to be accepted on their course.
IELTS comes in two modules - Academic and General Training. Candidates can choose which module they take, depending on their specific needs. Both modules are graded using exactly the same criteria, so there is no difference in the level of English. The distinction lies in the subject matter and type of vocabulary used. The General Training module is not designed to test the full range of formal language skills required for academic purposes.
For further information visit the following web pages:
- http://www.ielts.org
- http://www.britishcouncil.org/es/spain-exams-ielts.htm
Apendix: procedures and dates for the IELTS exam (PDF, 118 Kb)
Other exams:
Fecha de la última modificación: 14/01/2010