IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment.

These organizations set the exam standard, maintain the IELTS exam, monitor the standard, review and change the exam format and everything related to the IELTS exam.

The IELTS Academic Module exam is intended for those who want to study in an English-speaking country or where the medium of communication is English, as well as for medical professionals who want to practice abroad.

The IELTS General Module exam is for those who want to emigrate to Australia, Canada or New Zealand, undergo practical vocational training, or do a work placement. Before you register we strongly advise you to check directly with the institution you are doing the test for. It is your responsibility to choose the module that suits your purpose.

Consider the fact that, you need an academic IELTS score (as the name implies) to get admitted in an academic institution (be it a college or university). For general training or immigration purposes you would require the General Training IELTS score.

If you have an academic IELTS score that would be usually accepted for immigration or training purposes as well. But GT IELTS score might not be accepted by the college/ university authority where you are planning to complete your undergraduate or postgraduate studies.

It is advisable to contact the appropriate authority who would be processing your papers (admission/ training or immigration) to be sure which version if IELTS you are required to sit.

The computer-based version of IELTS is an alternative of paper-and-pencil based IELTS exam. This test is also called CB IELTS and this was introduced in May 2005. You can sit for any of the two types. However, computer based IELTS is only available for academic modules at selected centres only. To find out if your nearby centre offers the computer based IELTS or not, you will need to contact them.

The Reading and Listening modules in CB IELTS are conducted on a Computer and the writing module can be done on a computer or on a paper based on candidate's preference. However, the speaking module would still be administered by face-to-face interview session with an examiner.

IELTS is recommended for candidates over the age of 16. In other words, to take the IELTS test a candidate must be 16 years old or over.

Generally, a Test Report Form (TRF) or IELTS result is valid for 2 years. However, there are other factors to determine the validity period. But usually you should consider your IELTS score valid for 2 years and if your IELTS Report Form is older than 2 years, you should consider sitting for the exam again to get another TRF form to send to your University or immigration authority.

You might apply for an inquiry on results (EoR) within six weeks from the date you took the IELTS exam, using a prescribed form by the IELTS authority if you are dissatisfied with the result you got. The application for re-examining the score needs you to fill the form which must be paid prior to the processing of the appeal. The fees may vary depending on the countries and IELTS centres.

The IELTS examination takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete. The time schedules for the reading, writing and listening sections are fixed but for the speaking section it may vary.

Reading and Writing sections each takes 1 hour. The listening test takes 30 minutes. The speaking part usually lasts for 15 minutes but there is no fixed time limit for the interview or speaking section. you can expect to finish the speaking module in 15-20 minutes.

The cost of the IELTS exam is not fixed. It is set by test centres. Fees may vary depending on the country and test centres. On an average the cost is approximately GBP 140. You can find the exact fees from the official IELTS website by locating your nearby test centre from
http://www.ielts.org/test_centre_search/search_results.aspx

In IELTS exam there is no pass or fail. IELTS results are prepared on a nine-band scale. In addition to the score for overall language ability, IELTS provides a score in the form of a profile for each of the four skills i.e. Listening, Reading, Writing and speaking. If you attend the IELTS exam and compete it, you will be given report of the result that would include individual band score of the four module as well as the Average band score. This band score would reflect your skill and ability of handling English language.

Don't take the IELTS exam like one of your class tests where you can contact your course teacher or administrative officer and sit for the exam at an alternative schedule. IELTS tests are pre-scheduled and you won't get an alternative exam schedule if you miss your exam.

There are some unavoidable reasons that might hinder you to take part in the exams and If you fail to appear for the IELTS test, you will be treated as a 'No Show' candidate by the IELTS exam authority. No refunds will be possible for a 'no show' candidate.However, there are some special circumstances under which your application may be considered with some conditions. Acceptance of your form is subject to approval by the test centre and if you can't give a strong reason with supporting papers you won't get any refund.

IELTS aims to assess the English language communication skills of all test takers fairly and objectively. The IELTS test centres can make arrangements to accommodate special circumstances or requirements to enable test takers to attend a test centre, and to understand questions and tasks and give their answers. Test centres require three months’ notice to put special arrangements in place. Generally, some special circumstances are considered like:Visual difficulties, Hearing difficulties, Illness.

If you are genuinely ill on the day of the exam or during the test you should let the test supervisor know. Special consideration may be given to test takers who report their illness on the day of the test. Like all other standard exam centres there might be some limitations on the facilities offered.

The IELTS test centre will produce the result after 13 calendar days of the test. At some centres candidates may collect their results on the 13th day from the test centres or it is mailed to candidates on the 13th day.

Most candidates now collect their IELTS result from the internet. However, test centres do not give results to the candidates over the phone or by fax or e-mail. In some countries the result is sent via SMS to the number the candidate has given while registering for the test. You can check your IELTS result online from https://results.ielts.org

Yes, you can. The examiner will not see your question papers. You can take notes like a date, a place name or other important keywords that might help you answering your listening or reading questions. However, DO NOT write or mark on the answer sheet.

Be careful about what you write on the question papers. After the exam you are not allowed to take the exam papers with you. You need to submit your question paper along with your answer sheet.

Yes, you can take the IELTS exam as many times as you want. Even if you have got a decent band score and the score has its validity, and you expect to get a higher score, you can sit for the IELTS exam once again at your convenience.

No, your previous IELTS score will not affect your new IELTS score. You do not need to bother about your previous score if you are sitting for the IELTS a second time. Your score would be given as if you are sitting for the IELTS first time. In your Report Form (result), previous score won't be mentioned.

If you get seriously ill during the test, you should report it to the test supervisor immediately. Then the test centre will take special care about the situation and might give special consideration. No consideration or favour is possible if it is not brought to the attention of the test supervisor.

Your test is important so report to the test supervisor as soon as you feel sick and you might get a favour.

From May 1, 2006 the policy on candidates re-taking IELTS has been amended. According to this new policy a candidate can re-take exam anytime s/he likes.

No, you are not permitted to leave the exam room during the examination in normal circumstances. You should be prepared not to leave the exam room during the test. Time management is very crucial in the test.

However, if there is an emergency or special circumstance when you have to go out, just explain it to your test supervisor. You won't be given any extra time in IELTS exam.

You do the Listening test first followed by the Reading and Writing components of the test. Depending on the test Centre, the Speaking test may be taken up to 7 days either before or after the test date