A Complete Guide To IELTS Exam For 2023

Benefits Of Writing IELTS

For you to understand why IELTS exam is required, you need first to analyse the benefits this exam offers. Here are the popular reasons:

1. Let universities analyse your English skills: Most of the courses you will study abroad are in English. This is why multiple abroad universities wish to analyse a student's skills and knowledge in English proficiency. 
2. Provides better job opportunities: Good communication skills can land a high-paying job. Ensure you work to build your language skills well here. 
3. Apply to top universities: A good IELTS score can help you get accepted at top universities globally. Most worldwide universities also determine application processes on this score, so ensure you deliver a good result. 

Latest News: Overtime, there have been multiple updates regarding the IELTS exam. One such being by March 2023, students who scored less in any section of the IELTS exam can undertake the latter instead of writing the whole exam again.  For instance, if you scored less in the IELTS reading section, you can rewrite the IELTS exam only for that section. Previously, if this happened, you would have to rewrite the complete test.  Keep checking the IELTS official website to learn about such new updates.

Types Of IELTS Exams

There are two types of IELTS exams, Academic and General Training. The IELTS is categorized on the basis of a candidate’s requirements and purpose while going abroad as an Academic test and General training. Also, there are IELTS test types on the basis of the mode of conduct of test: Paper-based and Computer-delivered.

To find out which IELTS registration might be suitable for you, check out the comparative overview of each section presented as follows:

Particulars	IELTS Academic	IELTS General Training
Main Differentiator	IELTS Academic test is featured for students planning for higher studies, such as Undergraduate, Masters, MBA, or PhD, where English language is primarily used.  It assesses whether the test taker is ready to begin his studies or professional work in a non-native environment.	IELTS General Training primarily gauges test-takers English language proficiency in the everyday context. So, individuals planning for a vocational training program or to immigrate professionally prefer this test type. Also, if you’re planning on migrating to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the UK, you need to take the IELTS General training test.
Test Format	For the Academic test, the questions assess a candidate’s ability to use the language to thrive in academic and professional scenarios.	For General training, the questions are more in line to assess a candidate's practical use of language in various professional and social settings.
Statistics	80% of test-takers opt for the IELTS Academic test	20% chose the IELTS General Training

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What Is The IELTS Eligibility Criteria?

IELTS doesn’t have any strict or particular IELTS exam eligibility criteria. However, regardless of anything, students aged 16 and above are eligible. 

What Is The Process Of IELTS Exam Registration?

To appear for the IELTS exam, one needs to register for the same. There are two ways to register for the IELTS exam, online and offline. Let’s learn more on the same:

Online:

• Visit the IELTS official website. 
• Click on ‘Register for Test’. 
• Choose the date, test type and test city you’re undertaking from.
• After choosing the slot, fill in the complete details such as name, contact details, etc. Fill in all required IELTS exam apply online details thoroughly.
• Submit a copy of your first and last page of the passport. 
• You then choose which universities you wish to send your IELTS score results to
• Check all the information details before paying the test fee.
• You will receive acknowledgement for the same either by email or phone

Offline:

• Visit the IDP office in India
• Fill in the application form available at the office or download the form online
• Complete the details and pay the exam fees either via ICICI deposit slip, credit or debit card or even demand draft. Once done, you will receive the confirmation for the same.

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Which Are The IELTS Test Centres?

There are over 78 IELTS test centers in India, accounting for both British Council and IDP Education. To name a few are Mumbai, Bangalore, Punjab, Delhi, etc. Candidates must select the test centre by considering the available slots, the preferred mode of exam, and the commute time to the centre.

What Is The Cost Of IELTS Exam Fee?

As per the recent update, the IELTS exam fees have been updated. In India, the IELTS exam fee is INR 15,500. This test fee is to be paid when conducting the IELTS registration either online or offline. 

What Is The IELTS Exam Pattern?

The IELTS exam has multiple sections. The IELTS paper pattern or the other type will be exhibited based on each section. Having an understanding of the IELTS syllabus can help you manage your time well when attempting the real exam. 

Section	Consists Of	Time+ Questions
Listening	Multiple choice, Sentence completion, Summary completion, Flow-chart completion, Diagram labelling, Matching information, and more.	30 minutes, 40 questions
Reading	Short answer, Matching headings, Multiple choice, Sentence completion, Summary completion, Flow-chart completion, Diagram labelling, Identifying writer’s views/claims, and more.	60 minutes, 40 questions
Writing	2 writing tasks	60 minutes, 2 questions
Speaking	3 parts exercise	11-14 minutes

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How Much Is The Cancellation IELTS Fees?

Sometimes, students might want to cancel or reschedule their IELTS exams. This could be because of getting cold feet or any other personal emergency. In such cases, it is possible to conduct this action. 

If you want to cancel your IELTS exam, you must do so five weeks before the exam. You can get a 25% minus amount from the administrative fees. But if you don’t meet this timeline or fail to appear for the test, you will receive no refund. 

In case if you wish to reschedule your IELTS exam, you can do so by paying INR 3,300 with all taxes. Ensure when you choose the next IELTS exam date, it should be within three months of the actual exam date. 

What Are The IELTS Exam Dates?

The IELTS exam dates are available every month for the entire year for students to choose from. The IELTS exam preparation dates can be finalised based on your study preparation. With regards to the present date, here are the next IELTS exam dates to consider:

Month	Test Date	Test Type
December 2022	3rd December 2022	Academic and General Training
	8th December 2022	Academic only
	10th December 2022	Academic only
	17th December 2022	Academic and General Training
January 2023	7th January 2023	Academic and General Training
	14th January 2023	Academic only
	19th January 2023	Academic and General Training
	28th January 2023	Academic only

Note: This was just an overview of two months. To access more IELTS exam dates, visit the IELTS official website.

Top Tips For IELTS Preparation

To ace the IELTS exam well, preparing for the exam matters. Ensure you follow the below tips:

• Conduct more practice tests
• Focus on your vocabulary
• Read more books
• Engage to improve your English speaking skills, etc.

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What Should Be IELTS Scores?

Scoring good IELTS marks should be on your list. It can determine your application process. Thus here are some valuable insights you should know when planning the IELTS score you wish to achieve:

• IELTS is scored on a 9-band scale, with each score band corresponding to a defined competency in the English language. Thus, the scores range from ‘band-1’ (non-user) to ‘band-9’ (expert user).
• There is no concept of ‘fail’ or ‘pass’ in IELTS. But each institute has a minimum score requirement that the candidate must fulfil to qualify.
• Test takers receive a score band for each section of the test – Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. And the Overall Band Score is produced as an average of the individual scores of each section.

The Overall Band Score, if it ends in a decimal, gets rounded up to the nearest half or whole band score. For example, if your average band score comes out to be 7.25, it would be rounded off to 7.5 as the Overall Band Score. Similarly, if the average score is 6.75, it would be rounded off as 7.0 Overall Score.

Here is an overview of the score scale:

Band	Skill Level	Description
9	Expert User	Has complete operational command of the language
8	Very Good User	Has full operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies
7	Good User	Can handle complex language well and understand detailed reasoning, though with occasional inaccuracies and misunderstandings
6	Competent User	Has an effective command to use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations
5	Modest User	Should be able to handle basic communication in their own field but still prone to many mistakes
4	Limited User	Has basic competence limited to familiar situations but not able to use the complex language
3	Extremely Limited User	Can convey and understand only general meaning in very familiar situations
2	Intermittent User	Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English
1	Non-User	No ability to use the language except a few isolated words
0	Did not attempt the test	No information available to assess the skill

 

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IELTS results and scores	How to send IELTS scores to universities?

Top Sample Papers/Resources For IELTS Exam

There are tons of IELTS sample papers/resources that students like you can use when preparing for the IELTS exams. Most of the resources are either available online or on the IELTS official website. You can even visit IELTS on the British council website to access the same. 

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Wrapping Up….

Most of the courses taught abroad are in English, which is why universities wish to analyse the English proficiency skills of every student. Now that you have complete details related to what is IELTS exam and more, it’s time to get started. Once you complete this exam, you will want to send your scores to the top universities, right? In such cases, making the right academic decisions is always better. If you stumble upon something and wish to seek assistance, feel free to reach out to our Yocket counsellors anytime. 

Frequently Asked Questions About IELTS Exam

Ques: Is IELTS exam difficult?

Ans: No, the IELTS exam won’t be difficult for students who prepare well in advance. Regular practice makes it easier for students to build their confidence to ace this exam. 

Ques: What is the passing IELTS scores?

Ans: There is no such thing as a pass or fail score. Based on the IELTS exam syllabus, international students will receive an overall score. If you feel the scores are too less, you can always attempt this exam again. 

Ques: Can I pass IELTS in first attempt?

Ans: Yes, if you have prepared a good study plan and focused on it, chances are you can score a good mark on your first IELT exam attempt. 

Ques: Can I prepare for IELTS exam without coaching?

Ans: Yes, any students can study IELTS by themselves. Once you understand the IELTS exam pattern, it becomes easier to align your study preparations accordingly. 

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Ques: is 2 weeks enough to study for IELTS?

Ans: It is suggested to prepare for the IELTS exam months in advance. This gives you time to prepare well to ace the exam.