In this article, I am going to answer the most common questions asked about IELTS. Many of these questions will be in incorrect English, so I will put a correct version in brackets after the question that was asked.

The reason for this article is that these questions were asked by IELTS candidates on Google and unfortunately most of the information available online is rubbish, so I thought I would weigh in. I have been teaching IELTS since 2010 and have written several books.

Can IELTS Be Given Online? (Can IELTS Be Taken Online?)

Yes, it can. In 2020, IELTS launched its IELTS Indicator service to help people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. This is a version of the test that is conducted over the internet. It is not accepted by all of the same organisations as regular IELTS tests, but it is accepted by many places.

Can IELTS Be Taken From Home?

Yes, it can. IELTS Indicator can be done from your home, provided that you have the right equipment to deal with the test. You will need a decent internet speed, a webcam, and access to your e-mail. You can find the guidelines here. There are various protocols to stop people from cheating, so make sure that you are familiar with the requirements for this test before booking your test date.

Can IELTS Academic Be Used for Immigration?

Yes, it can. However, it is not ideal for immigration purposes. This test was designed to show that candidates are capable of speaking English for academic situations, while the general test is intended for immigration purposes. If you want to migrate to the UK, Australia, or New Zealand, it is far better to do IELTS General. It is also worth noting that this test is considered to be easier than the academic one.

Are IELTS Reading Questions in Order?

The answers to some question types will appear in order, but others will not be in order. Most of the question types (multiple choice, TFNG, sentence endings, short answer, etc) will appear in order, but matching headings, matching names and statements, and finding the right paragraph will all be out of order.

Are IELTS and TOEFL Same? (Are IELTS and TOEFL the Same?)

No, these exams are completely different. For one thing, the IELTS speaking test is conducted almost as a conversation between an examiner and a candidate, but the TOEFL speaking test is totally different, with answers to a variety of question types spoken into a microphone. The lengths of the various sections are different and the cost of the exams is very different, too. You should look into the various exams and decide which one is right for you before you book a test date.

Are IELTS Speaking Topics Repeated?

Yes, they are. There are many different IELTS speaking topics and these reflect common topics in daily life, such as work, study, music, sports, and travel. When the IELTS organisers create new questions, they will consider these topics. Naturally, as they have to make many questions and many exams, these topics will be repeated. As such, preparing for IELTS is best done through considering the most common speaking topics.

Are IELTS Centres Open?

Well, this depends on where you are and when you read this. Please check with your local IELTS test centre to confirm whether or not it will be possible to book a test date. If your local centre is not currently open due to Covid-19 or other reasons, you may be able to book a test online through IELTS Indicator.

How is IELTS Test Conducted? (How is the IELTS Test Conducted?)

The IELTS test is made up of four sections: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. The listening and reading tests are made of different texts that have various questions about them. In each part, there will be forty questions and you will be assigned a grade according to the number of correct answers that you get. (See how this is calculated here.) Writing and speaking are more complex because these are graded by examiners using a marking rubric. You will write two essays for the writing test and these will be marked later, whilst for the speaking test you will sit with an examiner and he or she will ask you questions and grade your answers.

How IELTS Bands are Calculated? (How are IELTS Band Scores Calculated?)

This varies between the different parts of the test. There are forty questions each for the listening and reading tests and you will be assigned a band score according to the number that you get right. (See how this is calculated here.) Writing and speaking are different. You will be given a score of between 0 and 9 that reflects your English ability. It is very complicated but you can read the marking rubric here and here to see how they are graded. Basically, each test has four different criteria and your score will be the average of your performance for those sections.

How IELTS Speaking is Marked? (How is IELTS Speaking Marked?)

The IELTS speaking test is graded in four areas that could be summarised as: fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. You will be given a score of between 0 and 9 for each of these sections and then your overall score will be the average of these numbers. For example, if you got 7 for fluency and pronunciation and 6 for both vocabulary and grammar, your total score would be 6.5.

How IELTS Writing is Marked? (How is IELTS Writing Marked?)

The IELTS writing test is graded according to four areas: Task Response/Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. You will be given a score of between 0 and 9 for each section and then these will be averaged for your total score for that essay. There will be two parts to the exam, known as Task 1 and Task 2, and you will be given a grade that takes into consideration both essays. It is believed that Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1.

Where IELTS Books? (Where Can I Find IELTS Books?)

There are several good IELTS books available. I have ranked the best ones here and in this video:

You can also find my own IELTS books on sale here.

Where IELTS Exam is Easy? (Where is the Easiest Place to Take IELTS?)

It is commonly believed that some IELTS testing centres are more lenient than others and some IELTS candidates travel long distances to find a more advantageous location for their test date. However, this is a myth. All IELTS testing centres are held to the same standards and your test scores will be no different in one location than another.

Where IELTS Exam Conducted? (Where is IELTS Conducted?)

There are thousands of IELTS test centres around the world and you can find your local one by using the search function on the official IELTS website. Normally, IELTS tests are conducted in an approved location in large cities. If you live in a rural area or in a small town, you may need to travel some distance in order to sit your test, so please plan carefully in advance to make sure that it is possible for you to reach an IELTS centre at the right time.

Where IELTS is Required? (Where is IELTS Required?)

The IELTS test exists to prove that candidates can speak English, so it is required in various places where English proficiency is needed. Common examples include educational facilities and immigration departments. IELTS is widely accepted and if you want to go to Canada, the UK, New Zealand, or Australia, you will most likely need to take this exam. The British Council claims that more than 10,000 organisations in 140 countries accept IELTS.

Which IELTS Test for Australian Immigration?

If you want to go to university in Australia, you should do the academic IELTS exam but if you are looking to find a job there and immigrate, you will need to do the general test. At present, the Australian government does not accept the result of the IELTS Indicator test, so you will still need to sit the in-person paper or computer exam. A minimum of band 7 is required for each of the four sections of the test.

Which IELTS Should I Take for University?

You need to take the IELTS Academic Test for university admission purposes. This test is specifically designed for people wanting to do higher education in an English-speaking environment and so it is different from the IELTS General Test. The grades required will differ from school to school, so you should check with your target university to see what they need from you.

Which IELTS for Nurses in UK?

Nurses wishing to work in the UK should sit the general IELTS test and they will be required to score a minimum of band 7 for listening, reading, and speaking, and band 6.5 for writing, according to new rules from the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Which IELTS Test Should I Take?

If you want to go abroad to study, you should take the IELTS academic exam and if you want to go for work or general immigration purposes, you should take the general IELTS test. If you are unsure or you feel that your situation is different, you should consult an immigration expert or speak with the government department that handles your situation.

Why IELTS is Difficult? (Why is IELTS Difficult?)

IELTS is difficult because English is difficult. It is probably the best exam because it is almost impossible to cheat or to get a grade that is higher than you deserve. As such, people tend to feel that IELTS is unfair. In fact, IELTS is just difficult because most people need to get a band 7 and this requires a high standard of English that these candidates simply do not have. If they spoke English perfectly, they would have no problems, but they don’t and so they think the test is difficult.

Why IELTS Exam is Expensive (Why is IELTS Expensive?)

Conducting IELTS is a difficult logistical feat and it requires a lot of money. Whilst other tests use computers to record candidates, IELTS relies heavily on real people to conduct these tests. These people are experts who have been thoroughly trained, and this obviously requires money. IELTS is held to an extremely high standard and so they cannot cut corners in order to lower costs, so this results in a higher price for IELTS candidates.

Why IELTS is Required? (Why is IELTS Required?)

There are various reasons why people need to sit IELTS, but most commonly it is to prove English proficiency for the purpose of immigration, work, or education. IELTS is trusted by tens of thousands of organisations around the world because it is a very difficult exam to cheat on and thus these organisations can trust the results more than other tests.

Why IELTS Speaking is Recorded? (Why is IELTS Speaking Recorded?)

The IELTS speaking test is recorded so that the results can be confirmed. The IELTS marking process is complicated in order to ensure that fair grade are given. If the examiner gives you a band 7, this might later be amended when another examiner double-checks the score. Likewise, if you believe you deserved a higher score, you can ask for re-evaluation, and this would require examiners to listen to your performance again. This requires the recording of the original conversation.

Will IELTS Questions Repeat?

Because IELTS candidates take thousands of tests every year, it is unavoidable that questions will be repeated. Common questions in the speaking test include “What are you studying?” and “Where do you live?” but there are thousands of others. You should not attempt to memorise these because this would be an inefficient way of preparing. Instead, you should work on your overall English skills and think about common topics that might occur.

What IELTS Means? (What Does IELTS Mean?)

IELTS is an acronym that stands for International English Language Testing System. It refers to a very popular and important exam that tests English proficiency.

When IELTS Expires? (When Does My IELTS Certificate Expire?)

After you receive your IELTS certificate, it will be good for two years. This means that if you need to apply for immigration or university after two years, you will have to sit the IELTS test again. This is because language skills change over time and if people have not kept up their English practice, they may lose their abilities and the original score will no longer be an accurate reflection of their present ability.

When IELTS Result Will Come? (When Will I Receive My IELTS Score?)

You will get your IELTS results within 13 days for the paper test and 5 days for the computer test. This is a Test Report Form (TRF) that is mailed to your address. You will not be given your results over the phone or via e-mail, but you can view them online at the Test Taker Portal.