
All about IELTS Exam
IELTS is an English language test conducted by IDP Education Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment. It examines your listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in English. This test is taken by those people who want to go to a country where English is the main language of communication. If you also want to go abroad and planning to take the IELTS test, we have written this article for you. From eligibility to the syllabus, we will discuss all the important aspects of this exam.
Types of IELTS
For different purposes to go abroad, there have been designed two types of IELTS exams: IELTS academic and IELTS general. Depending on which test you choose, the difficulty level of questions in the reading and writing sections will change, but the listening and speaking sections will be the same in both.
IELTS Academic Test is taken by those candidates who want to pursue their higher education in a foreign University or want to join a professional institution. It evaluates whether your level of proficiency in English is suitable or not for an English-speaking environment.
IELTS General Test is generally taken by those people who want to migrate to a country where English is the main communication language.
Eligibility for IELTS 2023
IELTS administrators have set no specific age limit as eligibility criteria. So whether you are 12 or 80, you can give the test, but generally, this test is not recommended for kids below 16.
Similarly, there are no specific educational criteria, if you wish to go abroad for studies or to do work, you are free to attempt the IELTS test.
IELTS Registration 2023
You need to have your passport before you can get registered for the test as you will have to fill in your passport number in the registration process. You will also need to carry it to the exam center.
If your age is below 18 then you will need your parents to do the registration for you. Once the registration is completed, you will receive confirmation of the date and time of your exam.
Registration can be done in a few simple steps:
- Visit the Official British Council Registration page.
- Create your account.
- Choose the nearest center.
- Pay online and you are done.
How can you Book your IELTS examination?
You can make an online reservation for your IELTS test or visit your local IDP branch to reserve the test offline. Here’s how:
- Log in via IELTS official website.
- Click on the button ‘Register to Test.’
- Choose your preferred test, IELTS delivered it by computer or paper (IELTS IELTS, IELTS for UKVI, and Life Skills).
- 4Choose your test type/module: General or Academic Training to take IELTS, IELTS for UKVI A1, and B1 in Life Skills (be cautious when selecting the test, you want to complete).
- Select the location or city you would like to test.
- Choose your preferred date and the appropriate time from the calendar of available dates.
- Input the required information and then complete the online application. Be aware that you’ll need to provide a crisp color scan of your passport to complete the application.
- Pay the fee for the test.
After your test day is scheduled, you will receive an acknowledgment email to your registered email or phone number.
IELTS Fees
In India, the IELTS registration fee is ₹15,500.
IELTS Cancellation Fees:
• If you decide to cancel your application within five weeks from the test date, the applicant will receive the money back minus 25 percent of the administrative costs.
• If you withdraw your application five weeks before the test date, the applicant won’t receive a refund.
• The money will not be refunded if the candidate is registered but fails to attend the test.
• If a candidate can provide a medical certificate within five days of the test date, the fee will be reimbursed by deducting some administrative costs.
IELTS Reschedule Fees:
If you wish to change your exam date for any reason, you should place a request for it at least 5 weeks before the pre-booked date. When choosing the new date, you should make sure that it’s within 3 months of the old date. Also, you have to ₹3,300 in this process.
IELTS Exam Dates 2023
IDP India conducts the IELTS test 48 times every year. One should choose the most appropriate date for him/herself. While choosing the date you should keep in mind the admission timeline of the University you want to study at or the joining date of the company you are going to work for.
CURRENT IELTS EXAM DATES 2023:
IDP IELTS EXAM DATES IN AUGUST 2023
Test Dates | Test Type | IELTS Exam Fees |
6 August 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
11 August 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
20 August 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
27 August 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
IDP IELTS EXAM DATES IN SEPTEMBER 2023
Test Dates | Test Type | IELTS Exam Fees |
3 September 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
10 September 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
15 September 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
24 September 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
IDP IELTS EXAM DATES
IDP IELTS EXAM DATES IN JANUARY 2023
Test Dates | Test Type | IELTS Exam Fees |
8 January 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
15 January 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
20 January 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
29 January 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
IDP IELTS EXAM DATES IN FEBRUARY 2023
Test Dates | Test Type | IELTS Exam Fees |
5 February 2023 | Academic and General Training(Australia and New Zealand only) | INR 15,500 |
12 February 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
17 February 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
26 February 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
IDP IELTS EXAM DATES IN MARCH 2023
Test Dates | Test Type | IELTS Exam Fees |
3 March 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
12 March 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
19 March 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
26 March 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
IDP IELTS EXAM DATES IN APRIL 2023
Test Dates | Test Type | IELTS Exam Fees |
9 April 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
21 April 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
23 April 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
30 April 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
IDP IELTS EXAM DATES IN MAY 2023
Test Dates | Test Type | IELTS Exam Fees |
7 May 2023 | Academic and General Training(Australia and New Zealand only) | INR 15,500 |
12 May 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
21 May 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
28 May 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
IDP IELTS EXAM DATES IN JUNE 2023
Test Dates | Test Type | IELTS Exam Fees |
4 June 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
11 June 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
16 June 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
25 June 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
IDP IELTS EXAM DATES IN JULY 2023
Test Dates | Test Type | IELTS Exam Fees |
Thursday, 7 July 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
Saturday, 9 July 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
Saturday, 16 July 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
Saturday, 23 July 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
IDP IELTS EXAM DATES IN AUGUST 2023
Test Dates | Test Type | IELTS Exam Fees |
6 August 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
11 August 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
20 August 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
27 August 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
IDP IELTS EXAM DATES IN SEPTEMBER 2023
Test Dates | Test Type | IELTS Exam Fees |
3 September 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
10 September 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
15 September 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
24 September 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
IDP IELTS EXAM DATES IN OCTOBER 2023
Test Dates | Test Type | IELTS Exam Fees |
8 October 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
13 October 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
22 October 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
29 October 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
IDP IELTS EXAM DATES IN NOVEMBER 2023
Test Dates | Test Type | IELTS Exam Fees |
5 November 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
10 November 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
19 November 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
26 November 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
IDP IELTS EXAM DATES IN DECEMBER 2023
Test Dates | Test Type | IELTS Exam Fees |
3 December 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
8 December 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
10 December 2023 | Academic Only | INR 15,500 |
17 December 2023 | Academic and General Training | INR 15,500 |
IELTS Exam Pattern and Syllabus
IELTS Syllabus is determined by its administrators, the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge Exams for ESOL for both versions (IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training). The IELTS Syllabus includes four parts: writing, reading, listening, and speaking.
For the Speaking and Listening sections, it is the same IELTS syllabus that applies to all applicants. In contrast, the components of writing and reading the IELTS syllabus are different based on the Academic and General tests.
Syllabus for IELTS Listening
The syllabus for the Listening portion includes four sections that increase in difficulty. Each unit has the form of a dialogue or speech that starts with a brief introduction that informs the candidate about the conditions and the speakers. They then have the time to review the questions. IELTS Listening Syllabus is the same for both academic and General Training. It has four sections that comprise 40 items. The following are the 4 sections:
• One of them is a conversation between two people.
• The second is a monologue or speech.
• The third part is a discussion between up to four applicants in an academic environment.
• The last one is a speech about the academic topic.
Syllabus for IELTS Reading
The syllabus of the IELTS reading portion comprises three sections, with 40 items. You will need to read text passages and respond to questions using multiple-choice sentences, sentence completion, summaries, writing, information matching, and short responses. Each course contains 13-14 questions, and the reading section has 40 questions. It is important to note that the IELTS Reading syllabus differs for both versions.
Reading Syllabus for IELTS Academic:
• The syllabus comprises three long texts.
• The range of content covers everything from factual and descriptive to analytical and discursive.
• The text is of undisputed origin and originates from books, journals, newspapers, magazines, and newspapers.
• They are aimed at the non-expert audience.
• It is suitable for those enrolled in universities or seeking professional recognition in an internationally oriented context.
Reading Syllabus for IELTS General:
• Candidates are required to read subjects from newspapers, books, ads, magazines, company handbooks, guidelines, and other notices.
• These are things one is likely to encounter frequently in English-speaking areas.
Syllabus for IELTS Writing
The Academic section of the writing of the IELTS syllabus includes two assignments: in Task 1, applicants draw a diagram procedure, graph, or chart. In Task 2, they write about the information in their own words.
In the General Training section, there are two additional tasks that applicants must complete: Task 1 requires applicants to compose a letter or write an explanation of the reason for their condition. In Task 2, they are required to write an essay to respond to.
Writing Syllabus for Academic:
• Candidates are given two tasks where the questions are a little bit trickier than general.
• In the first task, you will be given some data and you would have to explain it in your own words.
• In the second task, you would have to write an essay on the given data. You should keep in mind that your writing style should be formal.
Writing Syllabus for General:
• It also consists of two tasks but it’s much easier than academic.
• Here you will be asked to write a letter, writing can be formal or informal.
• Then you would have to write an essay, here you will be given the freedom to write in any style you want, formal or informal.
Syllabus for IELTS Speaking
Tests will be recorded to serve the purposes of evaluation. It will comprise three sections that simulate the face-to-face interview conducted by an assessor. It typically takes between 11 to 14 minutes to complete. The syllabus of IELTS for the speaking test comprises three sections. The three segments are as follows :
- The first portion is conducted by way of an interview in which the applicants will be asked about their personal preferences, interests, and hobbies, as well as the reasons why they are taking the IELTS test and various other IELTS speaking topics, such as clothing, family as well as fashion, leisure time computers, etc.
- In the second stage, the applicants receive an assigned topic card, the topic they are required to discuss. They are given only one minute to make preparations.
- The final part is an exchange between the examiner and the applicant. Questions are asked about the subject they already discussed in the second part. The last part is not as essential and is usually the most difficult.
IELTS syllabus has been designed to assess your skills by evaluating four sets of skills we’ve discussed previously. You must know the admission process related to the IELTS exam of the institute for which they have been accepted, as it varies between institutions. It is recommended to stay informed about the process for selecting the institution you’re applying to. Every section is vital and challenging to master. However, according to a study conducted across the globe, the most challenging area for IELTS can be found in the writing section. Now that you know the IELTS syllabus, you should begin preparing for the test as soon as possible.
IELTS Preparation
IELTS is a proficiency in English test taken by students looking to study in an English-speaking country and gain global exposure. Most universities, colleges, and other educational institutions in significant countries that speak English only teach in English. Therefore, to complete their education, the candidates must understand the English language. Candidates are assessed on four elements per the IELTS Exam Structure: reading, listening, writing, speaking, and listening.
There are two options for getting ready for IELTS self-study or IELTS training classes. The path you choose is based on the level of your proficiency in English. There is no need to take courses in coaching if you’re already proficient in English, and you can study for the test yourself. The only thing you need to do is determine when you need to start preparing for IELTS.
If you opt to study on your own to prepare for the IELTS exam, make sure you learn from the best IELTS preparation materials and books which are readily available. Since you’ll be working in a group, you must be sure you’re prepared for the exam.
The test will be on paper or the computer?
The IELTS test is accessible on paper and PC, and it’s the actual exam conducted in an examination center. The only difference is your preference to write all your responses on paper or write them down on your computer.
Both offer advantages and drawbacks. You will get your results within 3 to 5 days following the trial on a computer (instead of waiting for 13 days in the case of the test on paper)
Suppose you are a person with a particular need (such as hearing impairment, visual impairment, or learning difficulties, for instance). In that case, you should opt for the test on paper and make contact with the test center at least three months before taking the quiz to find out the specific conditions they can establish.
If you have further questions regarding the differences between paper-based and computer-based tests, check out our post “IELTS Computer-Based Test: Everything You Need to Learn About the Exam.”
IELTS Exam Results
You won’t need to wait long for the result after giving the exam. IELTS test results are released within 13 days. After that, you can log in to your IELTS account to check your score.
How to Check IELTS Result?
After you have completed the IELTS, you have to wait for the results. The results usually come after 1 week or within 14 days.
- Offline Mode: You will receive your results for offline or paper-based tests within 13 days.
- Online Mode: Computer-delivered exam results will be emailed to candidates within 3-5 days. On the day of your results, you will get a notification from your Test Centre. Or you can check online.
IELTS Exam Centers
There are 78 IELTS exam centers in India. With the options of so many locations, you can easily find a location near your house. You should choose it wisely because it shouldn’t be far away so you can give the test with a fresh mind.
IELTS Test Centres Across India: Choose nearest test centre
Karnal | Mehsana | Ludhiana | Chennai |
Vijayawada | Rudrapur | Angamaly | Ahmedabad |
Patiala | Amritsar | Mangalore | Bangalore |
Madurai | Bhatinda | Kollam | Vadodara |
Mumbai | Indore | Trichur | Surat |
Dehradun | Rajkot | Calicut | Pune |
Nagpur | Hyderabad | Kottayam | Trichur |
Tiruchirappalli | New Delhi | Navimumbai | Jammu |
Anand | Noida | Lucknow | Gurgaon |
Jalandhar | Coimbatore | Vizag | Kochi |
Ambala | Chandigarh | Trivandrum | Kolkata |
Bhopal | Moga | Jaipur | Book Now! |
FAQ IELTS Exam 2023:
Q. What is the full form of IELTS?
Answer: International English Language Testing System.
Q. How many times can I attempt the IELTS exam?
Answer: There is no limit here, you can attempt the test as many times as you want but you would have to pay the fee each time.
Q. Who Conducts IELTS?
Answer: The IELTS test is conducted by IDP IELTS Australia and Cambridge ESOL.
Q. Can I take my mobile or any other gadget while giving the exam?
Answer: No gadget is allowed inside the exam center.
Q. How can I register myself for IELTS?
Answer: The IELTS exam can be booked online and offline both ways. Online you need to go to the Official British Council Registration page and do the registration. In offline mode, you will need to visit the nearest IELTS center.
Q. For how long my IELTS score will be valid?
Answer: Your IELTS test report will be valid for 2 years from the date of declaration of result.