IELTS

We can help International students navigate the college admissions process. Most International students must take and pass a English proficiency test. But which test should the student take? There are two commonly offered English proficiency tests available – TOEFL and IELTS. Some schools accept IELTS scores, other schools will consider IELTS scores, and some schools only accept TOEFL scores. Which test you decide to take will depend on the universities you are considering.

IELTS stands for the International English Language Testing System. It is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native speakers. It is one of two English language tests accepted at colleges and universities in the United States. Here is a link to search for colleges and universities in the United States that accept IELTS scores: https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/who-accepts-ielts-scores. IELTS tests the ability to read, write, listen, and speak in English.

To enroll at a university, the test taker must choose the academic version of the test.

IELTS has four parts – Listening (30 minutes), Reading (60 minutes), Writing (60 minutes) and Speaking (11–14 minutes). The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes. The Listening, Reading and Writing tests are done in one sitting. The Speaking test may be on the same day or up to seven days before or after the other tests. Find out more and see a test sample.

An IELTS result orTest Report Form is issued to all candidates with a score from “band 1” (“non-user”) to “band 9” (“expert user”) and each institution sets a different threshold for passing. The highest IELTS band required by a university is 8.5, which is required by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Most IELTS requirements by universities fall between a band of 5.5 and 7.0. For example, graduate schools at the University of Arizona generally require a score of 7 on the IELTS (although the score requirement may vary from program to program). Universities like Stanford and the University of Pennsylvania will consider the IELTS, but strongly encourage students to take the TOEFL. Massachusetts Institute of Technology does not accept IELTS, but does accept TOEFL. These are just examples; there are many different universities in the United States, and each university has its own policy regarding English language proficiency.

For the IELTS, the total test duration is around 2 hours and 55 minutes for Listening, Reading and Writing modules. The Speaking portion of the test contains three parts. The Speaking portion of the test is not necessarily given on the same day as the other modules.

• Listening: 40 minutes, 30 minutes for which a recording is played centrally and additional 10 minutes for transferring answers onto the OMR answer sheet.
• Reading: 60 minutes.
• Writing: 60 minutes.
• Speaking: 11–15 minutes.