IELTS: The Basics

The IELTS test is recognized by over 9,000 institutions worldwide. This includes over 2,000 universities in the US, and many universities in the UK and Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as numerous professional organizations around the world. 

Contact the universities to which you are applying to find out if they accept the IELTS test. As there is no specific pass or fail mark, you should also check the guidelines provided by each university to find out what grade they require you to obtain.

The test can be taken at over 1,000 test center locations in more than 140 countries. It’s available to take on 48 fixed dates each year – up to four times a month, depending on local demand. To find your nearest center and check upcoming test dates, visit the official site.

Fees vary from country to country and at different test centers, although in most cases you can expect to pay somewhere in the region of US$234. Contact your nearest test center to get an exact quote.

There are no restrictions on retaking the test, so you can take it as many times as you need to. However, in practice retaking the test is highly impractical given the large amount of preparation which is required.

An IELTS test score is valid for two years. After two years it may no longer be an accurate reflection of your level of English language proficiency. Generally, if you have taken the test more than once in two years, only your most recent score will be considered valid.

Your test report form will be posted to you 13 calendar days after your test date. All test centers will post your test report form to you. You should keep your form in a secure place as you only receive one copy. Some test centers now provide SMS alerts and an online results service; contact your local test center to find out more.

This article was originally published in February 2010. It was updated in August 2015.