What is the IELTS exam?

Exams are a great way to demonstrate your level of English, but when there are so many to choose from, how do you know which to take? Here we’re going to look at some reasons for studying IELTS at The Essential English School in Manchester.

IELTS stands for the International English Language Testing System, which sounds important, and it is. Accepted by 8,000 institutions in over 130 countries and taken by 2 million candidates last year, it is a truly global qualification and a route to a range of personal, professional, and educational prospects.

IELTS tests you on all four skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing, so offers a full indication of your level of English. Within the skills tests it also assesses your grammatical skills and your range of vocabulary, so when you’re studying for IELTS, you’re not just preparing for an exam, you’re constantly bringing more depth to your English knowledge and ability.

There are two options with IELTS: the General Training Version and the Academic Version, so you have the opportunity to choose the right exam for you. A strong grade with General Training will provide evidence to an employer, or can help you to start a life in a range of English-speaking countries. With Academic IELTS, you focus on vocabulary and skills relating to a learning environment, and a good grade can help you to gain access to Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD courses in universities all over the world, particularly in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and the United States.

IELTS is scored on a scale of 0-9, and while most institutions require a specific grade, often over 5.5 or 6.5, you can’t fail if you turn up to your exam. Even a score of 2 or 3 or 4, indicating limited English, would give you a starting place upon which to build, and would help you to understand your current level and areas in which you could improve. A score of 9, meanwhile, would provide evidence that you are an expert in English, so whatever your goals, IELTS can measure your progress.

More and more people in more and more countries are taking IELTS every year: in fact, the number of candidates has doubled in the last 5 years. If you want a qualification with real international status, start training with us in Manchester at The Essential English Centre. We know IELTS.