Before signing up for an IELTS language test, you need to decide which version best suits your needs. Next, decide where and when you want to complete the language test.
Registration takes place online. Within five working days, you must complete payment and submit documentation. Follow the instructions carefully when you register. Your registration is only valid when these have been received and approved.
IELTS Test Dates
The IELTS test maker now offers Computer-Delivered IELTS Test or IELTS CDT in addition to paper based IELTS test. The good news is that if you are living in one of the following countries, you can take the test three times a day, 365 days a year.
| Continent | Countries |
| Asia | Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam |
| North America | Canada, Mexico |
| South America | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru |
| Europe | Greece, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine |
| Oceania | Australia, New Zealand |
Test Dates for Paper Based IELTS
| TEST DATE | DAY | TEST MODULE |
| August 22, 2020 | Saturday | Academic, General Training |
| August 29, 2020 | Saturday | Academic |
| September 5, 2020 | Saturday | Academic |
| September 12, 2020 | Saturday | Academic, General Training |
| September 17, 2020 | Thursday | Academic, General Training |
| September 26, 2020 | Saturday | Academic, General Training |
| October 10, 2020 | Saturday | Academic |
| October 15, 2020 | Thursday | Academic |
| October 24, 2020 | Saturday | Academic, General Training |
| October 31, 2020 | Saturday | Academic, General Training |
| November 7, 2020 | Saturday | Academic |
| November 12, 2020 | Thursday | Academic, General Training |
| November 21, 2020 | Saturday | Academic, General Training |
| November 28, 2020 | Saturday | Academic, General Training |
| December 3, 2020 | Thursday | Academic |
| December 5, 2020 | Saturday | Academic, General Training |
| December 12, 2020 | Saturday | Academic |
| December 19, 2020 | Saturday | Academic, General Training |
On the Test Day
Remember to bring the picture ID that you used when registering, and to show up well in advance on the day of your IELTS language test. The total test lasts two hours and 45 minutes and there will be a brief introduction before starting.
You can choose to split the test over two days. If you want to complete the speech part of your IELTS on another day, you must select this already at registration.
IELTS Test Structure
1: Listening part of IELTS (30 minutes)
You have to go through four sections that consist of a total of 40 questions. There are multiple choice, sentence completion and free text answers as well as other types. The sections include:
- A conversation between two people in an everyday context
- A monologue in an everyday context
- A conversation between up to four people in an educational context
- A monologue about an academic topic such as a lecture
There will be different English accents in play and you only hear each section once. At the end of the listening section, you will have ten minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet. Each correct answer receives one point and the result is converted to the IELTS 9-point scale.
2: Reading part of IELTS (60 minutes)
In this part of the IELTS test, you will again have to answer 40 questions of different types. It can be, for example, composition of information, true or false, completion of sentences or multiple choice. The total text length is 2,150 to 2,750 words divided into:
- “Academic Reading” – an academic text on an academic topic
- “General Training Reading: 1” – two to three short texts on everyday topics
- “General Training Reading: 2” – two short texts on work-related topics
- “General Training Reading: 1” – a longer text on a more complex topic
In your answers you will be assessed on your ability to capture and understand details as well as main messages in the text and the ability to follow the development of an argument. Each correct answer receives one point and the result is converted to the IELTS 9-point scale.
3: The writing part of IELTS (60 minutes)
For the writing assignment, you must go through two sections that culminate in two short essays. The two sections include two tasks each.
Academic Writing:
- You must describe, summarize and explain data in, for example, a graph, a figure or a diagram
- You must write an academic essay that presents a solution to a topic of general interest and challenges ideas, evidence or an argument.
General Training Writing:
- You must write a letter of a personal, semi-formal or formal nature in which you request information or explain a situation
- You need to write an essay that may be of a slightly more personal nature. You will be assessed on your vocabulary, your grammar and your ability to answer the topic in terms of content, precision and idea.
The first must be at least 150 words and the second must be at least 250 words. In addition, the second section counts twice as much as the first. Therefore, keep a close eye on the time and try to finish the first section after the first twenty minutes so that you have forty minutes for the second section.
You will be awarded a grade according to the IELTS 9-point scale.
4: Speech part of IELTS (15 minutes)
In the final part of your IELTS language test, you will conduct an interview with a certified IELTS examiner. This consists of three parts:
- “Introduction and interview” – four to five minute presentation
- “Individual long turn” – a minute of preparation on the basis of a task card with pointers. Then you have one to two minutes of presentation before the examiner concludes with one to two questions
- “Two-way discussion” – four to five minutes of examination, where the examiner asks in-depth questions in continuation of the topic in the second part. Here you can discuss ideas and topics on a more abstract level.
The conversation is recorded digitally, and you will be assessed based on how fluent in the language you are as well as your grammatical accuracy, ability for reflection, pronunciation and general knowledge. You get an overall grade according to the IELTS 9-step scale.