What is Ielts?

Why IELTS Exam is required?

IELTS exam is required for migration as well as academic purpose abroad in English speaking countries like Australia, UK, New Zealand, USA, and Canada. It is the only English Language Test approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for visa applicants applying both outside and inside the UK. A lot of students get confused about why are the IELTS scores required. The simple answer to this is that foreign universities and visa granting authorities need to be sure that you will not have communication issues while staying in the country. You need to show a good understanding and strong command of the English language and that is why your overall IELTS scores are so important. Another common doubt students have is whether IELTS is a compulsory exam or not. No, IELTS isn't compulsory in all university admissions. Many universities might not even require IELTS scores for admission purposes. But remember that if you don't give IELTS, your chances of getting the student visa might suffer as the visa officers may not be convinced about your English proficiency without IELTS scores. So it is safer to appear for IELTS and aim to score at least 6 bands overall.

You can take the IELTS exam with the British Council or IDP up to once a week (four times a month). The British Council and IDP global schedule for test dates are 48 days per year.

Types of IELTS

There are two types of IELTS exam: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Listening and speaking sections are the same for the two type of tests, however, the subject matter for the writing and reading sections are different depending on which test one takes. The Reading, Writing and Listening sections of the IELTS tests are completed on the same day of the test with no breaks between them. However, the Speaking section can be completed either a week before or after the other tests date. This information test can be taken from your test centre.

IELTS Academic Test

IELTS Academic is taken by those who apply for higher education or professional registration abroad.

IELTS General Test

IELTS General Test is taken by those who wish to migrate to major English speaking countries like Canada, Australia, and the UK. This test is also taken by those who want to enroll in training programs or secondary education or wants to gain work experience in a country where English is the main language used for communication.

IELTS Highlights

Ielts Key Information
Exam Name	Ielts
Official Website	https://www.britishcouncil.org.ng/
IELTS full form	International English Language Testing System
Most popular for	Study, work, and migration to English speaking countries like Australia, New Zealand, and the UK
Also accepted for	Canada and USA
Conducted by	British Council and IDP Education Ltd
Mode of Exam	Computer and Paper – delivered test
IELTS Fee	₦78,000
Score Range	On a scale of 1 (the lowest) to 9 (the highest)

IELTS vs TOEFL

Often international students are confused between choosing IELTS or TOEFL, as universities abroad ask for either exam scores. It is up to you as a test taker to decide which of the two exams to take, but remember that IELTS is more preferred in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, while TOEFL is popular among applicants to universities in US and Canada.

IELTS Eligibility

IELTS can be taken by anyone irrespective of age, gender, race, nationality or religion, however, the IELTS test is not recommended for those under 16 years of age.

What is the age limit to appear for the IELTS exam?

Minimum age requirement is lowered for language requirements for Canadian citizenship: Due to changes in the Citizenship Act in Canada, the minimum age that applicants have to prove their language proficiency for Canadian citizenship has been lowered. From June 2015, applicants between the ages of 14-64 who wish to move to Canada have to meet language requirements set by the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

How many attempts can be given for IELTS?

There is no limit set by the conducting bodies of IELTS for taking the IELTS exam. You can take the IELTS test as many times as you want until you get your dream/target score. However, you have to pay the IELTS test fee for every attempt.

What is the educational eligibility to write IELTS exam?

As such, there are no minimum eligibility criteria for IELTS set by the conducting bodies of IELTS. Anyone who wishes to pursue higher studies abroad or want to work abroad can attempt the IELTS exam (both Academic and General Training). However, candidates should always check the eligibility criteria set by the educational institution or organization where they are applying.

How does IELTS work?

IELTS test has been developed to assess the English language skills of an individual. The individuals are assessed on the bases of their Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking skills.

• IELTS for Study: Choosing IELTS for study can be of huge advantage for candidates as IELTS is accepted by more than 10,000 education institutions globally.
• IELTS for Work: Various professional organizations, and employers across the world accept IELTS to select the right candidate. The importance of communication felt at the time of working. There are many industries which accept the IELTS test for testing the language proficiency of the candidates.
• IELTS for immigration: Every country has its own set of guidelines for IELTS. Like in Australia it is accepted for permanent residency and various Visa categories. Those applying to Canada for a work visa, permanent residency or professional purpose are required to take IELTS General Test.

Who conducts IELTS?

IELTS test is jointly owned by:

• British Council
• IDP IELTS Australia (International Development Program)
• Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) 

Candidates have this doubt about who is best for IELTS, British Council or IDP? Where they should take the IELTS test? However, there is no difference between both the agencies, whether you take IELTS from British Council or IDP. So, you can take the IELTS exam conducted by any of the agency.

IELTS Registration

Make sure to keep your passport handy at the time of registration as you need passport number at the time of registration. Apart from this, you also need to carry your passport on the test day. 

Registration for IELTS can be done via our whatsapp, online, mail or in person at any of our office Nationwide. One can register for the IELTS exam throughout the year. There are various test centres available for the IELTS application. Click here to Register for the Ielts Exam .

Those below 18 years of age need their parent or guardian to book the test for them. Once the registration is complete, your test center will send a written confirmation to you informing about the date and time of your IELTS test.

IELTS Exam Fees

The registration fee for IELTS in Nigeria is ₦78,000. At Edugrade Services, we offer Free Online Lectures for IELTS Test Takers.

What is IELTS Cancellation Fees?

• If you cancel your IELTS application more than five weeks before the test date, you will receive the refund minus 25% administrative fee.
• If you cancel the IELTS exam less than five weeks ahead of the test date, you will receive no refund.
• In case you fail to appear for the test, then also you will not receive any refund. This is also considered as a cancelation.

What is IELTS Rescheduling Fees?

If you want to change your test date, then you can request for a test day transfer at least five weeks before your already booked test date after deducting your cancellation/postponement fee. Also, make sure the new test date must be within three months of the original test date. Candidates need to pay an administrative charge inclusive of all taxes for transfer of test date.

IELTS Scholarships

One of the biggest drawbacks about studying abroad is having to pay tuition fees in foreign currency clubbed with high living expenses. Due to such reasons, a lot of times, many sections of students are unavailable to go abroad and end up settling down for other alternatives. However, with the availability of various IELTS Scholarships and education loans, students can finally make their dream come true. Scholarships are available on the official website of every college along with other fellowships and grants that are awarded to deserving students on a regular basis. Students can also opt for education loan from financial institutions for studying abroad.

IELTS Exam Pattern and Syllabus

It is important for candidates looking to score well in their IELTS Test to understand the IELTS Exam Pattern and Syllabus in detail. IELTS Syllabus includes four sections, Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. You get marked on these four sections and you get the IELTS total score as well. The total score is the sum of the scores in the four skill areas. The total test duration is 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Sections with Duration	IELTS Academic Test Description	Total Questions
Listening (30 minutes)	It encompasses four recorded monologues and conversations	40
Reading (60 minutes)	Three long reading passages with tasks Texts range from descriptive and factual to discursive, and analytical includes non-verbal material like diagrams, graphs, and illustrations texts are authentic (taken from books, journals, and newspapers)	40
Writing (60 minutes)	A writing task of at least 150 words where the candidate must summarize, describe or explain table, graph, chart or diagram, and another short essay task of at least 250 words	2
Speaking (11-14 minutes)	The face-to-face interview includes short questions, speaking at length about a familiar topic and a structured discussion	3

 

How is IELTS Scored?

IELTS is designed to assess English language skills at all levels. Your total IELTS score will be a combination of the band scores from the four sections. You will receive IELTS scores based on each of the four skills on a band of 1 – 9, and you will also be awarded an overall band score. You can score whole (example 5.0, 6.0, 7.0) or half (example 5.5, 6.5, 7.5) bands in each part of the test. You need to have some idea about how the scoring pattern works to better understand how your IELTS score will be calculated.

How to get your IELTS Exam Result?

Once you are done with the IELTS, then comes your wait for the result. The good thing about these exams is that the results are usually declared within a fortnight. In this case, if you have given the computer-based exam, your results will be declared within 5-7 days or within a week.

• Offline Mode: For offline or paper-based test, you will receive your results within 13 calendar day from the day of your exam.
• Online Mode: On the day of your result, you will receive an intimation from your Test Centre about the results. You can simply login with your ID, password, passport number, and test date information to view your result. From the time of declaration of result, your results will be available online for the next 28 days

IELTS Score validity period

From the time you obtain your IELTS results, your IELTS score is valid for two years.

IELTS Results

You do not have long to wait for your results as IELTS test results are released within a week (online) or 13 calendar days (offline) after you sit for the test. You will receive an email when your scores are available. You can log into your IELTS account on the IELTS Results website to see your scores.

IELTS Cut-Off

IELTS has been designed to assess the English language skills of students at all levels. Hence, students can never fail the test. The IELTS score is based on each of the four skills on a scale of 1 – 9, and students would also be awarded an overall band score. Candidates are reminded that the IELTS cut-off score varies for different colleges and programmes that students are interested in and not all universities and programmes require candidates to qualify for the IELTS exam. Your overall IELTS band score is important if you intend to apply for university, take up a job or immigrate to an English-speaking country.

Colleges Accepting IELTS

Taking the IELTS exam opens doors of opportunities! More than 10,000 organizations across 140 countries accept IELTS. These include professional organizations, schools, colleges, and universities. This test will clearly monitor the use of the English language of the aspirant at work, study, which reflects how the aspirant will manage communication abroad. It is the most popular English language test with more than 3 million IELTS exams are taken every year.

Countries Accepting IELTS Score

IELTS exam score is accepted in more than 140 countries including UK, Australia, New Zealand, USA, and Canada. Whether it is for study, work or immigration, you can sit for IELTS and with a good score apply to your favourite country. It is advisable to check the university/country requirements for IELTS before sitting for the exam.

IELTS Preparation Tips

Edugrade Services Provide several means for Ielts Test takers in Nigeria to have a good score. We offer free onlines classes for test takers three(3) times a week and give out free practice test books when you registered with us.

What are the best books for IELTS Exam?

If you take the route of self-study to prepare for Ielts, there are a lot of books and resources along with Ielts study plans available to help you. when you register your Ielts exam with us, you have access to series of Ielts ebooks and free online class to prepare you for the Ielts exam.

IELTS Exam day tips

Each exam has its own preparation technique, which also changes the treatment of exam day. Planning your exam day and preparing for strategies to crack the question paper is equally essential as studying for the exam is. Therefore, it is as important to be exam-day ready as it is to be prepared with its syllabus.

IELTS Question/ Sample Paper

While preparing for the exam, you would need to know how far you have reached. Knowing where you stand would help you move further with your preparation. Hence, it is suggested that you keep on taking up the IELTS practice tests every now and then. It would also help in preparing you for facing and handling the question paper well, without panicking on the day of the exam.

IELTS Test Centers in Nigeria

IELTS has its exam centers all over Nigeria. The test can be taken by you in 11 locations across Nigeria. You should choose your location wisely considering that your travel on the day of the exam should not be exhausting. Choose a center with minimal commuting time so that you can remain fresh for attempting the exam. With so many locations, it would be easy to find a test center near your residential place. Remember, you need to book the test center in advance according to your suitable time. Ielts test centers are in the following locations in Nigeria LAGOS | ABUJA | IBADAN | BENIN | ENUGU | CALABAR | PORTHARCOURT | WARRI | ABEOKUTA | AKURE | ILORIN.

IELTS FAQs

Q. How many times the IELTS exam is conducted in a year?

A. There is no fixed number of times for the IELTS exam to be held. It is conducted several times every year to allow its candidates to choose a date and attempt the test whenever they are ready. In addition to this, there is also no limit as to how many times you can attempt or re-take the exam. You just need to pay the exam re-taking fee and give the exam as many times as you want (given that you have to pay the fees for every attempt).

Q. What is the validity of IELTS?

A. The IELTS exam score is valid for two years from the date of the result declaration.

Q. Where can I book my IELTS slot?

Registration for IELTS can be done via our whatsapp, online, mail or in person at any of our office Nationwide. One can register for the IELTS exam throughout the year. There are various test centres available for the IELTS application. Click here to Register for the Ielts Exam .

Q. How soon the candidate can give the IELTS test again?

A. Candidates can resit for the IELTS exam anytime.

Q. How can I postpone or cancel my IELTS test?

A. Candidates can cancel or postpone the IELTS exam. However, candidates can postpone or cancel the exam personally or through email. Cancellation or postponement cannot be done through the telephone.

• If you postpone or cancel your application more than 5 weeks before the test date, you will receive a refund less than 25% of the administrative fee.  
• Candidates cancelling the exam less than 5 weeks ahead of the exam will not receive any refund.
• Those who do not appear for the exam will also not receive any refund.

Q. What is the difference between IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training?

A. IELTS academic is given by those who wish to enroll at a college/university to pursue studies. Whereas, IELTS General Training is given by those who wish to migrate to a foreign country for work.

Q. If the candidate is absent from the exam because of the genuine medical condition?

A. If the candidate does not appear for the exam, they will lose their whole amount of the fee. However, if the candidate is not able to give the exam due to genuine medical condition, then they need to submit the medical certificate within 5 days of the exam to receive the refund after deducting the administrative cost.

Q. How can I prepare for the IELTS Test?

A. Edugrade Services Provide several means for Ielts Test takers in Nigeria to have a good score. We offer free onlines classes for test takers three(3) times a week and give out free practice test books when you registered with us.

Q. What is the purpose of taking the IELTS test?

A. The objective of the IELTS exam is to test the English language proficiency of the candidate who wishes to migrate for study or work in a foreign country where English is used as a medium of communication. This test is also accepted by countries for immigration purpose as well.

Q. Which countries accept IELTS Score?

A. There are more than 140 countries that accept the IELTS score. It is accepted by various organizations in major English speaking countries like the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Apart from this, even non-English speaking countries also accept IELTS score to give admission in different colleges and universities where courses are taught in English.