IELTS is internationally owned, internationally focused, internationally accessible and internationally recognised. The British Council and IDP IELTS Australia are IELTS test delivery partners and there is no difference in taking the test with either organisation.

Examiners working with both partners have to go through the same extensive training and retraining programme and are regularly monitored to ensure they are applying the assessment criteria accurately. Inconsistencies are not accepted and appropriate action is taken against those examiners.

The partners strive for continuous research and take feedback from stakeholders to continually improve the test. The stakeholders felt that introducing half band scores in speaking and writing sections of the test will give them information about the precise level of the candidate and enable them to make a more informed decision. This does not disadvantage the candidates but gives a more accurate result. Read more about the half bands.

This is not possible as the final band score is an average of the score for each of the 4 skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking. The proficiency of the candidates can only be judged based on his/her final band score. Research has shown that people can increase (via practice) or even decrease (via infrequent use of the language) their proficiency level from time to time.

Most organisations that accept IELTS (universities, immigration authorities) have direct access to the global on-line IELTS verification service. From their computer they can see:

This ensures that only genuine IELTS test report forms are accepted. Presenting a fake or altered test report form can have serious consequences for candidates.

No, the British Council does not authorise or quality assure IELTS training centres. But our website does have contact information of British Council Registration Centres, some of which also offer training facilities.

It is essential to the authorities and institutions who accept IELTS that they are 100% sure that the person who sat the exam is the same as the person whose identity appears on the TRF. Therefore in each country there is an agreement with these authorities on what is the most acceptable means of identification. For India, this is an original valid passport and our invigilators are trained to spot non-genuine or amended passports. The authorities who accept IELTS, such as the High Commissions in India, do spot checks on us to ensure we are following these procedures and would doubt the validity of our IELTS scores if we were not following this rule.

Yes, at the latest count, 1400 US universities and colleges recognise IELTS for proof of English language ability for students, including Princeton, Duke and Harvard Business School. Read for more details.

CGFNS also recognises IELTS for nurses wishing to work in the USA. For a full list of universities/colleges/ receiving institutions that recognise IELTS across the globe click here.

We do conduct IELTS test for special needs candidates. We do not have any special dates for them. They can take the test on the regular dates.
All special needs candidates need to provide us with:

Special arrangements can be made for candidates with special needs, for example:

The following can be provided for special needs candidates (please check availability with centre):

Further information pertaining to special arrangements for such candidates is also available.

No, Task 2 is given more weight than Task 1. This is because Task 1 is a restricted type where input and output is to be produced on the basis of visual input given. In Task 2 the candidates are expected to give opinions, examples and suggestions and thus greater linguistic ability is required. This is why candidates are recommended to spend 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2.

On the day of the test, candidates must present the valid original passport at both the written test and the speaking test.
If you lose your passport, we suggest you file an FIR and send a copy of this along with a letter requesting for transfer of test to another date. You are advised to also get in touch with the nearest Examination centre immediately. In the meanwhile you apply and get a new passport as soon as possible.

No, you can't take the test again. You are banned from taking IELTS in the future.

There is no passing score in IELTS. However, universities or embassies may tell you the band score they require.

Your Test Report Form will be sent out by the British Council on the 13th day after the test.