IELTS exam guide

IELTS Academic or General Training?

IELTS Academic is designed for academic study and relevant professional registration. General Training focuses on everyday English and is used for purposes including some migration, training and below-degree study routes. Your receiving organisation determines which test you need.

Source: IELTS: choosing a test type ↗

The Listening and Speaking tests are the same across these two versions, while Reading and Writing differ. Preparation material should match the version you are taking, especially for Writing Task 1.

Source: IELTS: General Training format ↗

Four sections, with speaking arrangements to check

IELTS covers Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The official test-taker guide states a total of two hours and 45 minutes for the four sections. Check your booking’s speaking appointment details because it may be scheduled separately from the other sections.

Source: IELTS: guide for test takers ↗

Before selecting an appointment, confirm the format currently offered at your location. Prepare using the tools and response method that apply to your booking. A useful rehearsal includes reading instructions, handling the interface and completing answers within the allotted time.

IELTS bands and your target score

IELTS reports an overall band and individual scores for the four skills. Whole and half bands are used. The overall score is based on the average of the section bands, rounded according to IELTS rules.

Source: IELTS: scoring in detail ↗

An overall target alone may be insufficient: a programme may set minimum scores for individual skills. Keep those minimums alongside your overall target when planning practice. Avoid translating an informal mock-test result into a claim that you already meet the requirement.

An IELTS booking checklist

• Confirm Academic or General Training, including any specifically required UKVI designation.
• Check the exact test format, centre and dates on the provider’s booking page.
• Review the identification requirements and make sure your details match.
• Check speaking-test scheduling and allow for any separate attendance.
• Compare the final payable fee and the cancellation or transfer terms.
• Save the provider’s booking confirmation and test-day instructions.

An IELTS discount coupon may reduce part of a fee rather than cover an entire exam. Check what a seller actually supplies before comparing a coupon price with a full exam voucher price.

IELTS booking rate and official fee

Official provider reference: ₹19,000 — standard Academic / General Training. UKVI, Life Skills and One Skill Retake have separate fees. Confirm the exact variant covered by our rate.

Check the official provider fee ↗ · Checked 14 October 2026

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Common questions