For updates regarding Test Centres along with Dates click here,

IELTS measures your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, and assesses your ability to communicate for work, study or life in an English-speaking country.

The first step is to make sure you understand the IELTS test format. You need to know what will be expected of you on test day.

Understand the IELTS test format

• Study the test format to make sure that you know what to expect.
• Look carefully at the content of each part of the IELTS test: listening, reading, writing and speaking.
• Get to know the different types of questions that you may be asked in each part.
• Once you are familiar with the IELTS test format, you will need to undertake a number of focused preparation activities.

For candidates registering for test dates scheduled until 31 August 2015, the IELTS fee is INR 10,400.

For candidates registering for test dates scheduled after 01 September 2015, the IELTS fee is INR 10,600.

The fee has now been increased and is INR 11,300 .

IELTS provides a profile of a candidate's ability to use English.

Candidates receive scores on a Band Score from 1 (Non User) to 9 (Expert User). Candidates receive a score for each test component – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The individual scores are then averaged and rounded to produce an Overall Band Score.

See IELTS band scores for an explanation of each band. For more information on the marking process and how band scores are calculated, see Score processing and reporting. 

IELTS Scores Explained DVD

For an in-depth explanation of IELTS scores, institutions can order the IELTS Scores Guide DVD.

It contains:

• information about IELTS

• a detailed description of the content of the test

• sample test materials

• examples of candidates' Writing and Speaking performance at different band levels.

The DVD will be helpful for organisations that use IELTS, as well as course designers, teachers and anyone who needs to understand how IELTS scores relate to language ability.

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Following skills are tested in this exam:

1.Reading

2.Listening

3.Speaking

4.Writing

Listening and speaking portion is same for both the types of tests- Academic and General Training.The subject matter of the reading and writing tests is different depending on the kind of test taht you opt for.

IELTS study material handbook can be downloaded from  the link below:

https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/sample-test-questions

https://www.britishcouncil.in/ielts-books

Here are some quick tips for practicing your English and taking the test.:

Practice for confidence

• Practice your English language skills with the Official IELTS Practice Materials or through other books or courses.
• Download the Information for candidates booklet to understand more about the test.
• Read, speak and listen to English as much as you can.
• Practice speaking English with your friends.
• Use radio, television and the web to read and hear different English texts and accents.

Arrive on time to the test

• Double check the time and date of your test and allow plenty of time to travel to the test centre.
• If you are late, you may not be allowed to take the test.
• Make sure you drink water and eat healthy food on the day of your test.

Try to be calm and relaxed

• Get a good night's sleep before your test. Don‘t cram your study.
• Try to remain calm at the test centre. The centre staff will be friendly and assist you.
• Read the IELTS regulations before the test so you understand the rules. 

Understand the test format

• To do your best, you need to know what to expect. Make sure you understand the test format.
• Look at the free sample test pages to see the types of texts and questions.

Follow the instructions

• Listen to the supervisor carefully and follow the instructions on how to sit the test.
• When you open your test papers, read the instructions first before writing anything.
• Don't lose points for careless mistakes because you haven't read the question properly.

Stay aware of the time

• Every test room will have a clock on the wall. Stay aware of the time so you can complete all of your questions.
• Each part has a number of sections. Allow enough time for each section. Some questions have suggested time limits for you to follow.

Do your best

• If you feel yourself becoming worried, take some deep breaths to calm down.
• Work calmly, focus on the questions, don't rush your answers and you will do your best.

To register for an IELTS test, follow these seven simple steps. You can also download the Information for candidates booklet.

1. Find your nearest IELTS centre and check the test dates to find options that suit you. Note the deadline for registering for each test date. You can also see the cost of the test at your centre in local currency on the IELTS Worldwide Search

2. Check with your organisation or on the Global Recognition System whether you need to sit an Academic or General Training test.

3. Print out the IELTS Application Form (PDF, 273KB) or ask your test centre for a copy. Read the information for candidates, terms and conditions, complete the form and sign it. Please make sure you have a valid postal address and use the same name as on your passport.

4. Take a photocopy of your current passport – this must be valid and not expired. (Some centres will accept a national identity card.)

5. If you want your results to be sent automatically to a university or educational institution, include the correct details in the section on the IELTS Application Form 

6. Take your application into your IELTS test centre with your money. If you send it by mail, please talk to your centre about the method of payment.

Once you have registered, the test centre will confirm your IELTS test date, time and venue. Please note the Speaking test can be up to 7 days before or after the test date.

On the test day, you must bring the same passport or national identity card that you entered on the IELTS Application Form.

There are two types of IELTS tests -IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.

The Academic test is for people applying for higher education or professional registration in an English speaking requirement.  The general training test is more generalized and tests the basic survival instinct in broad social and workplace contexts. It is an essential condition for migration to various countries and necessary for taking up training programs and secondary education in English speaking countries.

Do check which IELTS test the organization that you are applying to recognizes.

A score above 6.5 on the 9 points band is considered above average.However, different countries have different requirements.

Universities like Oxford require at least a 7 pointer whereas universities in Canada require a 6.5.New Zealand accepts scores as low as 4 is you're applying as an entrepreneur or a skilled migrant.

Make it a point to check the cut off for the university or program before you apply individually. 

There used to be a minimum time limit of 90 days before which a person was not allowed to retake the test. However this restriction has been withdrawn and currently there is no limit for applicants to retake the test.

There are total 84 test centres in India, below you can find list of all the test centres:

Ahmedabad
IDP IELTS - Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad
British Council - Ahmedabad

Aizwal
British Council - Aizwal

Ambala
IDP IELTS - Ambala
Next Test Date: 29-Aug-2015

Amritsar
British Council - Amritsar

Amritsar
IDP IELTS - Amritsar

Anand
IDP IELTS - Anand

Anand
British Council - Anand

Angamaly
IDP IELTS - Angamaly

Bangalore 
British Council - Bangalore

Bangalore
IDP IELTS - Bangalore 

Baroda
British Council - Baroda

Bhatinda
IDP IELTS - Bhatinda

Bhatinda
British Council - Bhatinda

Bhopal
IDP IELTS - Bhopal

Bhopal
British Council - Bhopal

Bhubaneswar
British Council - Bhubaneswar

Calicut
IDP IELTS - Calicut

Calicut
British Council - Calicut

Chandigarh
IDP IELTS - Chandigarh

Chandigarh
British Council - Chandigarh

Chennai 
British Council - Chennai

Chennai 
IDP IELTS - Chennai 

Coimbatore
British Council - Coimbatore

Coimbatore
IDP IELTS - Coimbatore

Dehradun
IDP IELTS - Dehradun

Goa
British Council - Goa

Guwahati
British Council - Guwahati

Hyderabad
IDP IELTS - Hyderabad

Hyderabad
British Council - Hyderabad

Indore
IDP IELTS - Indore

Indore
British Council - Indore

Jaipur 
IDP IELTS - Jaipur 

Jaipur
British Council - Jaipur

Jalandhar
British Council - Jalandhar

Jalandhar
IDP IELTS - Jalandhar

Jammu
IDP IELTS - Jammu

Karnal
IDP IELTS - Karnal

Kochi
British Council - Kochi

Kochi
IDP IELTS - Kochi

Kolkata
IDP IELTS - Kolkata

Kolkata
British Council - Kolkata

Kottayam
IDP IELTS - Kottayam

Kottayam
British Council - Kottayam 

Lucknow
British Council - Lucknow

Ludhiana
British Council - Ludhiana

Ludhiana
IDP IELTS - Ludhiana

Madurai
British Council - Madurai

Mangalore
IDP IELTS - Mangalore

Mehsana
IDP IELTS - Mehsana

Moga
IDP IELTS - Moga
Next Test Date: 29-Aug-2015

Moga
British Council - Moga

Mumbai 
British Council - Mumbai

Mumbai 
IDP IELTS - Mumbai

Navi Mumbai
British Council - Navi Mumbai

Navi Mumbai
IDP IELTS - Navi Mumbai

New Delhi
British Council - New Delhi

New Delhi
IDP IELTS - New Delhi

Patiala
IDP IELTS - Patiala

Patiala
British Council - Patiala

Patna
British Council - Patna

Pune
British Council - Pune

Pune 
IDP IELTS - Pune 

Raipur
British Council - Raipur

Rajkot
IDP IELTS - Rajkot

Rajkot
British Council - Rajkot

Ranchi
British Council - Ranchi

Siliguri
British Council - Siliguri

Surat
British Council - Surat

Surat 
IDP IELTS - Surat 

Thrissur
British Council - Thrissur 

Trichur 
IDP IELTS - Trichur 

Trichy
British Council - Trichy

Trivandrum
British Council - Trivandrum

Trivandrum 
IDP IELTS - Trivandrum 

Vadodara
IDP IELTS - Vadodara

Vijayawada
IDP IELTS - Vijayawada

Vijayawada
British Council - Vijayawada

Visakhapatnam
British Council - Visakhapatnam

Vizag
IDP IELTS - Vizag

ILET exam duration is Total: 2 hours, 45 minutes and it consists of followig sections:

• Listening: 40 minutes
• Reading: 60 minutes
• Writing: 60 minutes
• Speaking: 11-15 minutes