What is IELTS?
The IELTS website says it is "The world's most trusted English test". It is a partnership between the British Council, IDP IELTS, and Cambridge University Press (More info). More than 3.5 million tests were taken in 2018 and the number tests taken has grown post-pandemic. The IELTS exam is used by governments to grant visas so people can live and work in English speaking countries and by universities as a standard for admission. Some non-native English speakers obtain an IELTS certificate to show their standard of English for work in their own countries.
Do I have to do an exam?
It depends. If you want to get a Visa to English speaking countries, you may need an IELTS certificate, obtained by examination. Note that IELTS for Visas normally need to be taken in person.
You can also study for IELTS course for interest with no obligation to take the exam.
There is an official course book for both Academic and Advanced tracks (see below). This explains the course structure, contains practice exercises and, at the back of the book 8 practice test.
Where can I take the test?
The IELTS test is not currently available online in Afghanistan nor is there a test centre currently in Afghanistan, so you would have to travel, possibly to Iran or Pakistan where you can take the test online or in person. The test is not free nor necessarily cheap. You can check availability and prices online. You also need to factor in the cost of visa application to the country where you want to take the test, travel, accommodation and the price of the test itself.
However, IELTS is still a good programme to follow. You can also pay for an online progress check (see below) to get a professional assessment of what you would have got had you been able to take the exam.
See also about other tests, below
Is there just one test?
There are three IELTS "tracks":
"Academic", for people wanting to work at a professional level or to study at university level.
"General", for people who need an English qualification below university level.
"Life skills": this is a track with various sub-options all related to obtaining visas.
What is the test structure?
There are separate tests for listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Note that the speaking and listening tests are the same for both tracks.
Select the test type that interests you to see more detailed information about the test structure.
How is IELTS scored?
Your results are given as a band. There are 9 possible bands.
The assessment criteria are the same across all tests.
Coherence and cohesion (structure and flow)
Lexical resource (Vocabulary)
Grammatical range and accuracy.
Does IELTS map on to CEFR?
Yes. More info.
Do universities accept other English tests?
Many accept the Duolingo English Test. You can take the test online and practice free. The test itself costs about USD$50.
The duolingo self study program is free and structured but in no way compares to the rigour of an IELTS course. There are many online articles that compare the two tests.
Can I do a "mock" IELTS exam?
The IELTS Progress Check is an online practice test (Academic or General track) that follows the same format as the IELTS exam, and is marked by IELTS examiners. You can choose to take it timed or untimed. It does not give you an IELTS certificate but will give you a score which indicates what IELTS band you might get if you took the IELTS test. It currently costs approx USD $50.
Can I do any other online courses?
Some other free, online self-study courses: Duolingo, BBC Learning English.
BBC bitesize is a huge resource aimed at UK school students at primary and secondary levels. However, there are many games and activities that English learners can use.