IELTS Preparation: Registration, Fees, Eligibility & Pattern

The IELTS is an English proficiency test that you need to undertake in order to move to any English-speaking country. The IELTS examination is accepted by 10000 education institutions world-wide. It is an important test for your eligibility for higher education in these institutions. We will tell you everything about the IELTS preparation process. Find every detail about the fees, pattern, eligibility, etc. We also have some valuable insights on the IELTS examination that will help you crack the examination. 

Why is the IELTS Examination Necessary?

Whether you are a student or a working professional, or simply moving to settle in an English-speaking country, you need to take the IELTS examination. The classes in all the schools and colleges are all conducted in English. Hence, schools and colleges need to ensure that the students will comprehend the lessons and be able to communicate with fellow students, and teachers appropriately.

For working professionals, all the directives and instructions are given in English. This would be helpful as all emails, training, schedules and meetings would be in English and understanding the language will let you complete your task effectively. Even your company wants to ensure that your output would not suffer due to a lack of understanding in the language.

If you’re moving to settle or start your business abroad, then you need to communicate with the locals who usually speak English. The IELTS examination evaluates your comprehensive reading, writing, listening and speaking capabilities. The exam is mandated so you can easily blend in an English-speaking country. 

Who Conducts the IELTS Examination?

The governing councils that conduct the IELTS examinations are:

1. International Development Program (IDP)
2. British Council
3. Cambridge English for Speakers of Other languages (ESOL)

The IDP and the British council are widely used by Indians for IELTS exam registrations. There is some debate as to the validity of the results from each council. However, there is no actual difference between the two. You can choose either of the two councils for your IELTS registration. The procedure for the test is the same and the results also hold the same credentials. After you crack your IELTS exam you get eligible to study, work, or migrate to an English-speaking country. 

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Types of IELTS Examination

For the IELTS preparation process, you first need to know about the types of IELTS exams. The IELTS examinations are divided into 2 categories:

1. IELTS Academic Training

As the name suggests, this examination is mostly chosen by the students applying for higher education. If you want to study abroad, then you must opt for the Academic examination. The reading and writing sections of the test will focus on your academic needs. This examination is also sometimes opted by the professionals.

2. IELTS General Training

This training program is mostly opted by professionals, immigrants, students of general courses, etc. General Training focuses more on the fundamental understanding of the English language.

The reading and writing sections for these two types of examinations differ. However, the listening and speaking portions are the same for both. A writing test would follow a reading test and a listening test. All three tests would be conducted one after another on the same day. However, you can opt to appear for the speaking test at an interval of a week before or after the other sections.

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IELTS Registration Procedure

There are 2 options for you to choose from for your IELTS registration process:

1. Online IELTS Registration – This process is fairly easy. You can follow the steps below:

1. Open the official IELTS IDP Website or British Council Website 
2. Select your preferred mode of examination from the options.
3. Select the type of test (Academic or General).
4. Select the city where you want to take the examination.
5. Select the date of the examination and your preferred time slot.
6. Accept the terms and conditions set by the council.
7. Fill out the online form and create your account.
8. Once you have completed the form, select a mode of payment.
9. Make the payment online and complete the IELTS registration process.
10. Make sure to note down the ID, Password, and registration number.
11. Offline IELTS Registration – This process of registration follows similar steps. However, the entire process of filling out the details and selecting the preferred date and time are processed manually. You must follow the steps below:

1. Download the IELTS registration form from the official website
2. Select your preferred test date and time
3. Manually fill out the registration form. Remember to add an address that is courier serviceable.
4. To make the payment:

• Create a Demand Draft (DD) in favor of the British Council in New Delhi
• Pay by cash to the nearest ICICI bank and acquire the proof of payment.

1. Courier the DD or payment slip along with the filled-out registration form to the British Council.

The online mode of registration is certainly the easiest and most preferred choice. However, if you do not have access to an internet connection, you can opt for the offline mode of IELTS registration.

Please Note: You must have a valid passport during the application process. You are required to enter the passport number in your IELTS registration forms, both online and offline.

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Eligibility 

• What is the age limit for Eligibility for IELTS registration?

The exam council recommends this test for anyone above the age of 16. There is no upper age limit for the examination. The IELTS examination is open to all with no discrimination for age groups, gender, race, or nationality.

• How many times are you eligible for the IELTS examination?

There are no restrictions regarding the number of times you can apply for the IELTS examination. You are eligible to take the exam as many times as you want. So if you want to score better than you did or missed your examination, you are eligible to register again. 

• What is the accepted IELTS score for eligibility in the top universities?

Most colleges and universities require a score of 7 or higher for admission in their college. Some universities also accept a score of 6.5. However it is preferable to score 7 or above for a wide range of options among the top colleges.

• What is the educational eligibility to take the IELTS examination?

There is no minimum eligibility criteria for the IELTS examination. Anyone who wishes to study or in a foreign country in English can appear for the IELTS examination. There is no specific eligibility criteria as per the rules of the examination is concerned. 

IELTS vs TOEFL

The TOEFL examination is a lot like the IELTS. However, no standard test score will qualify for eligibility across all universities. In other words, the accepted eligibility score varies from one university to another. In regards to TOEFL, every university has its eligibility criteria. You must check with the university regarding their accepted test scores.

Points to note about the IELTS registration Fees

• From April 2020, the IELTS registration fees in India is regulated at INR 14000
• Change of IELTS Examination Date:
  • You are still allowed to change the preferred exam date or cancel the examination after you make the payment
  • You can change the date or file for cancellation through an email, an official letter, or visit the council in person
  • If you change the exam date before 5 weeks or more from the date of culmination, you will be required to pay an additional fee of INR 5530.
  • You can choose a new date within the next 3 months of the original date. 
  • In case you wish to take the IELTS examination after several months, you would be required to cancel the exam and re-register for a future date. 
  • In order to get a refund, you need to cancel the exam before 5 weeks from the date of the examination of INR 5530
  • If you cancel your examination in the last 5 weeks, then no refund will be paid out

Also, remember that late arrival to the examination might be considered a cancellation without a refund. Hence, try to reach the examination hall well on time for the IELTS examination so there is no delay.

How to do IELTS Preparation? 

To qualify for studying, working, or migrating to an English-speaking country, you must do hard-work for IELTS preparation. 

The reading and writing sections of the examinations are description-based. It is ideal to either join an IELTS training program or hire an IELTS coach who can guide you through the process.

The listening and speaking sections require a level of fluency to comprehend the language and speak with ease. When you join an IELTS coaching, the mentor will help you understand different accents and acquire fluency in English that is required for this exam. 

The score of each of the 4 sections, contribute to your overall IELTS score. Therefore, it is necessary to aptly prepare for them all. Leap Scholar provides an end-to-end IELTS training for making your study abroad successful.  Their study program is powered by India’s Top educators who have 20+ years of experience. 

You can even reserve a free masterclass seat with them for a free live session and more. Or you can directly apply to their IELTS PLus Programme at just Rs. 499/-  

Getting your IELTS Examination Results

The IELTS examinations are evaluated very quickly. The results of the exam are available to you within 2 weeks.

• In the case of online examination

The results are available within a week of undertaking the exam. The test center will send you an email informing you about the declaration. You can simply log into your account using your ID, password, date of the test, and your passport number. The results are available on the online forum for 28 days after the declaration. Ensure to collect a copy within the time frame.

• In the case of an offline examination

The results for the IELTS exam in an offline mode require a little more time to evaluate. The evaluation and declaration of the results are carried out within 13 days from the date of the culmination of the test.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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