The IELTS is the acronym for the ‘International English Language Testing System’. A majority of the candidates who aim to study abroad or grab job opportunities overseas where English is considered as the primary communication language, prefer to opt for the IELTS exam. To attempt the IELTS exam, the minimum age of a candidate must be 16 years. Also, holding a valid passport is an equally important criterion. A candidate needs to acquire information related to the following aspects of the IELTS exam:-
| Total Marks | 80 |
| Total Exam Duration | 2 hours 45 minutes |
| No. of Section | 4 |
| Marks per Sections | 40 |
| Sections
IELTS Listening IELTS Reading (Academic) IELTS Reading (General) IELTS Writing (Academic) IELTS Writing (General) IELTS Speaking |
Time per Sections
30 minutes 60 minutes 60 minutes 60 minutes 60 minutes Approximately 14 minutes |
| Time per Question | Varies as per the section |
| Marking Scheme | Varies as per the section |
| Marks per Question | 1 mark/question for IELTS reading |
The purpose of the IELTS exam is to measure a candidate’s proficiency in the gamut of skills related to speaking, listening, writing, and reading through two different test formats. They include IELTS General Training and IELTS Academic. Therefore, this exam serves as a kind of assurance to the visa officers and university admission officers about the proficiency of a candidate in the English language.
There exist two standard formats of the IELTS Test
| IELTS Academic | IELTS General Training |
|---|---|
| This test is attempted by those candidates who intend to pursue higher education or opt for professional registration. | This test is attempted by those who intend to migrate to developed countries like New Zealand, Canada, UK, and Australia. Even the USA accepts the IELTS score for work-related and academic purposes. |
For the successful registration of the IELTS test, it is imperative to pay the prescribed IELTS fees. In India, an IELTS aspirant requires to pay an amount of ₹13,250. As per the test type, in India, this is how the IELTS Exam Fee differs:-
| Test Type | Cost(INR) |
|---|---|
| Computer-delivered IELTS | 13250 |
| Pen and paper-based (Manual) IELTS | 13250 |
| Life Skills | 13850 |
| IELTS for UKVI | 18500 |
Following modes can be used to pay for the IELTS test fee:
| Netbanking | |
|---|---|
| Debit/Credit (Visa or Master) | |
| Demand Draft | It must be drawn in favor of “IDP EDUCATION INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED’. From the list of approved banks, a candidate may choose a preferred bank. It must be payable at New Delhi. |
| Bank deposit | Candidates may also avail the option to deposit cash in ICICI bank (Allahabad branches). For the same purpose, customized deposit slip may either be collected from the nearest referral partner/ IELTS IDP branch office or it may be downloaded from India website of IELTS IDP. It is compulsory to attach the original deposit slip customer copy besides enclosing the IELTS application form. |
Before attempting any test, a candidate needs to gain information regarding the fees. At times, it has been observed that the exam fee influences the decision of attempting an exam. Interestingly, besides gaining clarity regarding the fee structure, a candidate must try to find out the fees of the exam center where the candidate desires to opt for attempting a test. At times, the fee structure tends to vary from center to center. Thus, to avoid any kind of financial inconvenience at the last moment, a candidate must do the needful.
To find out about the center’s fees on an individual basis, online registration proves to be the best method. Once a candidate begins to proceed with the online registration via the website, there will be an option related to the IELTS test format: IELTS General Training or IELTS Academic. After selecting the desired option, selection of a country and city has to be made wherein a candidate desires to take the test. Thereafter, the test date needs to be selected. Post clicking the Enter button, there will appear a link to Register. Once a candidate clicks on the ‘Register’ option, the fee charged by the selected ‘test center’ will appear on the screen. Interestingly, there are a few countries that reimburse the candidates for IELTS fees. Saudi Arabia is one such example.
Knowing about the IELTS Exam Fee is crucial due to a myriad of reasons. For many IELTS aspirants, it is difficult to consider the option of re-attempting the exam owing to financial constraints. In such a case, it is always recommended to be well-prepared for the test by taking sufficient time instead of retaking the exam, time and again, in a hurry. Last but not least, by learning about the IELTS exam pattern and IELTS exam syllabus, it becomes possible for a candidate to prepare a well-planned preparation roadmap.
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