7 Little Changes That'll Make A Big Difference In Your IELTS English Certificate The Ultimate Guide to the IELTS English Certificate The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is the world's most popular English‑language efficiency test for college and global migration. Candidates who sit the exam get an IELTS English Certificate-- a main document that reports a band rating from 1 to 9. This guide provides a thorough introduction of the test, from format and scoring to preparation techniques and regularly asked questions. What Is the IELTS English Certificate? The IELTS English Certificate is the main outcome sheet provided by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English. It lists the overall band rating along with the individual ratings for the four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. A lot of universities, colleges, and immigration authorities need a minimum band (commonly 6.0-- 7.0) as proof of English proficiency. Test Format at a Glance IELTS is available in two variations: Academic (for university admission) and General Training (for migration and workplace purposes). Both variations share the very same Listening and Speaking sections, while the Reading and Writing jobs differ. Section Duration Number of Questions Job Overview Listening Thirty minutes 40 4 recordings (conversations and monologues)-- answer questions on gist, information, mindset, and function. Reading 60 minutes 40 Academic: three long texts; General Training: a mix of brief notices and longer short articles. Writing 60 minutes 2 tasks Task 1: describe visual data (Academic) or compose a letter (General Training). Job 2: essay response to a timely.