International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a popular English proficiency test widely accepted by universities across the world. Did you know that there has been a 15% increase in demand for IELTS Exams, according to recent research? If you are planning to study abroad, you will have to appear for this exam too. So, here’s what you must know about this English proficiency exam.

Types of IELTS

1. IELTS General Training

If you are planning to apply for the undergraduate program, this is for you. Individuals who intend to work overseas or attend work-related training also need to take this exam. This test aims to evaluate basic communication skills.

2. IELTS Academic

Students who aspire to pursue their higher education abroad should opt for this test. It gauges your readiness to pursue your study abroad program. Hence, it evaluates your academic vocabulary to ensure you understand your coursework without any challenge.

Sections of the IELTS exam

Both the tests will have 4 sections – Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Please remember that listening and speaking sections for both General and Academic tests will be the same. However, the reading and writing sections will be different. So be careful when you prepare for the test as well as when you apply.

Sr No.	Sections	Things to remember
1.	Listening	You get 30 minutes to complete this section of the IELTS test. You will have to listen to 4 recordings followed by 10 questions each. There will be a combination of multiple-choice questions, matching the right answer, diagram labelling and summary completion exercises. Each correct answer will earn you one mark, and spelling mistakes will reduce your score. So, be careful!
2.	Speaking	The time allotted to this section is 11–14 minutes. The test is divided into 3 sections. In the 1st section, the examiner will evaluate your spoken language skills by asking you questions about yourself, your family and other interests. In the 2nd section of the IELTS, you will be given a task card with a topic. You are expected to speak about the topic for a minute or two. The moderator will ask you questions in the 3rd section, mostly related to the topic given to you in the previous section.
3.	Reading (General Training)	The duration of the test is 60 minutes. It comes with 3 sections which comprise multiple short and long passages. A total of  40 questions will be asked in this section of IELTS.
4.	Reading (Academic)	You have to complete this section within 60 minutes, and it will have 40 questions after passages. The question types will range from multiple-choice questions to sentence completion and other complex formats.
5	Writing (General Training)	The time allotted to this section of IELTS is 60 minutes. You will be given 2 tasks – essay and letter writing.
6	Writing (Academic)	You are expected to finish this section within 60 minutes. It will have 2 tasks. The first task will include tables, charts and other infographics. You have to infer the meaning of these infographics and explain the same. 2nd task is essay writing.

So, this is what you must know about the IELTS exam. Are you preparing for the English proficiency exam but also worried about the cost of education to study abroad? You can opt for an education loan so that you focus on your preparation instead of worrying about your finances. You can finance your education independently without depending on others with a student loan. If you want to know more about how to fund your education, you can connect with us. We will be glad to partner with you on your academic journey. All the best!