Maximise your IELTS score.

IELTS is required for three main purposes.

1. To study overseas: Study abroad is a practice in vogue for students not only in India but also in other Asian, Latin American and African countries. Those who wish to pursue their education be it graduation, post-graduation or diploma have to take IELTS without which, it would be difficult to get admission into any universities. Different universities set different IELTS band scores to qualify into their courses. However, a general standard is followed as follows. For admissions into masters like MA, MS and MBA in countries like Canada, UK, Australia, US, New Zealand, Singapore and other European regions, IELTS band score needed is 6.5 with no component less than 6. To be eligible for Ph.D., an IELTS band of 7 and above is preferred. To qualify into graduation like BA, BS, BBA, an IELTS band of 6 and above is required.

2. To apply for immigration / Permanent Residence status in Canada, Australia, New Zealand US or UK: the accepted rule of thumb is to score an IELTS band score of 7 and above in each modules like Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. Unlike other countries, Canada PR needs 8 band in Listening module to get maximum immigration points. Even though a band of 6 and above is accepted to file the PR application to these countries, if you want to get maximum points, a 7 band score is a must.

3. To be eligible to apply for a work permit in any of the English speaking countries: registered doctors, nurses and other professionals are required to score an IELTS score of not less than 7 in each component. The other skilled workers like truck drivers need to score just less than 5 band score.

IELTS [International English Language Testing System] is quite different from other English language proficiency tests like TOEFL [Test of English as a Foreign Language], PTE [Pearson Test of English] and Duo Lingo. Even though all these tests focus on measuring a candidate’s overall understanding of English language through four different subtests or modules like Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking, subtle differences can be seen between these tests.

IELTS is considered to be the most standardized test of all these as it is done in a traditional method using pen and paper in different test centres across the world whereas TOEFL, PTE and DUO LINGO are delivered online only. Besides, IELTS is the most accepted English language proficiency test devised by the University of Cambridge and test centers facilitated by the British Council. So, it has gained more global face than its peers.

Moreover, IELTS is delivered in two formats – IELTS Academic and IELTS General. While the former is taken for academic purposes like higher studies and for registered professions like that of doctors and nurses, the latter is meant for work permit and Permanent Residence.

TOEFL does not have this difference. Nevertheless, it is not accepted for general purposes like applying for work permit and Permanent Residence, especially in Canada.

Even though PTE follows a similar pattern of IELTS, it is not as much widely accepted as the latter with the exception of Australia who accepts the former for both general and academic purposes. However, it is accepted only by a select universities and colleges in the UK, US, Canada and New Zealand.

Duo Lingo, that is offered only online, is relatively a new entrant into the English language market. Currently, it is used by only a few universities in the UK and Canada. It is not used for any other purposes than academic. The benefit of this test is that it can be taken any time at the convenience of a candidate. As it takes only less than one hour, it is the shortest of all four English language proficiency tests.

That said, IELTS, as an English language proficiency exam, outdoes all other tests in terms acceptability and reliability and standardization. So, do not fret too much thinking on which is the most ideal test for you.