IELTS Academic – get ready for a higher education environment
The IELTS Academic test measures whether you have the level of English language proficiency needed for an academic, higher education environment. It reflects some of the features of academic language and assesses whether you are ready to begin studying or training.
Download our free guide to the IELTS Academic test
Take this test if you want to:
- study at either undergraduate or postgraduate level anywhere in the world
- work in a professional organisation in an English speaking country.
You can take the test on paper or on a computer. Both test formats will take place at one of our official test centres, or you can take it remotely with IELTS Online.
If you need a visa for working or studying in the UK, then in some cases you may need to take IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration or IELTS Life Skills.
Duration: 2 hours and 45 minutes (Listening, Reading and Writing) + 11-14 minutes (Speaking)
Format: There are four sections to the test: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. When you book your IELTS test with the British Council, the test will take place in an official British Council IELTS test centre, whether you take the test on paper or on a computer.
If you take your test on paper, your Speaking test may be offered on the same day as the other sections of the test, or up to 3 days before or 1 day after. You will receive notification seven days in advance if your Speaking test is on a different day to your main test day.
If you take your test on a computer, you have a free choice of Speaking test dates and venues.
With IELTS Online, you can take your test at home or any private location with a stable internet connection.
If you choose this option, you will write the answers to the Listening, Reading and Writing sections on your computer. The Speaking test will be conducted with a trained IELTS Examiner via an online video call.