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IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. It is a test designed to help people work, study or move to countries where English is spoken.
IELTS is one of two popular English tests for the things mentioned in the 'What is IELTS?' section, the other being TOEIC. IELTS is generally preferred for means of immigration or study, whereas TOEIC is generally preferred for working individuals, however, in most cases, both are still accepted.
Your choice in IELTS exam will depend on your purpose for taking it. This is very important to get correct as no refunds can be issued for the IELTS certificates once received.
There are four (or five) different kinds of IELTS exam, some with minor discrepancies and others with more important differences.
IELTS Academic:
-Used for applying to study in English-speaking countries.
-The topics will be academic and suitable for those applying to university or higher.
-The Writing and Reading tests have a focus on academic topics.
IELTS General Training:
-Used for immigration, applying for secondary education or an educational training center.
-The topics will be non-academic and related to everyday English.
-The Writing and Reading parts of the exam will not have a focus on academic topics, in contrast with the IELTS Academic Test.
IELTS UKVI Academic & IELTS UKVI General Training:
-UKVI is a Secure English Language Test (SELT) approved by the UK home office for visa applications to the United Kingdom.
-Both of these tests have the same content and functionality as the test types mentioned above; the only difference is that your certificate will show a UKVI number which is used during your UK visa application process.
Note: I have seen UK Spouse visa rejections as the applicant had only taken a regular IELTS exam, not the UKVI exam; it is crucial that you check the requirements before you decide on which test to take. If you are unsure, send me an email and I will help you choose - free of charge!
IELTS Life Skills(A1, A2, B1 - These are also UK home-office-approved):
-Used for applying for certain kinds of UK visa types such as 'family of a settled person'.
-This test only tests your Speaking and Listening skills.
-The structure of this test is completely different to any of the aforementioned IELTS exams and often times candidates will take the test alongside another candidate who they will be required to speak with.
Note: If applying for a family visa then for your first application you need at least a Life Skills A1 certificate. After that, your next two renewals of that visa (before applying for citizenship) will require a Life Skills B1 certificate. This means that you will still have to continue studying, even if you pass the first test.
The IELTS exam is the same internationally, each examiner goes through the same rigorous training and so the quality, integrity and content of the exam is the same absolutely everywhere - anyone who tells you the exam is harder in a certain country or at a certain time of year is lying.
If you believe the exam was intentionally harder for you than someone else, you need to contact the center you took the test with and raise a complaint. If you can prove it was harder, they will re-mark your exam or make alternative arrangements.
In almost every case, your IELTS certificate will be valid for 2-years. However, many institutions will still accept expired IELTS certificates as long as it's not past 3 or 4 years, you should check with the institution you're applying to first for clarity.
In most cases, the validity of your certificate is only considered at the point of application, this means that if you have a lengthy application process, you shouldn't worry about your certificate expiring before the process is finished. For further clarity, however, it's important to check with the institution you're applying to.
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