IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is an English proficiency test widely used for UK, Australian, and Canadian university admissions, and accepted as an alternative to TOEFL at many US universities.
IELTS is co-owned by British Council, IDP, and Cambridge Assessment English. It tests Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing on a scale of 0–9. Most UK universities require IELTS 6.0–7.0 depending on the programme. Many US universities also accept IELTS as an alternative to TOEFL.
There are two versions: Academic (for university admissions) and General Training (for migration and work). University applicants should always take the Academic version. IELTS Academic scores are valid for 2 years.
For Pakistani students applying to UK universities, IELTS is the standard English proficiency test. For US applications, check whether your target university accepts IELTS in lieu of TOEFL — most do. IELTS test centers exist in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. The Speaking test is conducted face-to-face with an examiner, which some students find more natural than TOEFL's computer-recorded Speaking section.
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