IELTS tests are tests of Academic or General English which are commonly used for entrance into overseas study courses in the UK and Australia, although they are also recognized and accepted by thousands of North American academic institutes, as well as professional bodies and immigration bureaus. Accessible and convenient, IELTS tests are run up to four times each month, either on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, around the island of Taiwan. To find out test dates in your area, you can contact your nearest IELTS test center or book at Steven’s Language Center.

Specific IELTS tests are required for different countries and different purposes and each test has a different price, which means it is important to check which IELTS test you need. For those planning to live, work or study in the UK, you need to choose from IELTS Life Skills A1 and B1 or UKVI IELTS. The UK government will not accept non-UKVI IELTS results achieved after April 23rd, 2015. Currently, for North America and Australia, regular IELTS tests are still acceptable for academic and immigration purposes.

There are two modules to choose from – Academic and General Training.

IELTS Academic is for test takers wishing to study at undergraduate or postgraduate levels and joining a professional organization in an English speaking country. Most universities accept scores between 6–7 as being suitable for undergraduate study in English.

IELTS General Training is for test takers wishing to migrate to an English-speaking country (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK), and for those wishing to train or study at below degree level.

Each organization sets its own entry requirements. In some cases both Academic or General Training may be accepted. If you are in doubt as to which to take, you should contact the organization you are applying to in order to check their requirements.

The IELTS scoring system is recognised globally, giving you a truly international result. You will receive a score of 0–9, with 0 being for those who did not attempt the test, and 9 being for those with a high level of English. Most universities accept scores between 6–7 as being suitable for undergraduate study in English. The IELTS 9-band score system is consistent. It is secure, benchmarked and understood worldwide. Test materials are designed carefully so that every version of the test is the same scale of difficulty.