How to prepare for and take IELTS

IELTS Academic is the English test most foreign scholarships accept. In Pakistan it is run by the British Council and IDP.

Book the test

1. Choose IELTS Academic (not General Training).
2. Book online with the British Council or IDP Pakistan. Pick computer-delivered if you can: results come in about 3 to 5 days instead of 13.
3. You need a valid passport to book and on test day. If you don't have one yet, start that first.
4. Check the current fee on the booking site before you pay. It changes, so don't rely on old posts.

Prepare for free (6 to 8 weeks)

• Take the free official practice tests on ielts.org to see your starting band.
• Practise all four parts: Listening, Reading, Writing (two tasks), Speaking (a short interview).
• Writing is where most people lose marks. Write one Task 1 and one Task 2 answer every week and compare them with the public band descriptors.
• For speaking, record yourself answering sample questions for 2 minutes without stopping.

Tips

• Most scholarships want 6.5 overall, sometimes with no part below 6.0. Check the exact score for each one.
• Results are valid for 2 years, so time the test for the cycle you are applying to.
• Some scholarships accept an English-medium instruction letter instead. See that guide before you pay for a test.

Typical time: 6 to 8 weeks of preparation plus up to 2 weeks for results.