Tests · IELTS
IELTS — the passport test, prepared band by band.
The International English Language Testing System — established in 1989 and run jointly by the British Council, Cambridge Assessment and IDP — was the first test to measure English across all four skills. Today it is recognised by more than 11,500 institutions in 140 countries and sat by over 2.9 million people a year for study, migration and careers.
Recognition
Accepted across eight regions.
The UK, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia and mainland China — where nearly 300 universities also use IELTS for admission screening, credit transfer and scholarships, and employers accept it as proof of English.
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Europe
- Asia
- Chinese mainland
International by design
One English test that travels — the world's most popular for higher education and migration.
Leads global assessment
Trusted by universities, employers, professional bodies and governments alike.
Human-centred service
Centres across dozens of Chinese cities, frequent dates, and a face-to-face speaking test.
Types & modes
Academic or General Training, paper or computer.
Choose the type by purpose and the mode by comfort — content, scoring, difficulty and security are identical across modes.
Academic
For undergraduate and postgraduate study abroad — it tests whether English is ready for university-level work, and admissions decisions rest on it.
General Training
For migration to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the UK, and for training or non-degree courses — everyday language skills in social and educational settings, not academic research English.
Paper-based
Listening, reading and writing on paper, speaking face to face. Available for Academic, General Training and both UKVI variants.
Computer-delivered
Same three written sections on screen, speaking still face to face; runs alongside paper without displacing it. Available for Academic, General Training and UKVI Academic.
The paper
Four sections, about three hours.
Structure and timing for the Academic test.
Listening — 30 + 10 minutes
- Structure
- Four parts, now named Part 1–4 rather than Section 1–4; the Part 1 example is gone; recordings no longer announce page numbers
- Transfer
- Ten minutes to transfer answers on paper
Academic Writing — 60 minutes
- Task 1
- About 150 words describing and analysing a chart or table
- Task 2
- About 250 words arguing a position on an issue, in an appropriate register
Academic Reading — 60 minutes
- Structure
- Three passages, 40 questions, drawn from books, magazines, journals and newspapers — no specialist knowledge needed
- Note
- At least one passage carries a detailed argument
Speaking — 11 to 14 minutes
- Format
- One-to-one interview with an examiner
- Tests
- Everyday conversation, an extended turn on a familiar topic, and interaction with the examiner
Registration
Nine steps on ielts.neea.cn.
Every step must be completed in order; seats are limited, so register at least two months ahead. All mainland sittings register through ielts.neea.cn or ielts.neea.edu.cn.
Step 1Register a NEEA account
Name and ID must be exact; keep the login safe.
Step 2Pre-pay the fee
By Alipay or PayEase; the system confirms receipt promptly.
Step 3Book a seat
Choose centre, date and type; a registration number appears under My Status.
Step 4Complete the form within 30 minutes
Or the booking lapses — check name and ID carefully.
Step 5Confirm payment
The fee is deducted from the pre-paid balance; an email confirms success.
Step 6Book the speaking slot, print the ticket
Choose a speaking date up to two days before the deadline; the admission ticket arrives 10 days before the written test. The free official Road to IELTS course opens from My Home.
Fees, ages and validity
- IELTS RMB 2,170 · UKVI RMB 2,220 · Life Skills RMB 1,250 (tax inclusive)
- Recommended minimum age 16
- Scores valid two years from the test date
- Speaking booking: one online choice per registration; transfers or refunds cancel it
Scoring
The nine-band scale.
Every skill and the overall band carries a language-ability descriptor, so scores reflect real proficiency.
Bands 1–9, half bands allowed
Four skills scored independently; the overall band is their average. .25 rounds up to the next half band, .75 to the next whole band.
Marked at the centre
Trained markers grade listening and reading with double marking on a sample; writing and speaking examiners are recruited to standard, monitored, and re-certified every other year.
Results and reports
The Test Report Form issues on the 10th working day after the written test; five copies post free to institutions. A performance-and-improvement note accompanies each result online.
Typical requirements
UK master's courses commonly ask an overall 6.5 with 6.5 in writing and reading and 6.0 elsewhere.
Test day
Arrive before 07:30; check the room list against your ID; wait in the holding room; photo, fingerprint and scan at entry; find the desk card; answer sheets issued.
Speaking separately
Written and speaking tests are scheduled separately, sometimes at different venues — the day-of notice is final.
Lu
UCL astrophysics master's; IELTS 8.0 with 7.5 in writing.
Five-plus years teaching IELTS writing and speaking, fully in English, to international-school and UK/US high-school students.
Yin
UCL master's; IELTS 8.0.
Deep experience teaching entirely in English — the classroom register the Academic test rewards.
Talk to an advisor
Everything Hanlin does for IELTS, in one conversation.
Academic or General Training, band by band, from a diagnostic.
Competition entry and planning
Which competitions suit this student, in what order, and by when - then we handle the registration, including the ones that can only be entered through a school or a centre.
Competition coaching
Taught by full-time subject tutors, on a course tier chosen by placement paper rather than by year group.
International curriculum tutoring
IB, AP, A-Level, IGCSE and the US high school curriculum, taught alongside school and timed around the exam calendar.
Competition past papers, free
A large library of past papers, mark schemes and syllabus breakdowns across every competition on this site. No charge and no enrolment.
Scan to add an advisor
Say which competition or course you are asking about. Replies in Chinese or English.
Or call +86 21 6352 6630FAQ
IELTS, briefly answered.
What families ask when the IELTS lands on the calendar.
Academic or General Training?
Academic for university study; General Training for migration and non-degree courses. UK visa routes use the UKVI variants of each.
Paper or computer?
Identical content and scoring; computer gives more dates and results in about three days versus 13 for paper — but the speaking test is face to face either way. Choose the mode you perform best in.
How is the overall band calculated?
The average of the four skill bands, rounded — .25 up to the next half band, .75 up to the next whole band.
How early should I register?
At least two months ahead — seats are limited, and the nine steps must be finished in order for the booking to hold.
How long are scores valid?
Two years from the test date; organisers do not guarantee older reports.
IELTS enquiries
Reach the band your list requires.
Tell us the target band and destination, and an advisor will map the skills plan and the test calendar.