IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. It is a standardized test designed to measure the language proficiency of non-native English speakers who wish to study, work or migrate to English-speaking countries. IELTS is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP Education, and Cambridge Assessment English.
There are two types of IELTS tests: Academic and General Training. The Academic test is intended for people who wish to study at universities or other higher education institutions in English-speaking countries, while the General Training test is intended for people who want to migrate to an English-speaking country or work in a non-academic environment.
The IELTS test measures the four key language skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The test is scored on a nine-band scale, with a score of 9 representing expert English proficiency and a score of 1 indicating non-proficient English skills.
IELTS is recognized by more than 10,000 organizations in over 140 countries, including universities, employers, and government agencies. It is one of the most widely accepted English language proficiency tests in the world.