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However, there are also some things to watch out for.

Let's see what is good, and what is bad, about the IELTS exam! 

IELTS is the most popular English test in the world

At the present time, more than 3 million IELTS tests are taken annually.

This makes IELTS the most widely taken test in the world.

What this means for you is that wherever you are in the world, there is a high chance there will be a testing centre nearby.

If you cannot find a testing centre, you will still be able to do the online version of the test.

IELTS is accepted by all five Anglosphere countries

No matter which of the five main “Anglosphere” countries you are intending to study at, IELTS will be accepted.

For immigration purposes to AUSTRALIA, CANADA, NEW ZEALAND, and the UNITED KINGDOM, IELTS is the only test that that will be accepted.

When it comes to studying abroad, the IELTS test is accepted in the above four countries, as well as in over 3,400 higher learning institutions in the UNITED STATES. In total, IELTS is accepted by more than 11,000 schools, colleges, and universities around the world.

With the right help, passing IELTS can be simple

You may not believe the above statement, but if you already possess a sound general English ability (around Cambridge B2 level), preparing for and passing the IELTS exam does not have to be difficult at all.

The first step towards acing the test is to do a SWOT analysis of your current level.

Many people find that they can score quite well in the speaking and listening sections, but have some difficulty with reading (and a lot of trouble with the writing section).

Focusing on your weaknesses with a trained professional for a couple of months can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

ThisCourse IELTS writing mini courses are designed to get people into the “goldilocks zone” of over 7.0

IELTS is designed for your needs, whatever they are

One of the first things IELTS hopefuls want to know is, which version of the test they should take.

Students who want to advance their studies in a foreign country need to prepare for the “academic” IELTS test, while people whose goal is to live in another country for work should prepare for the “general” IELTS test.

Each of these tests have four components (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), and while the listening and speaking sections are the same for each test, the reading and writing sections are different.

In the general IELTS test, the reading and writing components are focused on successfully living abroad, and include understanding of simple texts such as advertisements and writing problem-solving letters.

The academic reading and writing have more of a research orientation, and are thus more difficult than the general versions.

Next, let's see what is NOT so good about the IELTS exam...

Achieving 7.0+ can be quite hard

For many people, IELTS 7.0 seems to be a sort of “goldilocks zone”, something that is necessary, but very difficult for them to achieve.

A common IELTS story is the student who starts at around the 5.0 level, manages to increase their score to about 6.0-6.5, but somehow cannot crack the 7.0 overall score (getting 7.0 in each of the four language skills).

As it happens, this 7.0+ score is exactly the score necessary to enter a lot of the popular pathway courses such as a bachelor of nursing or a postgraduate degree.

As a matter of fact, for teachers of IELTS who see this situation again and again, it often feels like IELTS is a gatekeeper exam rather than an actual English test.

If you do find yourself in this situation, rather than taking the IELTS test over and over and wasting thousands of dollars in the process, it can be better to focus solely on your weak spot with a dedicated course (like ThisCourse mini courses), and once you are truly ready, take the test again.

The IELTS test result is only valid for 2 years

Even though the IELTS test costs upwards of $300 and takes months to prepare for, your result only lasts for 2 years.

That means, if you need your score for something that more than two years away, you will need to retake the test.

For test hopefuls, this means you will need to plan your study and travel plans and make sure that everything happens within two years.

Nothing would be worse than getting a great score, and then having something like COVID come along for two years, and have to take the test again!

After two long years, you might have completely forgotten how to take the test.

Not only will it cost you more money to sit, but you will have to spend a few weeks reviewing all your IELTS materials!

Overall, IELTS is a very useful exam that can help you achieve your life goals, but there are also a couple of things to keep in mind when making your plans to travel overseas.