IELTS Indicator: What you need to know

With coronavirus comes many students stuck from being able to do what they need to go abroad, like taking their IELTS exam. As IELTS testing is limited or suspended in certain locations due to COVID-19, IELTS launched the IELTS Indicator: an online test you can take from the COVID-19-free comfort and safety of your own home. 

What will be tested

Four skills — Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking — are tested. For each, you’ll get an indicative grade. This will be marked by IELTS examiners and your results should be available to you after a week. 

Occurs once a week

The IELTS Indicator Academic test occurs once a week. 

Accepted by some — not all — colleges and unis

It’s always best to check beforehand with your academic institution on whether they would accept the IELTS Indicator. You can find a list of unis that accept this remote test here. Do note that the IELTS Indicator is not accepted for migration to Australia, Canada or New Zealand.

With coronavirus comes many students stuck from being able to do what they need to go abroad, like taking their IELTS exam. Source: Wojtek Radwankski/AFP

Where to practise

Alternatively, you can practise with IELTS mock exams and other coursework on the British Council website. This includes free webinars and prep materials.

Test format

Two types of IELTS: Academic and General Training. While everyone takes the same Listening and Speaking tests, there are different Reading and Writing ones. The Listening, Reading and Writing exams are completed on the same day while the Speaking one can be submitted up to a week before or after the other tests.

• Listening: 30 minutes and 40 questions
• Reading: 60 minutes and 40 questions
• Writing: 60 minutes and two tasks
• Speaking: 14 minutes and three tasks over video call

Entry requirements

Since this is done from your own home, always make sure you’re prepared! You need a quiet and comfortable environment, a laptop or a desktop computer as you can’t take the IELTS Indicator on your phone or tablet, stable internet connection, working speaker and microphone and a camera (webcam) on and uncovered for the duration of the test.