IELTS vs IELTS UKVI: Understanding the Difference
Most universities and companies overseas use English as the main language for instruction, learning and direction. Students aspiring to study abroad need to speak the language to undertake tasks and education. In effect, they must take an English proficiency test at the entrance level to prove their language skills. IELTS is a widely known and accepted English language test. In fact, over 11,000 universities and institutes in more than 140 countries. From tech-advanced universities in Australia to the Ivy Leagues in the USA, it is a need of today’s time. Further, the test brands into multiple categories to cater to the applicant variety.
IELTS General is designed for immigrants who wish to study or work overseas whereas IELTS Academic is for students. In addition to this, IELTS UKVI and IELTS Life Skills only apply to individuals going to the UK. The International English Language Test (IELTS) evaluates different skills – reading, writing, listening and speaking. IELTS UKVI has the same format, level and scoring as the main test. However, it is conducted by the United Kingdom Visa and Immigration (UKVI). Hence, the name. Significantly, it has more secure protocols, extensive report form and other features. However, it is slightly more expensive than the regular IELTS exam. It is understandable. These tests don’t have much difference. Moreover, it is possible that your chosen university accepts neither of them. In that case, explore the Duolingo English Test (DET), the Pearson English Test (PET) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Exam Purpose
The purpose of IELTS General is to measure the language skills of individuals to study, work or immigrate to an English-speaking country. For students aspiring to study abroad, the board has particularly designed IELTS Academic. It permits qualified students to apply to study in their choice of universities. On the other hand, IELTS UKVI is specifically tailored to the standards set by the UK immigration authorities. Despite that, it can be accepted outside the UK.
Acceptance and Validity
Most universities accept IELTS and IELTS UKVI scores at the entrance level. They are valid for up to 2 years. Notably, students can use its scores with universities, employers and government to apply for graduate, postgraduate and doctoral-level courses. Moreover, all British universities and colleges accept IELTS results. Therefore, unless specified, students don’t have to take IELTS UKVI. In most cases, a regular IELTS test works for both university and visa applications. However, if it is not listed in the Highly Trusted Sponsors (HTS) list, consider taking IELTS UKVI.
Cost
The IELTS General and Academic both cost about INR 17,000. The cost doesn’t vary as per the mode of the exam (online or offline). On the other hand, the fee for IELTS UKVI is INR 17,250. Furthermore, IELTS Life Skills for parents, spouses and families to prove their English speaking and listening ability to migrate to the UK is cheaper at INR 16,050.
Registration
The process of registration for IELTS UKVI is more complex. Candidates can register for IELTS with a valid passport. Whereas, the IELTS UKVI encompasses a stricter identification and registration process. Fingerprinting is mandatory.
Test Centres
India has over 78 certified test centres for IELTS. Over 4 million appear on the test every year. Below is the list of the verified cities for IELTS 2024:
- Andhra Pradesh: Vijayawada, Vishakhapatnam
- Chandigarh: Sector 17, Sector 34
- Delhi NCR: Nehru Place, Pitampura, Rajouri Garden, Gurgaon, Noida
- Gujarat: Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara
- Kerela: Kochi, Trivandrum
- Madhya Pradesh: Bhopal
- Maharashtra: Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Thane
- Punjab: Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Moga, Patiala
- Rajasthan: Jaipur
- Tamil Nadu: Chennai, Coimbatore
- Telangana: Begumpet, Jubilee Hills, Kukatpally
- Uttar Pradesh: Lucknow
- West Bengal: Kolkata
- Karnataka: Whitefield and Marks Road in Bangalore, Mangalore
The UKVI has only approved a few test centres for the IELTS UKVI 2024 test. Applicants can pick from 11 cities in India when booking their tests. Refer to the list below to know where can you book to appear:
- Ahmedabad
- Bangalore
- Chandigarh
- Chennai
- Cochin
- Hyderabad
- Jalandhar
- Kolkata
- Mumbai
- New Delhi
- Pune
Test Format
Both the tests have the same format. They comprise four parts – reading (60 min), writing (60 min), listening (30 min) and speaking (11-14 min). Both can be taken on a computer or pen and paper. However, IELTS UKVI has additional security measures to ensure the authenticity of the test. Some of them may involve more CCTC surveillance and examiners against fewer exam-takers. In effect, it doesn’t have a home test option.
Test Report
After 3 to 5 days of IELTS General, candidates receive a Test Report Form (TRF). This includes their personal details, the test time and their scores ranging from 0-9. Typically, a score of 6.0-7.0 is good enough. On the other hand, UKVI may take up to 13 days to release results for the IELTS UKVI tests. Like the test, their report form also has additional security features. To obtain a Tier 1 General Visa, candidates must have a minimum of 7.0 bands. Alternatively, they can get a Tier 2 visa with 4.0 bands or more.
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