IELTS, explained for Bangladeshi students.
The English test most universities and visas ask for. Which version to take, how it is scored, what it costs in Bangladesh, and how to prepare — without paying for a course you do not need.
- Test fee (computer)
- BDT 31,100
- Length
- About 2 hours 45 minutes
- Results
- About 3–5 days
- Score
- Bands 0–9, in halves
- Valid for
- Usually 2 years
What is IELTS?
IELTS — the International English Language Testing System — measures listening, reading, writing and speaking. It is accepted by universities in every Khan Eduway destination and by the visa systems of the UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand. There are four versions; most students need only the first.
IELTS Academic
University admission and professional registration
The version almost every Khan Eduway student takes. Reading and Writing use academic-style texts and a graph or diagram task.
IELTS General Training
Work, migration and study below degree level
Same Listening and Speaking as Academic; Reading uses everyday and workplace texts and Writing Task 1 is a letter.
IELTS for UKVI
UK visas that need a Secure English Language Test
The same test, taken at a Home Office–approved centre. Needed for some UK routes, such as pre-sessional English or study below degree level.
IELTS Life Skills
UK family and settlement visas
Speaking and Listening only, about 16–22 minutes, marked pass or fail. Not used for university admission.
Test format
Listening, Reading and Writing are taken back to back on computer. Speaking is a live conversation with an examiner, on the same day or within about a week.
| Section | Time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | About 30 minutes | Four recordings, 40 questions. On computer you get two minutes at the end to check your answers. |
| Reading | 60 minutes | Three passages, 40 questions. Academic uses texts from books and journals; General Training uses everyday and workplace texts. |
| Writing | 60 minutes | Task 1 (150+ words): describe a graph or diagram (Academic) or write a letter (General Training). Task 2 (250+ words): an essay, worth twice as much as Task 1. |
| Speaking | 11–14 minutes | A face-to-face conversation with an examiner in three parts: introduction, a two-minute talk on a topic card, and a discussion. It can be on the test day or within about a week either side. |
Band scores
- Each section is scored on a band scale from 0 to 9, in half bands.
- Your overall band is the average of the four sections, rounded to the nearest half band. An average ending in .25 rounds up to .5, and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band — so 6.25 becomes 6.5 and 6.75 becomes 7.0.
- There is no pass or fail (except Life Skills). Each university and visa sets its own minimum, often both an overall band and a minimum in every section.
- Results are usually accepted for two years from the test date.
Typical requirements
| Where | Usual requirement |
|---|---|
| UK — undergraduate | 6.0–6.5 overall |
| UK — postgraduate | 6.5 overall; 7.0 for law and medicine |
| Australia — universities | 6.5 overall, usually 6.0 in each band |
| Canada — universities | 6.5 overall, 6.0 in each band |
| USA — universities | 6.5–7.0 overall |
| Ireland and New Zealand | 6.0–6.5 overall |
| Malaysia — universities | 5.5–6.5 overall |
| Nursing registration (AU, UK, NZ) | 7.0 in each band |
Indicative only — the course page always has the final word, and some courses ask for more.
- Band 9
- Expert user
- Band 8
- Very good user
- Band 7
- Good user
- Band 6
- Competent user
- Band 5
- Modest user
- Band 4
- Limited user
Test fee and booking in Bangladesh
| Test | Fee |
|---|---|
| IELTS on computer (Academic or General Training) | BDT 31,100 |
| IELTS for UKVI | BDT 34,850 |
| IELTS Life Skills (A1 or B1) | BDT 24,750 |
| One Skill Retake | BDT 18,600 |
| UKVI One Skill Retake | BDT 20,900 |
Official fees, checked September 2026. Always confirm the fee on the booking page before paying.
- The fee is the same in every city, and is revised when the exchange rate moves.
- Paper-based IELTS ended in Bangladesh on 1 February 2026 — every test is now taken on computer.
- Computer-delivered results arrive in about 3–5 days.
- A re-mark (Enquiry on Results) costs BDT 10,500 and is refunded if your score changes.
- Moving or cancelling more than five weeks before the test costs an admin charge; closer to the date you need a documented medical or hardship reason.
How to book
- Decide which test you need — Academic for university study, UKVI only if your UK route asks for it.
- Register online with an official IELTS test partner and choose your city, date and time.
- Upload a clear colour scan of your passport. You must bring the same passport on test day.
- Pay within the time allowed, usually about two days, or the booking is released.
- Your Speaking time arrives by email a couple of days before the test.
Free preparation tips
Start with a diagnostic test
Take a full timed mock first, then set a realistic target. Six to ten weeks of steady practice is typical to move half to one band.
Practise on a computer
The test is computer-only in Bangladesh now. Get used to typing your essays and to the highlight and notes tools.
Listening: many accents
Practise with British, Australian and North American speakers, and watch spelling and plurals — they cost marks.
Reading: skim, then scan
Don't read every word. Master True / False / Not Given and matching headings, and move on from a hard question.
Writing: Task 2 first
Task 2 is worth twice Task 1. Plan for five minutes, write about 270 words, and leave time to check. In Academic Task 1, give an overview of the key trends instead of listing every number.
Speaking: extend, don't recite
Give reasons and examples, and use natural linking words. Examiners recognise memorised answers.
Learn vocabulary by topic
Group words around common topics — education, environment, technology, health, work.
Read the band descriptors
They tell you exactly what examiners reward at each band. Mark your own practice essays against them.
IELTS for UKVI and Life Skills
IELTS for UKVI
The same test content, taken at a UK Home Office–approved centre, so the result can be used as a Secure English Language Test. You need it only where your UK route asks for one — typically pre-sessional English, foundation or study below degree level. For a degree at a UK university, the standard IELTS Academic is usually enough.
IELTS Life Skills
A short speaking and listening test at level A1 or B1, marked pass or fail, for UK family and settlement visas. It is not used for university admission, so students do not need it.
PTE, TOEFL and Duolingo
IELTS is not the only option. Check that both the university and the visa accept a test before you book it.
PTE Academic
- Accepted by
- UK (including a UKVI version), Australia and New Zealand for visas, and many universities worldwide
- Format
- Computer only, about 2 hours, scored 10–90 by machine
- Good to know
- Results usually within 48 hours.
TOEFL iBT
- Accepted by
- Strongest in the USA; widely accepted by universities elsewhere — check visa routes
- Format
- Shorter from January 2026 (about 90 minutes), partly adaptive, with a new 1–6 band scale
- Good to know
- Score reports show both the new band and the old 0–120 score during the transition.
Duolingo English Test
- Accepted by
- Many US, Canadian and UK universities for admission
- Format
- Online at home, about 1 hour, adaptive, scored 10–160
- Good to know
- Generally not accepted for UK, Australian or Canadian student visas.
IELTS questions
Academic or General Training — which do I take?
Academic for university study at any level. General Training is for work, migration or school-level study. If you are unsure, bring your offer letter or course page and we will check.
Do I need IELTS for UKVI to study at a UK university?
Usually not. Most UK universities accept the standard IELTS Academic for degree-level study. IELTS for UKVI is needed for some routes, such as pre-sessional English or study below degree level.
Can I study abroad without IELTS?
Sometimes. Some universities accept PTE, TOEFL or Duolingo, and a few accept English-medium education or an interview. Visa rules can still require a test, so check the destination page before you rely on a waiver.
Can I retake just one section?
Yes, with One Skill Retake — but only if the university or visa you are applying for accepts it. Canada's immigration programmes, for example, do not. Check before you book.
How long is my score valid?
Usually two years from the test date.
Not sure which score you need?
Tell us your courses and we will tell you the exact score each one asks for — and whether an IELTS alternative or a waiver would work.