Even people whose mother tongue is English need to take IELTS under certain circumstances.

These will usually be determined by the government (permanent residence applications, for example), a higher-education institution, or professional association (especially if you are in a healthcare-related field).

It important to prepare for the test even if you are a native English speaker as the tasks are specific and timed. Lack of preparation can result in avoidable mistakes and scores lower than required.

Be sure to:

• take the correct test (Academic or General Training) for your situation
• familiarize yourself with the format of the test  (our free Road to IELTS online course is ideal for this)
• complete our free practice tests to practice your test-taking skills (time yourself as well)
• review and practice your pen and paper writing skills

During the test you will need to:

• listen very carefully for specific information in the Listening test
• be asked to carry out tasks that you have never done before in the Reading and Writing tests
• write clearly and legibly on your listening and reading answer sheet
• speak fluently and coherently on a topic, regardless of whether you find it interesting