Guide only
Free
- This guide and our blog
- A free level check
- Advice on which test to take
IELTS course and guide
The band you need, on the first try.
Most universities abroad ask for proof of English. Here is how IELTS works and what score to aim for — and a course that gets you there before your deadline.
- skills: listening, reading, writing, speaking
- 4
- skills: listening, reading, writing, speaking
- for the written parts, speaking on its own
- 2h 45m
- for the written parts, speaking on its own
- band scale, in half bands
- 0–9
- band scale, in half bands
Do you need it?
Often, but not always. Find out before you spend on a test.
- Most English-taught degrees in the UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand ask for IELTS Academic or an equivalent
- Many US and European universities accept it alongside TOEFL, PTE or Duolingo — we help you pick the test that suits you
- Some student visa routes have their own English rules, separate from the university's
- If your schooling was in English, you may be exempt — we check before you pay for a test
The guide
How the test works.
IELTS Academic has four parts. Listening, reading and writing are taken together; speaking is on the same day or within a week.
Listening
30 minutes40 questions over four recordings, each played once — conversations and talks in everyday and academic settings.
Tip: Read ahead while you can. The answers come in the order of the questions.
Reading
60 minutes40 questions on three long texts from books, journals and newspapers. No extra time to transfer answers.
Tip: Skim for the structure first, then scan for the detail. Twenty minutes per passage, no more.
Writing
60 minutesTask 1: describe a chart, table or diagram in 150+ words. Task 2: a 250+ word essay, worth twice as much.
Tip: Start with Task 2. Plan for five minutes — structure scores higher than fancy vocabulary.
Speaking
11–14 minutesA recorded conversation with an examiner: questions about you, a two-minute talk on a card, then a discussion.
Tip: Extend every answer with a reason or an example. Silence costs more than a small mistake.
What score to aim for.
Each skill gets a band from 0 to 9, and the overall band is their average. Many universities also set a minimum for each skill — usually writing is the one that catches people out.
| Where you're applying | Typical overall band |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate, UK, Ireland | 6.0 – 7.0 |
| Medicine and dentistry, UK | 7.0 – 7.5 |
| Australia and New Zealand | 6.5 – 7.0 |
| Canada | 6.5 – 7.0 |
| US universities that accept IELTS | 6.5 – 7.0 |
| English-taught degrees in Europe | 5.5 – 6.5 |
Typical ranges only. Every university and course sets its own score — we check yours before you book.
The course
Built around your target band.
No generic textbook marathon. We find what is holding your score down and work on that.
- 1
Level check
A short diagnostic in all four skills, so we know your starting band and the gap to your target.
- 2
Live classes
Small groups by level, focused on the question types that cost you the most marks.
- 3
Writing feedback
Your essays marked against the four official criteria, with notes you can act on in the next one.
- 4
Mock speaking
One-to-one practice interviews in the real format, recorded so you can hear yourself improve.
- 5
Full mock tests
Timed, test-day conditions, with a predicted band before you book the real thing.
- 6
Booking and strategy
Paper or computer, which centre, which date — timed around your university and visa deadlines.
Group course
Most students
- Everything in the free guide
- Live small-group classes
- Weekly writing feedback
- Two full mock tests
One-to-one
For a tight deadline or a high target
- A plan built for you
- Private lessons at your pace
- Unlimited speaking mocks
- Test booking and strategy
Course fees depend on your level and timeline — we quote them after your free level check. The IELTS test fee is paid to the test centre.
IELTS questions.
Something else on your mind? hello@wulmy.com
Academic or General Training?
For a university degree, it is almost always IELTS Academic. General Training is for work and some migration routes. Listening and speaking are the same in both; reading and writing differ.
Paper or computer?
Same test, same scoring. On computer you usually get results within a few days and more test dates; on paper, results take around two weeks. Pick whichever you type or write faster in.
How long is my score valid?
Most universities and visa authorities accept results for two years from the test date. Check the deadline of every place you apply to before you book.
How long does it take to go up half a band?
It depends on where you start and how much you practise, but plan for weeks, not days. That is why we check your level first and set a realistic test date.
Do I need IELTS for medicine in Italy?
The IMAT itself does not ask for it, and many Italian universities accept your school results in English. We check the rules for each university on your list.
Find out where you stand.
A free level check and a call on your target universities, then a plan to the band you need.