Do you need to prove your English competence to an employer or university/college? Do you want to know the following IELTS exam dates? Is passing the IELTS a must for you to keep your job? Do you need help registering for IELTS in Nigeria? Then you are on the right page!
The first step in taking the IELTS in Nigeria is registering for it, and it is known that registering for qualifying exams is difficult. Hence, to assist you in your attempt, I will guide on everything you need to know about IELTS exam in 2024.
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What is IELTS
Table of Contents
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is widely accepted for university applications in the UK, New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and Canada.
IELTS proves your ability to communicate in four primary areas of English: hearing, reading, speaking, and writing. Hence, if you intend to study or work in a country where English is the major language of communication, you must take the IELTS exam.
The British Council, IDP Education Australia, and Cambridge English Language Assessment are all partners in the IELTS exam, which they jointly own and administer. It has established itself as a global leader in international higher education, with 3.5 million IELTS exams administered in 2018. This test is valid for two years. This implies that you can your IELTS test score as many times as possible for two years.
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Types of IELTS
There are two major types of IELTS. They include:
1. IELTS Academic Test
IELTS Academic Test is for individuals seeking advanced education or profession in an English-Speaking country. The IELTS Academic test measures your academic English proficiency to determine whether you can study at the undergraduate/postgraduate level or work professionally as a doctor, teacher, or lawyer.
The Academic test assesses your English competence in four areas: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. The Listening and Speaking sections of the test are the same for Academic and General Training, but the Reading and Writing sections are not.
2. IELTS General test
People willing to migrate to English-speaking nations like Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom take the IELTS General Test. If you want to take or training programs and those who wish to gain work experience take this test.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to register for IELTS in Nigeria
1. Identify the type of IELTS you want to take
You have to know the type of IELTS you will take. Hence, if you’re applying to school or joining a professional organization before starting your career outside of the UK, IELTS Academic is required.
If the school or professional organization of your choice is not in the UK, you have to take the IELTS General. To apply for a permanent residence visa in Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, you’ll need to take the IELTS General Training.
2. Get Your International passport
Please remember that your international passport is compulsory for IELTS registration. When registering for IELTS, you must include a scanned copy of your passport in png, jpg, or gif format.
When submitting a photo of your passport, ensure the dimensions do not exceed 1600×1600 pixels, and the file size should be less than 1.5MB. The scanned copy of your passport should include the information on your ID, birth date, image, passport expiration date, and signature.
3. Register for IELTS via The British Council Online Registration System
You can start your IELTS registration by completing the British Council Online Application. You can find the form at https://ielts.britishcouncil.org/nigeria.
Another crucial factor to consider is whether you will pay for your IELTS registration via online bank transfer or by issuing a bank draft due to the British Council.
4. Research the IELTS exam dates available
Since there are only a limited number of slots available for IELTS testing sessions, you should register at least two months before the test date you choose. The British Council Online Registration System is the best platform for examining the most recent information on test dates.
Other steps to follow include;
5. Make payments for the IELTS
Make payment depending on the type of IELTS exam you are applying for through bank transfer or draft.
You can pay directly at any bank, and if you pick the offline payment method, you must print your registration application and take it to the British Council office with the bank draft and a copy of your passport.
6. Complete your registration
After registering and paying online, your application is automatically completed. Please be aware that if you pay by bank draft, you must submit the bank draft, a printed application summary, and a copy of your passport to the nearest British Council office.
You will then get a confirmation that your registration and payment are successful.
IELTS Eligibility in Nigeria
Everyone is eligible to take the IELTS, irrespective of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, or religion. However, it is not advisable for anyone under 16 to take the IELTS exam.
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IELTS Exam dates from March 2023 to May 2023
| Date | Location | Type |
| 09 March 2024
|
All Locations | GT & AC |
| 16 March 2024 | Lagos Island/Mainland/Abuja/Port Harcourt/Kano | AC |
| 23 March 2024 | All Location | GT & AC |
| 06 April 2024 | All Location | GT & AC |
| 13 April 2024 | Lagos Island/Mainland/Abuja/Port Harcourt/Kano | AC |
| 18 April 2024 | Lagos Island/Mainland/Abuja/Port Harcourt/Kano | AC |
| 27 April 2024 | All Locations | GT/AC |
| 04 May 2024 | Lagos Island/Mainland/Abuja/Port Harcourt/Kano | AC |
| 09 May 2024 | All Locations | GT/AC |
What is the minimum age requirement for IELTS ?
What is the minimum age requirement for IELTS ? The Citizenship Act of Canada has been amended to decrease the minimum age of people willing to be Canadian citizens. You must be at least 16 years of age to do the IELTS registration. There is no IELTS exam maximum age limit.
Final thoughts
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assesses your ability to communicate in English language.
International students, professionals (including doctors and teachers), and potential immigrants are all obliged to take it. The IELTS exam is not limited by the organizations that administer it. You can take the IELTS test as many times as possible till you achieve your desired score.
