Is IELTS Exam Very Difficult for Indians?

International English Language Testing System ( IELTS )

Raushan
Raushan Kumar
Assistant Manager Content
Updated on Oct 4, 2025 11:17 IST
For many study abroad aspirants clearing the IELTS exam is the toughest part. Students are riddled with questions such as: is IELTS difficult? Is IELTS tough for Indian students? But whether IELTS is really that tough or is it the hysteria that is created around the exam that makes it look tougher?
No doubt, IELTS is most popular English test for students who want study abroad. But many ask, is IELTS test difficult in India? In this article, you will know the answer in simple way and also get few easy tips and tricks.
IELTS Exam Difficulty Level

If you planning to take IELTS exam and wonder, is IELTS hard? then you not alone. Every year, millions of students from many countries, like India, prepare for IELTS test to study, work or move abroad. The exam checks your English skills, but how hard it feels mostly depend how ready you are.

IELTS test has four parts – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Each section of IELTS exam has its own challenges. The difficulty can vary from person to person. Some people find Listening hard because of accents, others say Writing is tough. This article provides an overview of the difficulty level of the IELTS exam.

TOEFL promo code

How Difficult is IELTS exam?

IELTS is one of the leading English language proficiency exams that assesses your abilities in all the aspects of measuring the language proficiency of the candidate. It assesses a candidate's ability in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The exam is designed in such a way that a person from any background can take the test in the same condition. The type of questions included and the methodology used to correct the test and the length and format of every part of the exam are standardized.

The IELTS is little challenging exam but not the toughest one. If one comes without preparation then any exam is difficult. The IELTS preparation requires focusing on different areas of the English language. The difficulty level of skill may vary from a person to person. Listening can be difficult for someone while reading can be difficult for others. Similarly, writing can be the hardest for a few candidates. So, you can prepare for the exam and make sure to focus more on your weak areas. Knowing all the sections of the IELTS exam can be a fruitful exercise before starting with the preparation.

How difficult is IELTS Reading?

In the Reading section of IELTS exam, you get one hour to read almost 2,000 words and answer 40 questions. You need good English vocabulary, otherwise it become little hard to scan or skim the text fast. Try reading newspapers, magazines or small books, it helps you improve vocabulary and also make your scanning and skimming better.

How difficult is IELTS Writing?

In the IELTS Writing test, there are two tasks. Many students find it little hard to finish both answers in given time. Also, you must write minimum number of words for each task, so timing is very important. The one-hour test is divided into 20 minutes for one task and 40 minutes for the other.

How difficult is IELTS Listening?

Score Predictor

Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!

Share 12th Board, Percentage, english score
Get estimated scores or IELTS, TOEFL & PTE


In the IELTS Listening test, test takers need to listen the speaker very carefully. Many students think this is one of the hardest section of the IELTS exam. To score better, you should practice often. Try watching English movies or TV shows, it helps a lot. You can also use some IELTS Listening practice tools online to improve your skills.

How difficult is IELTS Speaking?

The IELTS Speaking section can be hard for many students, especially if you don’t speak English daily. But if you already talk in English often, it feels little easier. Here, you not just speak but also answer questions and talk on one topic. Try to stay on the main topic and not go off track if you want good marks.

There is nothing wrong if you take IELTS test more than once. It’s okay. Admitting where you weak is first step to fix it. Once you know your weak areas, you can prepare better and improve them. Whether it is your speaking, grammar, or listening, find out what you lack and work on that before giving exam again. A good IELTS score can help you get into your dream university and also make your career stronger in future.







How to Make IELTS Easier – Preparation Tips

  • Make sure that you understand the pattern of IELTS Without understanding the pattern and the syllabus, you will be shooting arrows in the dark
  • You must follow correct IELTS books and other resources for your preparation. There is so much of study material available that students usually get confused. We suggest that you utilize limited resources to maximum extent
  • Never miss any practice test. The importance of IELTS practice tests cannot be stressed enough. You must practice and review your mocks
  • Follow the Official Cambridge Guide and website. Make this as the base of your preparation. You must complete the official resources and content first
  • Make sure to revise your notes at least 3-4 times. Revision helps you retain what you have learnt and helps you recall during the examination
Q:   Is getting 7 in IELTS hard?
A:

Getting 7 band in IELTS is good in English. It can be hard if you don’t know the test or practice. But if you study daily, practice reading, writing, listening, and speaking, many students can get 7 score and go study abroad or do jobs.

Q:   Is IELTS hard for Indians?
A:

Many Indian students feel the IELTS exam is little hard because of many reasons. In IELTS Listening, the accents sound different, and in Writing or Speaking you need to give structured answers which not easy for everyone. But with right IELTS preparation and daily practice, you can easily pass this test. How hard the IELTS exam feels mostly depend on your English level and how you prepare for it.

Q:   Is the IELTS test difficult?
A:

The IELTS test can be little hard for some people, mostly when they not prepare enough. Every part of the IELTS exam has its own challenge, like time problem in Reading and Writing tasks. But if you make a good study plan and practice with sample tests, it become much easier. When you understand the test format and work on your English language skills, the test don’t feel that difficult anymore.

RecommendationView All

Explore MS colleges in UK

University of Manchester

Manchester, UKPublic

1 courses
30.58 L - 30.58 L
1 courses
38.49 L - 38.49 L
1 courses
36.45 L - 36.45 L
University of Bristol

Bristol, UKPublic

1 courses
33.65 L - 33.65 L
University of Bath

Bath, UKPublic

3 courses
27.02 L - 30.59 L
Durham University

Durham, UKPublic

1 courses
40.77 L - 40.77 L
1 courses
36.5 L - 36.5 L
University of Exeter

Exeter, UKPublic

1 courses
37.17 L - 37.17 L
University of Surrey

Guildford, UKPublic

1 courses
23.79 L - 23.79 L
University of Nottingham

Nottingham, UKPublic

1 courses
31.51 L - 31.51 L
Is this recommendation relevant?
Which stage are you in your study abroad journey?

Pick your stage and get free guidance from counsellors who've helped thousands get into top universities.

Research IconStarting research
Shortlist IconShortlisting colleges
Exam IconExam preparation
SopLor IconSOP/LOR writing
Scholarship IconScholarship & finance
Visa IconVisa application
About the Author
author-image
Written by
Raushan Kumar
Assistant Manager Content
Raushan Kumar is a skilled writer and a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. He oversees various aspects of studying abroad, including educational opportunities, entrance exams, colleges, latest new Read Full Bio
Explore popular study destinations
Resources for you
Understand the process step by step by referring to these guides curated just for you
qna

Comments