Targeting Band 7+? You need a teacher. Not just more mock tests.

IELTS — the International English Language Testing System — is the world's most widely used English test for studying, working or migrating abroad. It's jointly owned by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. In India, the test itself is run by IDP: you book your date, pay the fee and sit the exam through them. Russell's is independent of all of these — we don't conduct the exam, we prepare you for it.

Academic is for people applying to universities or for professional registration. General Training is for migration, work, or school. The Listening and Speaking sections are the same in both; the Reading and Writing sections differ. If you're not sure which one your university or visa needs, tell us when you call and we'll point you the right way. We coach both.

There are four: Listening (about 30 minutes, 40 questions), Reading (60 minutes, 40 questions), Writing (60 minutes, two tasks) and Speaking (a 11–14 minute face-to-face conversation with an examiner, in three parts). Listening, Reading and Writing are done back-to-back in one sitting — roughly 2 hours 45 minutes — and Speaking is either the same day or within a few days.

On a band scale from 0 to 9, in half-band steps (6.0, 6.5, 7.0, and so on). You get a band for each of the four sections, plus an overall band, which is the average of the four. Most universities and visa routes ask for an overall band between 6 and 7.5 — and many also set a minimum for each individual section, which is exactly where careful preparation matters.

As of 2026, the standard test fee in India is ₹19,000 (it rose from ₹18,000 on 1 April 2026). It's the same whether you take Academic or General Training, and whether you sit it on computer or paper; IELTS for UK visas (UKVI) costs a little more. That fee is paid to IDP for the exam itself — it's separate from any coaching fees. Coaching with us is what helps you get the band you need on the first attempt, so you're not paying that exam fee twice.

Two years from the date of the test. Most institutions and visa authorities accept scores within that window, though a few have their own requirements — always check what the place you're applying to asks for.

You register and pay online through IDP and choose a test date and centre. In India the exam is now mostly computer-delivered, with dates available almost every day, and computer results usually come in a few days. If the booking process feels confusing, we're happy to walk you through it.

It's in-person — a classroom programme at our Punjagutta centre in Hyderabad, with regular daily classes and the same teaching team throughout, not a one-off session. The only part you use from home is our online practice library, for working on your own between classes.

It depends on where you're starting, the band you're targeting and how soon your test is. After your free trial class we'll tell you honestly how many weeks of daily classes are realistic for your goal — rather than selling you a fixed package that may be too long or too short.

Yes — your first class is free. You sit in, get assessed across all four modules, and see exactly how we teach before you commit to anything. Call the helpline to book it.

Both. Your Writing Task 1 and Task 2 essays are corrected in detail, with band-descriptor feedback on Task Response, Coherence, Lexical Resource and Grammar. Speaking is practised live in class — across Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 — with feedback in the moment.

Yes. Both versions of the test are covered. Tell us which one you're sitting when you call, and your classes will focus on the right Reading and Writing format.

Our coaching fee is separate from the IELTS exam fee you pay to IDP. What you pay us depends on how many weeks of classes you need, which depends on your starting level and target band. The fairest thing we can do is talk to you first — call the helpline and we'll give you a clear quote based on what you actually need.