The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a globally recognized standardized test designed to assess the English language proficiency of non-native speakers. The test is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English. It is widely accepted by educational institutions, employers, immigration authorities, and professional bodies around the world. There are two types of test available, Academic or General. The test is the same for both tests, apart from the writing and reading sections.
Why Take the IELTS Test?
Academic Purposes: Many universities and colleges require IELTS scores for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
Professional Certification: Certain professions, such as medicine, law, and engineering, require proof of English proficiency through IELTS scores.
Immigration: Countries like the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand use IELTS scores as part of their immigration and visa processes.
Employment: Employers in English-speaking countries often use IELTS scores to assess the language skills of prospective employees.
Test Structure
1. Listening
Duration: 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes to transfer answers to the answer sheet)
Format: The listening section consists of four recordings played only once. Each recording is followed by a series of questions.
Recording 1: A conversation between two people set in an everyday social context.
Recording 2: A monologue set in an everyday social context, e.g., a speech about local facilities.
Recording 3: A conversation among up to four people set in an educational or training context, e.g., a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment.
Recording 4: A monologue on an academic subject, e.g., a university lecture.
Question Types: The questions include multiple-choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labeling, form completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, and short-answer questions.
2. Reading
Duration: 60 minutes
Format: The reading section consists of three long texts which are taken from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers. These texts are designed for a non-specialist audience and are on academic or general interest topics.
Academic Reading: Three long passages with a variety of question types, including multiple-choice, identifying information (True/False/Not Given), identifying the writer's views/claims (Yes/No/Not Given), matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.
General Training Reading: Extracts from books, magazines, newspapers, notices, advertisements, company handbooks, and guidelines. There are three sections: Section 1 (two or three short factual texts), Section 2 (two short work-related texts), and Section 3 (one long text on a topic of general interest).
3. Writing
Duration: 60 minutes
Format: The writing section requires test takers to complete two tasks, each of which assesses different writing skills.
Academic Writing:
Task 1: Test takers are presented with a graph, table, chart, or diagram and are asked to describe, summarize, or explain the information in their own words. They may be asked to explain how something works or describe an object or event.
Task 2: Test takers are asked to respond to a point of view, argument, or problem. They need to write an essay in response to a question, presenting an argument, providing evidence, and giving their opinion.
General Training Writing:
Task 1: Test takers are presented with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information or explaining the situation. The letter may be personal, semi-formal, or formal in style.
Task 2: Test takers are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem. The essay should be written in a slightly more personal style compared to the Academic Writing Task 2.
4. Speaking
Duration: 11-14 minutes
Format: The speaking section is a face-to-face interview with a certified examiner and is divided into three parts.
Part 1 (Introduction and Interview): The examiner introduces themselves and asks the test taker to introduce themselves and confirm their identity. The examiner asks general questions on familiar topics such as home, family, work, studies, and interests. This part lasts 4-5 minutes.
Part 2 (Long Turn): The test taker is given a task card with a topic and is asked to speak for 1-2 minutes on that topic. They have 1 minute to prepare and can make notes. The examiner may ask one or two questions on the same topic to finish this part of the test.
Part 3 (Discussion): The examiner and the test taker engage in a discussion on more abstract ideas and issues related to the topic in Part 2. This part lasts 4-5 minutes and allows the test taker to discuss more complex ideas and express their opinions.
Test Formats
There are two types of IELTS tests:
IELTS Academic: Designed for those applying for higher education or professional registration in an English-speaking environment.
IELTS General Training: Suitable for those migrating to an English-speaking country for work experience, training programs, or secondary education.
Scoring System
IELTS scores are reported on a 9-band scale, ranging from 1 (non-user) to 9 (expert user). Each section of the test (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking) is scored individually, and the scores are then averaged to calculate the overall band score.
Registration and Test Dates
You can register for the IELTS test online or at a local test center. Test dates are available throughout the year, and it is recommended to book your test well in advance to secure your preferred date and location.