IELTS
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
It is one of the standardized tests of English language proficiency designed to assess English language skills across a wide range of levels for non-native English language speakers. It could be a test for higher studies, migration or work in various English speaking countries such as the Americas, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. The test is jointly managed by the British Council, International Development Program (IDP): IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English.
There is no such thing as a pass or fail in IELTS. Results are reported as band scores on a scale from 1 (the lowest) to 9 (the highest)
There are four components in IELTS test: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. All sub tests of IELTS must be completed in single attempt to be accepted to the required program or for migration purposes.
There are two modules to choose from – Academic and General Training.
Each organisation you are applying to sets its own entry requirements. In some cases, both Academic or General Training may be accepted.
You are tested on all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking. Everyone takes the same Listening and Speaking tests. There are different Reading and Writing tests for IELTS Academic and General Training.
The Listening, Reading and Writing tests must be completed on the same day. The order in which these tests are taken may vary. There are no breaks between these three tests.
The Speaking test may be taken up to seven days before or after the other three tests.
The four components of the IELTS test
Listening
Timing (Approximately 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes’ transfer time).
Questions
There are 40 questions. A variety of question types are used, chosen from the following: multiple choice, matching, plan/ map/diagram labelling, form completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, summary completion, sentence completion, short-answer questions.
Test Parts
There are 4 sections:
Section 1 is a conversation between two people set in an everyday social context (e.g. a conversation in an accommodation agency).
Section 2 is a monologue set in an everyday social context (e.g. a speech about local facilities or a talk about the arrangements for meals during a conference).
Section 3 is a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context (e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment, or a group of students planning a research project).
Section 4 is a monologue on an academic subject (e.g. a university lecture).
Each section is heard once only.
A variety of voices and native-speaker accents are used.
Skills assessed
A wide range of listening skills are assessed, including:
- Understanding of main ideas
- Understanding of specific factual information
- Recognising opinions, attitudes and purpose of a speaker
- Following the development of an argument.
Marking
Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
Each correct answer receives 1 mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale.
Reading
Timing (60 minutes)
Questions
There are 40 questions. A variety of question types are used, chosen from the following: multiple choice, identifying information (True/False/Not Given), identifying a 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.
Test Parts
There are 3 sections.
Academic Reading
Each section contains one long text. Texts are authentic and are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. They have been written for a non-specialist audience and are on academic topics of general interest. Texts are appropriate to, and accessible to, test takers entering undergraduate or postgraduate courses or seeking professional registration.
Texts range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive and analytical. Texts may contain non-verbal materials such as diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If texts contain technical terms, then a simple glossary is provided.
General Training Reading
Section 1 contains two or three short factual texts, one of which may be composite (consisting of 6-8 short texts related by topic, e.g. hotel advertisements). Topics are relevant to everyday life in an English-speaking country.
Section 2 contains two short factual texts focusing on work- related issues (e.g. applying for jobs, company policies, pay and conditions, workplace facilities, staff development and training).
Section 3 contains one longer, more complex text on a topic of general interest.
Texts are authentic and are taken from notices, advertisements, company handbooks, official documents, books, magazines and newspapers.
Skills assessed
A wide range of reading skills are assessed, including:
- Reading for gist
- Reading for main ideas
- Reading for detail
- Understanding inferences and implied meaning
- Recognising writer’s opinions, attitudes and purpose
- Following the development of an argument.
Marking
Each correct answer receives 1 mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
Writing
Timing (60 minutes)
Tasks
There are 2 tasks. You are required to write at least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2.
Test Parts
There are 2 parts.
Academic Writing
In Task 1, you are presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and are asked to describe, summarise or explain the information in your own words. You may be asked to describe and explain data, describe the stages of a process, how something works or describe an object or event.
In Task 2, you are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. The issues raised are of general interest to, suitable for and easily understood by test takers entering undergraduate or postgraduate studies or seeking professional registration.
Responses to Task 1 and Task 2 should be written in an academic, semi-formal/neutral style.
General Training Writing
In Task 1, you are presented with a situation and are asked to write a letter requesting information or explaining the situation. The letter may be personal or semi-formal/neutral in style. In Task 2, you are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. The essay can be slightly more personal in style than the Academic Writing Task 2 essay.
Topics are of general interest.
Academic Writing
In Task 1, depending on the task type, you are assessed on your ability to organise, present and possibly compare data; to describe the stages of a process or procedure; to describe an object or event or sequence of events; to explain how something works.
In Task 2, depending on the task type, you are assessed on your ability to present a solution to a problem; to present and justify an opinion; to compare and contrast evidence, opinions and implications; to evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an argument.
General Training Writing
In Task 1, depending on the task type, you are assessed on your ability to engage in personal correspondence in order to elicit and provide general factual information; express needs, wants, likes and dislikes; express opinions (views, complaints etc.).
In Task 2, you are assessed on your ability to provide general factual information; to outline a problem and present a solution; to present and possibly justify an opinion; to evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an argument.
Marking
You are assessed on your performance on each task by certificated IELTS examiners according to the IELTS
Writing test assessment criteria (Task Achievement/Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy).
Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
Speaking
Timing (11-14 minutes)
Test Parts
There are 3 parts.
Part 1 Introduction and interview (4-5 minutes)
The examiner introduces him/herself and asks you to introduce yourself and confirm your identity. The examiner asks you general questions on familiar topics, e.g. home, family, work, studies and interests.
Part 2 Individual long turn (3-4 minutes)
The examiner gives you a task card which asks you to talk about a particular topic and which includes points you can cover in your talk. You are given 1 minute to prepare your talk, and are given a pencil and paper to make notes. You talk for 1-2 minutes on the topic. The examiner may then ask you one or two questions on the same topic.
Part 3 Two-way discussion (4-5 minutes)
The examiner asks further questions which are connected to the topic of Part 2. These questions give you an opportunity to discuss more abstract issues and ideas.
Skills assessed
A wide range of speaking skills are assessed, including:
- the ability to communicate opinions and information on everyday topics and common experiences and situations by answering a range of questions
- the ability to speak at length on a given topic using appropriate language and organising ideas coherently
- the ability to express and justify opinions and to analyse, discuss and speculate about issues.
Marking
You are assessed on your performance throughout the test by certificated IELTS examiners according to the IELTS Speaking test assessment criteria (Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, Pronunciation).