Know All About IELTS
The International English Language Testing System, commonly known as IELTS, serves as a standardized assessment designed to evaluate the English language proficiency of individuals who are not native speakers and aspire to pursue education or employment opportunities in English-speaking nations. This comprehensive examination assesses various aspects of language skills, including listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Through this evaluation, IELTS aims to provide an accurate representation of an individual’s ability to comprehend and communicate effectively in English within academic and professional contexts.
Test Format of IELTS
IELTS offers two distinct modules: the Academic module and the General Training module. While both modules include identical Speaking and Listening tests, they cater to different purposes and audiences.
1. Academic Module: This module is primarily intended for individuals seeking higher education opportunities or professional registration in an English-speaking environment. The Reading and Writing tests in the Academic module focus on assessing skills relevant to academic contexts, such as understanding complex texts, analyzing data, and presenting arguments coherently.
2. General Training Module: Designed for candidates planning to migrate to an English-speaking country for secondary education, work experience, or immigration purposes, the General Training module evaluates language proficiency in everyday contexts. The Reading and Writing tests in this module assess skills essential for daily life, such as understanding instructions, filling out forms, and writing letters.
By offering these two modules with differing Reading and Writing tests, IELTS ensures that candidates can demonstrate their English language proficiency in a manner that aligns with their specific goals and needs, whether academic or general.
Sections of the IELTS Exam
The test of English language is divided into 4 parts:
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing, and
- Speaking
The test lasts for 2 hours and 45 minutes. The reading, writing, and listening components are conducted consecutively, while the speaking test can be scheduled either on the same day as the other sections or within a seven-day window before or after the written examination.
In-Depth Understanding of Each IELTS Section
- IELTS Listening
The IELTS Listening section evaluates how well candidates understand spoken English in different situations. Here’s what you need to know:
- Format: You will listen to 4 recordings covering various topics. They simulate real-life situations and come in different speeds, accents, and complexities.
- Timing: The test takes about 30 minutes, with 10 minutes at the end to transfer your answers. Note that you will not get 10 minutes of transfer time if you attempt IELTS Listening on the computer.
- Question Types: You will encounter multiple-choice, matching, labeling, completing sentences, and short-answer questions, testing different listening skills.
- Skills Assessed: You need to grasp main ideas, identify details, recognize opinions, follow directions, and take notes effectively.
- Strategies: Preview questions, listen actively, take notes, manage time wisely, and guess if unsure.
- Practice: Regularly practice with authentic materials like podcasts to improve listening skills and get used to different accents.
- Format:
– Topics are general and cover different writing styles.
- Format:
– No extra breaks are given.
- Skills Assessed:
- Strategies:
– Practice with various reading materials improves speed and comprehension.
1. Task 1: Candidates describe visual information like graphs or charts. They summarize and interpret the data in 20 minutes.
2. Task 2: Candidates write an essay responding to a prompt, expressing opinions or analysis. This task takes 40 minutes.
- Timing: Candidates have 60 minutes for both tasks.
- Skills Assessed: Tasks evaluate task achievement, coherence, vocabulary, and grammar.
- Strategies: Understand the task, plan, manage time, use language effectively, and revise.
- Practice: Regular practice with sample prompts improves writing skills.
- Format: It’s a face-to-face interview divided into three parts, lasting around 11 to 14 minutes.
- Timing:
– Part 2: Long Turn (3-4 minutes)
– Part 3: Discussion (4-5 minutes)
- Skills Assessed: Fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation are evaluated.
- Strategies: Practice speaking regularly, expand vocabulary, focus on fluency, record and evaluate, and do mock interviews.
- Practice: Use practice materials to get familiar with the format and topics. Speak on various topics to improve skills.
| Eligibility | Owning a passport |
| Fee | Around INR 17,000 |
| Availability | 4 times a month |
| Score Release | Around 13 days after the test |
| Score Validity | Valid for 2 years |
| Website | www.ielts.org |