The International English Language Testing System
The International English Language Testing System or IELTS is an international standardized
assessment of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. Jointly
conducted by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language
Assessment, it was established in 1989. This is one of the major English language tests in the
world. Taking into account your synchronic linguistics, verbal communication and orthography,
IELTS will help you improve on several fronts. To obtain a high band score in IELTS, we here at
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The IELTS is accepted by most of the academic institutes inAustralia, UK,Canada andNew
Zealand, more than 3000 academic institutions in theUnited States and also by different
professional organisations across the globe. Moreover, this is the only Secure English Language
Test approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for individuals applying both outside and
inside the UK. It also meets the requirement for immigration to Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
While there is no minimum score for clearing the test, an IELTS result orTest Report Form is
issued to every candidate with a score from ‘band 1’ ("non-user") to ‘band 9’ ("expert user").
Each institution sets a different threshold. A "band 0" score is given for those who had failed to
attempt the test. Institutions are advised not to consider a report older than two years to be
valid, unless the user proves that they have worked to maintain their level.
IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training are designed to cover the full range of ability from
non-user to expert user.
The Academic version is for test takers who want to study at tertiary level in an English-
speaking country or seek professional registration.
The General Training version is for test takers who want to work, train, study at a secondary
school or migrate to an English-speaking country.
The difference between the Academic and General Training versions is the content, context and
purpose of the tasks. All other features, such as timing allocation, length of written responses
and reporting of scores, are the same.
IELTS Academic and General Training both incorporate the following features:
IELTS tests the ability to listen, read, write and speak in English.
The speaking module is a key component of IELTS. It is conducted in the form of a one-to-
one interview with an examiner. The examiner assesses the test taker as he or she is
speaking. The speaking session is also recorded for monitoring and for re-marking in case of
an appeal against the score given.
A variety of accents and writing styles have been presented in test materials in order to
minimize linguistic bias. The accents in the listening section are generally
80% British, Australian, New Zealander and 20% others (mostly American).
IELTS is developed by experts at Cambridge English Language Assessment with input from
item writers from around the world. Teams are located in the USA, Great Britain, Australia,New Zealand, Canada and other English-speaking nations abroad job consultancy in bangalore.
Band scores are used for each language sub-skill (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking).
The Band Scale ranges from 0 ("Did not attempt the test") to 9 ("Expert User ").
IELTS Test Structure:
There are two modules of the IELTS:
Academic Module and
General Training Module
There is also a separate test offered by the IELTS test partners, called IELTS Life Skills:
IELTS Academic is intended for those who want to enroll in universities and other
institutions of higher education and for professionals such as medical doctors and nurses
who want to study or practice in an English-speaking country.
IELTS General Training is intended for those planning to undertake non-academic training or
to gain work experience, or for immigration purposes.
IELTS Life Skills is intended for those who need to prove their English speaking and listening
skills at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels A1 or B1
and can be used to apply for a ‘family of a settled person’ visa, indefinite leave to remain or
citizenship in the UK.
The IELTS test has four parts:
Listening: 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes of transfer time)
Reading: 60 minutes
Writing: 60 minutes
Speaking: 11–14 minutes
The test total time is:2 hours and 45 minutes.
Listening, Reading and Writing are completed in one sitting. The Speaking test may be taken on the
same day or up to seven days before or after the other tests.
All test takers take the same Listening and Speaking tests, while the Reading and Writing tests differ
depending on whether the test taker is taking theAcademic orGeneral Training version of the test.
Listening
The module comprises four sections, with ten questions in each section. It takes 40 minutes: 30 minutes
- for testing, plus 10 minutes for transferring the answers to an answer sheet.
Sections 1 and 2 are about every day social situations.
Section 1 has a conversation between two speakers (for example, a conversation about travel
arrangements)
Section 2 has one person speaking (for example, a speech about local facilities).
Sections 3 and 4 are about educational and training situations.
Section 3 is a conversation between two main speakers (for example, a discussion between two
university students, perhaps guided by a tutor).
Section 4 has one person speaking about an academic subject.
Each section begins with a short introduction telling the test taker about the situation and the speakers.
Then they have some time to look through the questions. The questions are in the same order as the
information in the recording, so the answer to the first question will be before the answer to the second
question, and so on. The first three sections have a break in the middle allowing test takers to look at
the remaining questions. Each section is heard only once.
At the end of the test students are given 10 minutes to transfer their answers to an answer sheet. Test
takers will lose marks for incorrect spelling and grammar.
Reading
The Reading paper has three sections and texts totaling 2,150–2,750 words. There will be a variety of
question types, such as multiple choice, short-answer questions, identifying information, identifying
writer’s views, labeling diagrams, completing a summary using words taken from the text and matching
information/headings/features in the text/sentence endings. Test takers should be careful when writing
down their answers as they will lose marks for incorrect spelling and grammar.
Texts in IELTS Academic
Three reading texts, which come from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online resources
written for non-specialist audiences. All the topics are of general interest to students at
undergraduate or postgraduate level.
Texts in IELTS General Training
Section 1 contains two or three short texts or several shorter texts, which deal with everyday topics.
For example, timetables or notices — things a person would need to understand when living in an
English-speaking country.
Section 2 contains two texts, which deal with work. For example, job descriptions, contracts,
training materials.
Section 3 contains one long text about a topic of general interest. The text is generally descriptive,
longer and more complex than the texts in Sections 1 and 2. The text will be taken from a
newspaper, magazine, book or online resource.
Writing
The Writing paper has two tasks which must both be completed. In task 1 test takers write at least 150
words in about 20 minutes. In task 2 test takers write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes. Test
takers will be penalized if their answer is too short or does not relate to the topic. Answers should be
written in full sentences (test takers must not use notes or bullet points).
IELTS Academic IELTS online registration
Task 1: test takers describe a graph, table, chart or diagram in their own words.
Task 2: test takers discuss a point of view, argument or problem. Depending on the task, test takers
may be required to present a solution to a problem, present and justify an opinion, compare and
contrast evidence, opinions and implications, and evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an
argument.
IELTS General Training
Task 1: test takers write a letter in response to a given everyday situation. For example, writing to
an accommodation officer about problems with your accommodation, writing to a new employer
about problems managing your time, writing to a local newspaper about a plan to develop a local
airport.
Task 2: test takers write an essay about a topic of general interests. For example, whether smoking
should be banned in public places, whether children’s leisure activities should be educational, how
environmental problems can be solved.
Speaking
The speaking test is a face-to-face interview between the test taker and an examiner.
The speaking test contains three sections.
Section 1: introduction and interview (4–5 minutes). Test takers may be asked about their home,
family, work, studies, hobbies and interests, reasons for taking IELTS exam as well as other general
topics such as clothing, free time, computers and the internet.
Section 2: long turn (3–4 minutes). Test takers are given a task card about a particular topic. Test
takers have one minute to prepare to talk about this topic. The task card states the points that
should be included in the talk and one aspect of the topic which must be explained during the talk.
Test takers are then expected to talk about the topic for 2 minutes, after which the examiner may
ask one or two questions.
Section 3: discussions (4–5 minutes). The third section involves a discussion between the examiner
and the test taker, generally on questions relating to the theme which they have already spoken
about in Section 2.
Scoring
Test takers receive a score for each test component — Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The
individual scores are then averaged and rounded to produce an Overall Band Score.
Band scale
There is no pass or fail. IELTS is scored on a nine-band scale, with each band corresponding to a specified
competence in English. Overall Band Scores are rounded off to the nearest half band.
The following rounding convention applies: if the average across the four skills ends in .25, it is rounded
up to the next half band, and if it ends in 5.75, it is rounded up to the next whole band.
The nine bands are described as follows:
9 Expert User Has full operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent
with complete understanding.
8 Very Good User
Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic
inaccuracies and inappropriate usages. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar
situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.
7 Good User
Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies,
inappropriateness and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles
complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.
6 Competent
User
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Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies,
inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex
language, particularly in familiar situations.
5 Modest user
Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most
situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic
communication in own field.
4 Limited User Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in
understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.
3 Extremely
Limited User
Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations.
Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.
2 Intermittent
User
No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using
isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate
needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
1 Non User Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.
0 Did not
attempt the
test
No assessable information provided at all.
Results
A Test Report Form is posted to test takers 13 days after their test. It shows:
An Overall Band Score (from 1–9).
A band score (from 1–9) for each section of the test (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking).
Whether IELTS Academic or General Training was completed.
The test taker’s photo, nationality, first language and date of birth.
Test takers receive one copy of their Test Report Form, apart from test takers who are applying to
theDepartment of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) orUK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) who
receive two copies.
Test Report Forms are valid for two years.
Locations and test dates
Test takers can take IELTS in more than 140 countries and in over 1,200 locations.
There are about 48 test dates available per year. Each test center offers tests up to four times a month
depending on local demand. The Academic version is available on all 48 dates per year and the General
Training version is available on 24 dates.
Currently there is no limit for applicants to retake the test.
