IELTS: INTRODUCTION

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. It is the most popular and widely recognised assessment test of English Language proficiency for people who want to study or work in an English-speaking country like the UK, Australia, Canada, the USA etc. The IELTS exam is jointly owned, managed and administered by ' The University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL)', 'British Council' and 'IDP: IELTS Australia'. The IELTS test was introduced in the year 1989 to assess whether candidates are ready to be trained in the medium of English in an English-speaking country. IELTS is now accepted as evidence of a prospective student’s level of English by most universities in English speaking countries. IELTS is the most popular high stakes English language proficiency test around the globe and more than 3.0 million candidates take part in the IELTS examination each year on an average.

IELTS test is available in two formats – Academic and General Training.

»IELTS Academic Module is suitable for those who are going to apply for further studies and professional registration.

» IELTS General Training Module is appropriate for those who are going to English-speaking countries to complete work experience and training programs or for immigration purposes.

Confirm which module you are required to take and sit for the appropriate IELTS exam.

IELTS Academic Reading Module

Requirements

You must read three reading passages with a total of 1 500 to 2 500 words. There will be between 38 and 42 questions. You will have 60 minutes to answer all the questions. The level of difficulty of the texts and tasks increases through the paper.

Types of material

Magazines, journals, textbooks and newspapers. Topics are not discipline specific but all are in a style appropriate and accessible to candidates entering postgraduate and undergraduate courses.

Question types

You will meet a variety of question types which may include:

• multiple choice

• short answer questions

• sentence completion

• notes/summary/flow chart/table completion

• choosing from a bank of headings

• identification of writer`s views or attitudes (Yes/ No/ Not given)

• classification

• matching lists

• matching phrases

IELTS Academic writing Module.

Introduction

Requirements

You must complete two writing tasks. You will have 60 minutes to complete both tasks.

You should spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 and write at least 150 words

You should spend about 40 minutes on Task 2 and write at least 250 words.

Task types

Task I

You will have to look at a diagram, a table or short piece of text and then present the information in your own words.

· Your writing will be assessed on your ability to:

· organise, present and compare data

· describe the stages of a process

· describe an object or event

· explain how something works You will also be judged on your ability to:

· answer the question without straying from the topic

· write in a way which allows your reader to follow your ideas

· use English grammar and syntax accurately

· use appropriate language in terms of register, style and content

Task 2 You will have to present an argument or discuss a problem.

Your writing will be assessed on your ability to.

· present the solution to a problem

· present and justify an opinion

· compare and contrast evidence and opinions

· evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an argument You will also be judged on your ability to:

· communicate an idea to the reader in an appropriate style

· address the problem without straying from the topic

· use English grammar and syntax accurately

· use appropriate language in terms of register, style and content

Benefits of studying for IELTS

By studying for IELTS you will not only be preparing for the test but also for your future as a student in an English speaking environment. The test is designed to assess your ability to understand and produce written and spoken language in an educational context. The book makes reference to the ways in which university study is organized in many English speaking countries and the types of academic tasks you will be expected to perform.

These include:

• Reading and understanding wrote the academic or training language

• Writing assignments in an appropriate style for university study or within a training context

• Listening to and comprehending spoken language in both lecture format as well as formal and informal conversational style

• Speaking to colleagues and lecturers on general and given topics in formal and informal situations

Description of the IELTS Test

IELTS Academic Module

for students seeking entry to a university or institution of higher education offering degree and diploma courses.

IELTS General Training

Module for students seeking entry to a secondary school or to vocational training courses.

Note: All candidates must take a test for each of the four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking modules but may choose between the Academic or General Training versions of the Reading and Writing sections of the test. You should seek advice from a teacher or a student adviser if you are in any doubt about whether to sit for the Academic modules or the General Training modules. The two do not carry the same weight and are not interchangeable.

IELTS Test format

Listening 4 sections, around 40 questions 30 minutes + transfer time

Academic Reading 3 sections, around 40 questions 60 minutes OR

General Training Reading 3 sections, around 40 questions 60 minutes

Academic Writing 2 tasks 60 minutes OR

General Training Writing 2 tasks 60 minutes

Speaking 10 to 15 minutes Total test time 2 hours 45 minutes.

WHAT DOES THE IELTS TEST CONSIST OF?

The Listening Module

Requirements

"You must listen to four separate sections and answer questions as you listen. You will hear the tape once only. There will be between 38 and 42 questions. The test will take about 30 minutes. There will be time to read the questions during the test and time to transfer your answers on to the answer sheet at the end of the test. The level of difficulty of the texts and tasks increases through the paper."

Situation types

The first two sections are based on social situations. There will be a conversation between two speakers and then a monologue. The second two sections are related to an educational or training context. There will be a conversation with up to four speakers and a lecture or talk of general academic interest.

Question types

You will meet a variety of question types which may include: · multiple choice · short answer questions · sentence completion ·notes/summary/flow chart/table completion ·labeling a diagram which has numbered parts · matching

IELTS Academic Reading Module

Requirements

You must read three reading passages with a total of 1 500 to 2 500 words. There will be between 38 and 42 questions. You will have 60 minutes to answer all the questions. The level of difficulty of the texts and tasks increases through the paper.

Types of material

Magazines, journals, textbooks and newspapers. Topics are not discipline specific but all are in a style appropriate and accessible to candidates entering postgraduate and undergraduate courses.

Question types

You will meet a variety of question types which may include:

• multiple choice

• short answer questions

• sentence completion

• notes/summary/flow chart/table completion

• choosing from a bank of headings

• identification of writer`s views or attitudes (Yes/ No/ Not given)

• classification

• matching lists

• matching phrases

IELTS Academic Writing module

Requirements

You must complete two writing tasks.

You will have 60 minutes to complete both tasks.

You should spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 and write at least 150 words.

IELTS Task I

You will have to look at a diagram, a table or short piece of text and then present the information in your own words. Your writing will be assessed on your ability to:

• organize, present and compare data

• describe the stages of a process

• describe an object or event

• explain how something works You will also be judged on your ability to:

• answer the question without straying from the topic

• write in a way which allows your reader to follow your ideas

• use English grammar and syntax accurately

• use appropriate language in terms of register, style and content

You should spend about 40 minutes on Task 2 and write at least 250 words.

IELTS Task 2

You will have to present an argument or discuss a problem. Your writing will be assessed on your ability to:

• present the solution to a problem

• present and justify an opinion

• compare and contrast evidence and opinions

• evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an argument You will also be judged on your ability to:

• communicate an idea to the reader in an appropriate style

• address the problem without straying from the topic

• use English grammar and syntax accurately

• use appropriate language in terms of register, style and content

IELTS General Training Reading Module

Requirements

You must answer questions on three sections of increasing difficulty with a total of 1,500 to 2,500 words. There will be between 38 and 42 questions. You will have 60 minutes to answer all the questions. The level of difficulty of the texts and tasks increases through the paper.

Types of material

Notices, advertisements, booklets, newspapers, leaflets, timetables, books and magazine articles. Section 1 Social survival — retrieving factual information

Section 2 Training survival — language in a training context

Section 3 General reading — extended prose with emphasis on descriptive and instructive texts of general interest

Question types

You will meet a variety of question types, which may include:

• multiple choice

• short answer questions

• sentence completion

• notes/summary/flow chart/table completion

• choosing from a bank of headings

• identification of writer’s views or attitudes (Yes/No/ Not given)

• classification • matching lists • matching phrases

IELTS General Training Writing Module

Requirements

You must complete two writing tasks. You will have 60 minutes to complete both tasks. You should spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 and write at least 150 words.

Task types

IELTS Task 1

You will have to write a short letter in response to a given problem or situation. Your writing will be assessed on your ability to: • engage in personal correspondence • elicit and provide general factual information • express needs want likes and dislikes • express opinions You will also be judged on your ability to: • answer the question without straying from the topic • write in a way which allows your reader to follow your ideas • use English grammar and syntax accurately • use appropriate language in terms of register, style and content.

IELTS Task 2

Requirements

You should spend about 40 minutes on Task 2 and write at least 250 words

Task 2

You will have to present an argument or discuss a problem. Your writing will be assessed on your ability to:

• provide general factual information

• outline a problem and present a solution

• present and justify an opinion You will also be judged on your ability to:

• communicate an idea to the reader in an appropriate style

• address the problem without straying from the topic

• use English grammar and syntax accurately

• use appropriate language in terms of register, style and content

IELTS The Speaking Module

Requirements

You will have to talk to an examiner for about 15 minutes.

The interview will be recorded. It is in 5 parts:

1 Introduction — Basic introductions

2 Extended discourse — You will talk at some length about general topics of relevance or interest which will involve explanation and description.

3 Elicitation — You will be given a cue card which describes a situation or problem. You must ask the examiner questions to obtain information.

4 Speculation and attitudes — You will be asked to talk about your plans or proposed course of study. You should demonstrate your ability to speculate or defend a point of view.

5 Conclusion — The interview comes to an end.

Assessment criteria

You will be assessed on the following criteria:

• ability to communicate effectively

• ability to use appropriate vocabulary and structures

• ability to ask questions

• ability to take initiative in a conversation

• general fluency

• structural accuracy

• intelligibility

How is IELTS scored?

IELTS provides a profile of your ability to use English. In other words your IELTS result will consist of a score in each of the four skills (listening, reading, writing, speaking) which is then averaged to give the Overall Band Score or final mark. Performance is rated in each skill on a scale of 9 to 1. The nine overall Bands and their descriptive statements are as follows:

9 Expert user

Has fully 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 inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.

7 Good user

Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.

6 Competent user

Has generally effective command of the language despite 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.

What is the pass mark?

There is no fixed pass mark in IELTS. The institution you want to enter will decide whether your score is appropriate for the demands of the course of study or training you want to undertake. However, as a general rule, scores below Band 5 in any one skill are considered too low for academic

study; scores above Band 6 are deemed to be adequate to good. Overall Band scores of 5 or 6 are borderline and may not be acceptable at many institutions. If you are getting only about half of the questions in these sample tests correct, then you are probably not quite ready to take the IELTS test. Again you should seek advice from a teacher about your level of English. Remember you must allow a duration of at least 3 months between each attempt at the test. For further information about the test, see the IELTS Handbook available from all test centres and also from UCLES (University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate), from I DP Education Australia and from British Council Centres.