20/04/2020
Understanding IELTS
• Introduction
• Version of test-Academic & General Training
• Test Format-Listening, Reading, Writing & Speaking
• Mode of test-Paper based & Computer delivered
• The IELTS band scales
• IELTS introduction:
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is the world’s most popular high stakes English-Language test, for study, work and migration, with more than 2.2 million tests taken each year.
It measures the language proficiency of people who want to study or work where English is used as a language of communication. It uses a nine-band scale to clearly identify levels of proficiency, from non-user (band score 1) through to expert (band score 9).
IELTS is available at more than 1,600 locations worldwide, including more than 50 locations in the USA.
• IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training
IELTS is available in: Academic - for people applying for higher education or professional registration,
General Training for those migrating to Australia, Canada and the UK, or applying for secondary education, training programmes and work experience in an English-speaking environment.
• Test format:
The IELTS test assesses your abilities in listening, reading, writing and speaking – in less than three hours.
Since there are two types of IELTS: Academic and General Training. Listening and Speaking are the same for both tests, but the subject matter of the Reading and Writing sections differs depending on which test you take.
The Listening, Reading and Writing sections of all IELTS tests are completed on the same day, with no breaks in between them.
The Speaking section, however, can be completed up to a week before or after the other tests. Your test centre will advise.
The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes.
• IELTS on Paper or Computer:
Since its inception, IELTS has been taken up by the test takers on paper but few months before they have introduced the Computer based test to some selective and big cities of that following countries.
• How IELTS is scored:
IELTS results are reported on a 9-band scale
IELTS results are designed to be simple and easy to understand. They are reported as band scores on a scale from 1 (the lowest) to 9 (the highest).
The IELTS scale:Band score Skill level
9
Expert user
8
Very good user
7
Good user
6
Competent user
5
Modest user
4
Limited user
3
Extremely limited user
2
Intermittent user
1
Non-user
0
Did not attempt the test