Do you want to study abroad? Or do you wish to work in a foreign country? If the answer is yes, then for that you have to clear an English language test namely IELTS. IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. This is the world’s most popular English lang test. Every year more than 2 million students write this test. For more than 25 years now this test has been a leader in English language skills tests that is why more than 10000 organizations consider an IELTS score as proof of English proficiency.
What is the purpose of writing the IELTS test?
IELTS is designed to check the English language ability of a candidate who wants to land in a country for study or work where English is the language of communication. For eg, if you want to make an entry into the universities of the USA then for that it is necessary to have IELTS and the same applies to many universities in other English-speaking countries like UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand.
When should I clear the IELTS test?
- If you are planning to go abroad to study then you must have your IELTS Academic score ready before you start the application process of any post graduate programmes and undergraduate programmes as well.
- When you are planning to immigrate to any English-speaking country like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the USA, UK for a job then the IELTS General Training test has to be qualified
What is the Specialty of IELTS?
IELTS is the most trusted name in English language test proficiency, developed by Cambridge experts. These tests are easily available and it proves to be most convenient for the candidates to write them. This test is available for 48 days in a year which is 4 days every month. Most of the organizations abroad accept this test score. In this test, there is a face-to-face interaction which is why this test is known as the fairest test among all the tests out there.
What are the eligibility criteria to write the IELTS test?
Talking about the minimum requirement, the candidate’s age should be 16 or greater and the candidate must have a valid passport. If you lack any of these two requirements then you can’t write this test.
How many times can one write the IELTS test?
You can write it as many times as you want and submit the result with the best score to the University/Organization. The score is valid for two years.
Where to register for IELTS and what is the application fee?
For registration for the IELTS test, you can go through the following link and follow the steps given :
https://www.ieltsidpindia.com/registration/registration
You can choose either the online or offline mode to write this exam. The pattern remains the same for both options. At the time of registering for this exam, you can either opt for a computer-based test or a paper-based test, it’s completely up to you which option you’ll choose.
The total registration fee varies from $245 to $255 which is around 14000 INR.
What are the different types of IELTS tests?
1) IELTS Academic:
The IELTS Academic test is for people applying for higher education or professional registration in an English-speaking environment. It reflects whether you are ready to begin studying or training.
This approach is widely supported by the institutions or universities that recognize IELTS.
2) IELTS General Training:
This test is for those who are going to English-speaking countries for secondary education, work experience, or training programs. There is also a requirement for migration to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. The test focuses on basic survival skills in broad social and workplace contexts.
We can also say that this module is mostly used in immigration cases.
IELTS test Format :
IELTS test is divided into the following four sections :
1) Reading:
This section is different for both Academic and General Training candidates. The total number of questions asked by the examiner in this section are 40 questions and the time duration for this is 60 minutes.
2) Writing:
This section is also different for both Academic and General Training candidates. In this section, there are two writing tasks given to you and it’s compulsory to attempt both the tasks. The time duration for this section is 60 minutes.
3) Listening:
This section is the same for both Academic and General Training candidates. In this section, the candidate will listen to four recordings of native English speakers and then write answers to about 40 questions. The duration of this section is 30 minutes.
4) Speaking:
This section is the same for both Academic and General Training candidates. In this section, the candidate has a face-to-face interaction with the examiner. This section has three parts and every part is recorded. The total duration for this section is 11 to 14 minutes.
The total test time is two hours and forty-five minutes.
Scoring in IELTS?
i) ELTS score is reported on a 9-band scale.
ii)IELTS score is designed to be simple and easy to understand.
The overall minimum IELTS Band score would be 6.1, but it varies. In some countries, the requirement is more than 6.1 bands and in some countries, the minimum requirement is less or equal to 6.1 bands. So it depends on which country you plan to go. For example, if you want to go to the USA for higher studies the min IELTS score requirement is 6.5 bands.
Which is the best book to prepare for IELTS?
The best book which you can consult to prepare for IELTS is Barron’s IELTS.
How much time does it take to prepare for IELTS?
You can get ready to write the IELTS test in one or two months.