IELTS
About Course
The IELTS or the International English Language Testing System is best suited for students who wish to pursue graduate, postgraduate or research programmes in countries where English is the first language and for immigration purposes.
IELTS evaluates a candidate’s English language proficiency in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. The IELTS examination is accepted worldwide and is the only English language test approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for visa applicants applying both outside and inside of the UK.
| Reading Duration | 60 Minutes |
| Test Parts | 3 Passages |
Questions
There are 40 questions. A variety of question types are used and are chosen from the following:
- Multiple choices
- Identifying information
- Identifying a writer’s view or claim
- Matching information
- Matching headings
- Matching features
- Matching sentence endings
- Sentence completion
- Note completion
- Table completion
- Flow-chart completion
- Diagram label completion
- Short-answer questions
The texts are all real and are taken from books, magazines and newspapers. They have been written for a non-specialist audience and are on academic topics of general interest, which means you do not need specialist knowledge to do well.
The texts are appropriate and accessible to candidates entering undergraduate or postgraduate courses or seeking professional registration.
Texts range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive and analytical. Text may contain nonverbal material such as diagram graphics or illustrations. If texts contain technical terms, then a similar glossary is provided.
General Training
- Section 1: Contains two or three short factual texts, one of which may be composite (consists of 6–8 short texts related by topic, e.g., hotel advertisements). Topics are relevant to everyday life in an English-speaking country.
- Section 2: Contains two short factual texts focusing on work-related issues (e.g., applying for jobs, company policies, pay and conditions, workplace facilities, staff development, and training).
- Section 3: Contains one longer, more complex text on a topic of general interest. You will be reading real passages taken from, advertisements, official documents, books and newspapers.
Skills Assessed
- Reading for gist
- Reading for main ideas
- Reading for detail
- Understanding inferences and implied meanings
- Recognizing the writer’s opinions, attitudes and purpose
- Following the development of an argument
Marking
Each correct answer receives one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-Band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
Top 5 approved examiner reading tips
- To improve your performance in the reading test, you need to practice reading a variety of English texts. This will help you develop the ability to read quickly, as is required under test conditions.
- Read every question carefully before reading the passages. This will make it easier for you to find the answers. Underline possible answers as you go.
- When you come to read the passage, read it quickly the first time in order to get a general idea of what it is about. Don’t worry about words you do not understand. Then, read each question again to remember which parts of the passage you will need to read again in detail.
- If you are copying words from a question or reading passages to use in your answer, remember that your spelling must be accurate.
- If you are asked to label a diagram, you will find the words you need in the text. Be sure to copy them carefully from the text with the correct spelling.
| Writing Duration | 60 Minutes |
| Tasks | Task 1: You are required to write at least 150 words Task 2: You are required to write at least 250 words |
| Test Parts | 2 Passages |
Academic Writing
You are presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and are asked to summarise and report the information in your own words. You may be asked to select and compare data, describe the stages of a process and describe an object or how something works.
You are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the writing score. The issues raised are of general interest and are easily understood by test takers entering undergraduate studies or seeking professional registration.
General training
You are presented with a situation and are asked to write a letter requesting information or explaining the situation. The letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style.
You are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. The essay can be less formal in style and have a more personal response than the Academic Writing Task 2 essay. Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the writing score.
Skills Assessed
- Content
- The organization of ideas
- The accuracy and range of vocabulary and grammar
Marking
You are assessed on your performance on each task by certified IELTS examiners according to the IELTS writing test assessment criteria (task cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy). The public version of the assessment criteria can be found at ieltsidpindia.com criteria Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
Top 5 approved examiner writing tips
- In your writing test, there are no right or wrong answers or opinions. The examiners are assessing how well you can use your English to report information and express ideas.
- Analyse the questions carefully to make sure your answer addresses all the points covered by the question.
- Notice the minimum word limit. If you write less than 150 words for Task 1 and less than 250 for Task 2, you will lose marks.
- Be careful to use your own words because the examiner will not include words copied from the question in the word count.
- You must write both of your answers in full, not in note form or bullet points. You must arrange your ideas in paragraphs to show the examiner that you can organise your main and supporting points.
| Speaking Duration | 11–14 Minutes |
| Test Parts | 3 Tasks |
Introduce and interview (4–5 minutes). The examiner introduces himself or herself and asks you to introduce yourself and confirm your identity. The examiner asks you general questions on familiar topics such as family, work, studies or interests.
Individual long turn (3–4 minutes). The examiner gives you a task card that asks you to talk about a particular topic and includes points you can cover in your talk. You are given 1 minute to prepare your talk and you are given a pencil and paper to make notes of your talk for 1 to 2 minutes on the topic. The examiner then asks you one or two questions on the same.
Discussion (4-5 minutes). The examiner asks a question that is connected to the topic of Part 2. This allows you to discuss more general issues and ideas.
Skills Assessed
A wide range of speaking skills are assessed including:
- The ability to communicate opinion and information on everyday topics and common experiences and situations by answering a range of questions.
- The ability to speak at length on a given topic using appropriate language and organising ideas coherently.
- The ability to express and justify opinion and to analyse, discuss and speculate about issues.
Marking
You are assessed on your performance throughout the test by a certificated IELTS examiner according to the IELTS speaking test assessment criteria (fluency and coherence, Lexicon resource, grammatical range and accuracy and pronunciation). Contact your nearest test centre for the public version of the assessment criteria.
Top 5 approved examiner speaking tips
- In the lead-up to the speaking test, make sure you take the time to practice speaking English with friends at work and on the phone; you should also consider recording yourself so that you are confident speaking English during your test.
- There are no right or wrong answers in the speaking test; the examiner will assess you on how well you can express your ideas and opinions in good English.
- It will help you feel relaxed if you imagine you are talking to a friend. Remember that you are not being asked about your opinion but rather about your use of English.
- Try to avoid repeating the words used in the examination question; use your way to show the examiner your full ability.
- Speak clearly and at a natural pace. If you speak to me, please make sure to pronounce words correctly.
| Listening Duration | 30 Minutes (Plus 10 minutes transfer time) |
| Test Parts | 4 Passages |
Task
There are 40 question types chosen from the following –
Multiple Choices, Matching, Plan/map/Diagram labelling, Form completion, Note completion, Table completion, Flow-chart completion, Summary completion, Sentence completion and Short-answer questions
Skills Assessed
A wide range of listening skills is assessed including:
- Understanding the main ideas
- Understanding of specific factual information
- Recognising the opinions, attitudes and purpose of a speaker
- Following the development of an argument
Marking
Each correct answer receives one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9 Band scale. Scores are reported in whole or half bands.
