International English Language Testing System (IELTS)-Basics and Common Doubts

While planning to migrate abroad for work or study purpose there are many doubts in your mind. One of the most common questions which strike your mind is about IELTS

​With the help of this article, we will try to put insight in context to IELTS which all abroad aspirant should be aware of. Our team will also try to clear all your questions, doubts and fears relating to IELTS.  Here we will discuss about fundamental knowledge about IELTS, test pattern, modules, band scores, location and few tips to get good score.

Is IELTS necessary to go abroad?
IELTS is the most common English-language high-stakes exam in various anglophonic countries. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Department of Immigration and Border Protection Australia and New Zealand  recognize IELTS General Training as evidence of your English language proficiency.
Providing proof of your language proficiency is an important step in securing a visa for permanent residency or study overseas. Language skills are a valued asset and are essential to career success and as well as other qualifications of any employment. You must acquire "competent" English or "vocational" English skills if you are a job visa applicant, and you have to prepare more than a simple conversational English language.
Why would they take an English test even though you are going to study mathematics or engineering? Every non-native English speakers need to show their proficiency in English language. Schools and employers need an IELTS test and they know that when they meet you they must have a reasonable command of English.
By taking IELTS they recognize that you already have a certain level of English proficiency, and they know what to expect and can get assured the language will not become a barrier for you. The IELTS also benefits you, as it stops you from plunging into circumstances in which you need more English than you actually possess.

International English Language Testing System

IELTS – An Introduction
The IELTS or the International English Language Testing System is an international standardized test of English proficiency for non-native speakers of the English language. It is jointly administered by British council, IDP, IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English and was founded in 1989. IELTS is a major test of English worldwide, with TOEFL, TOEIC, PTE: A, OPI / OPIc being the others.
IELTS is recognized by the majority of educational institutions in Australia, England, Canada, Europe, Ireland, New Zealand, The United States and many other professional bodies around the world.
Over 3.5 million tests were conducted in over 140 countries in the past year under the International English Testing System (IELTS) which represents the increasing significance for higher education and migration of the world'
Over 3 million tests were conducted in 2017, up from 2 million tests in 2012, 1.7 million tests in 2011 and 1.4 million tests in 2009. For the first time in a 12-month span in the year 2007, IELTS administered more than 1 million tests, making it the world's most prevalent English examination for higher education and immigration

MODULES
Two IELTS modules are available:

1. General Training Module
2. Academic Module

There is also another test, called IELTS Life Skills, offered by the IELTS test partners.
IELTS General training program is designed is for non-academic preparation, job experience, or immigration planning.
IELTS Academic program is intended to enroll people who wish to study in universities and other higher education institutions, as well as professions such as physicians or nurses who wish to study or practice in an English speaking nation.
IELTS Life Skills is intended for those needing the confirmation of their English language knowledge and ability to listen at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) A1 or B1 standard who can qualify for a visa, it can be used to apply for a ‘family’ of a person already settled or indefinite leave or residency in the UK.
The basic curriculum in IELTS General training and IELTS Academics program covers the whole spectrum in expertise from non-users to professionals. The Academic edition is for test, is for users who would like to study or to pursue qualified professional certification on a tertiary level in an English-speaking region. General Training participants wishing to work, practice, study at a secondary school or migrate into an English-speaking country will use this program.
Within the scholarly examples, the distinction the Academic and General Training is the content, the meaning and the purpose of the activities. All other features like time allocation, length of written replies and score reporting are the same.
IELTS tests the individual ability to listening, reading, writing and speaking skills in English. Cambridge English Language Testing specialists create IELTS test using information from item writers all around the world. IELTS teams are spread in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and other English speaking countries. Band score are evaluated in each of sub skill set (listening, reading, writing and speaking) used for increasing language competency. The band scale range is between 0 ("Didn't attempt the test") and 9 ("Expert User").
​
There are four parts of the IELTS test

• Listening (30 minutes) (plus 10 minutes' 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 shall be completed in one go. The speech test will be performed on or before or after other exam on the same day or up to seven days.
All the candidates perform on the same assessments for both Listening and Writing, while the assessments for reading and writing vary based on whether they take the Academic or General Training variations of the exam.

• Listening

This module comprises of four segments. There are 10 questions in each segment. It takes 40 minutes: 30 minutes for evaluation, plus 10 for passing responses to a answer book.
Sections, 1 and 2 focus on the social situations and everyday life.
Section 1 has a discussion between two speakers (e.g. travel plans conversation)
Section 2 has one speaker (for instance, a local speaker tells about problems in the area).
Sections, 3 and 4 is about handling situations of education and training.
Section 3 is discussion between two leading thinkers (a discussion, for example, between two university students, maybe guided by a mentor)
Section 4 has an individual who talks about a subject from academic.
Each section begins with a brief introduction letting the test applicant know about the situation and the speakers. Then the test applicant has some time to look at the questions. The questions are in the same order as the recording information so the first question will be answered before the second question is answered and so on. The first three sections have break in the middle of the examination so that test applicant can have a look at the rest of the questions. Each segment is heard just once.
At the end of the examination, applicant will receive 10 minutes of time to pass their replies to their answer sheet. Tests applicants will lose points for incorrect spelling and grammar.

• Reading

The reading paper contains a total text of 2,150-2,750 words in three segments. A variety of questions will be included such as multiple choices, short answers, information identification, writer views identifying, labeling diagrams, summing words from text and matching the information / headings / features in the text / phrase endings. There are a number of questions while writing down their answers, test applicant should be careful, because they lose marks if there are wrongly spelled and grammar mistakes.
IELTS Academic Texts
Three texts for reading, published for non-specialist readers from books, articles, newspapers, journals and internet media.
IELTS General Training Texts
Section 1 includes two to three short texts or a multiple short texts concerned with everyday topics. For examples, schedules or information – stuff that would required by a person for understanding and living in an English speaking country.
Section 2 includes two work-related texts. For example, job requirements, contracts, and material for preparation.
Section 3 contains a long text on a general interest subject. The texts of this section are usually concise, longer and more detailed than the text in section 1 and 2. A journal, newspaper, magazine or internet media shall be used to take the text.

• Writing

The applicant requires two tasks to be completed in the writing document. At least 150 words in about 20 minute’s time must be written in task 1. At least 250 words in about 40 minute’s time must be written in task 2 by test applicant. If the response provided by test applicant is too short or does not deal with the subject, test applicant will be penalized. Responses should be written in absolute sentences (test users do not use notes or bullet points).
IELTS Academic
Task 1: Test applicant need to explain a graph, map, column, table, chart, pie chart, diagram or process in their own terms.
IELTS General Training
Task 1: Test applicant writes a letter in response to a routine scenario. For example, write to an accommodation representative about your accommodation problems, write to a prospective boss, tell him about your time management issues and write to local publication proposal to develop a nearby airport.
Task 2: Test participants write an essay on general interest subject. For example, If smoking should be avoided in public spaces, how educational events for children should take place and whether environmental issues can be addressed.

• Speaking

The speaking test is a face-to - face interview with an examiner.
Speaking test contains three sections.
Section 1: Introduction (4-5 minutes) and interview. Test applicant will be asked about the home, the family, their jobs, their education, their hobbies, preferences, the reasons for IELTS examination and other general subjects such as wearing clothes, leisure time, computers and the Internet.
Section 2: a 3-4 minutes long transition. An assignment card is presented to the test applicant on a particular subject. There is a minute for the test applicant to prepare for this subject. The assignment card sets out the points and one aspect of a subject that must be addressed during the session. Test applicant must then address the subject for a 2-minute duration in which one or two questions will be asked by the interviewer.
Section 3: (4-5 minutes) discussion. The third section includes a list of questions related to the subject that they discussed about in the section between the interviewer and the test applicant.
 
Scoring
For each test component, test applicant earns a score — listening, reading, writing and speaking. Averaging and rounding the individual scores to produce an overall band score.
Band Scale
The IELTS is graded on the scale of 9 bands with each band relating to the skill in English. There is no pass or fail. The overall band score for the closest half band is reported.
The following rounding convention applies: If the sum of four components ends in .25, it is rounded off to the next half band, and finishes in.75, then rounded up to the next whole band.
The IELTS score you require to qualify depends on the requirements of your visa, and the organization where you plan to study or work. The IELTS test score required for immigration highly depends on the program/province a candidate is targeting.

The nine bands are described as follows:
Band – 9 (Expert User) - Has full operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.
Band – 8 (Very Good User) - Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic, inaccuracies and inappropriate words. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handle complex detailed argumentation very well.
Band – 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.
Band – 6 (Competent User) - Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate words and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
Band – 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.
Band – 4 (Limited User) - Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Have frequent problems in understanding and expression. Not able to use complex language skills.
Band – 3 Extremely Limited User - Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.
Band – 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.
Band – 1(Non User) - Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.
Band – 0 (Did not attempt the test) - No assessable information provided at all by the user.

Results and validity
Results are released between 5 and 7 days for a computer-based examination. For a paper-based examination, 13 days after their test, a test result form will be sent to the test applicant.
Test Result forms shall contain:
A Band Score overall (1-9)
For each component (listening, reading, writing, and speaking) a band score of 1-9 is provided.
Weather IELTS Academics or General Training has been done
The Nationality, Photograph, First language and Date of Birth of the test applicant.
Test applicants shall receive one copy of their Test Result Form, with the exception of those who apply to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Department (CIC) or the United Kingdom's Visas and Immigration) (UKVI) will receive two copies of Test Result form. Test Results Forms are valid for the period of two years.
 
Locations and test dates
Test applicants in more than 140 countries and in over 1,200 locations, can take IELTS.
There are up to 48 test dates available each year. Each test center, based on local demand, can conduct test up to 4 times in a month. The Academic module is available on all 48 dates yearly, and module for general training is available on 24 dates.
Earlier there was a time period limit of 90 days until a person could not take the test again. However, this limitation has been lifted and the candidates have no limit to retake the test at present.

How to get a good score in IELTS?
In order to get a decent score for admission in your Master's degree program or for work purpose, you need to ensure that you are fluent to English before you start studying for the IELTS examination.
Once you have constructed a solid foundation - master's in Standard English, fluency in reading, good grammar writing and a strong vocabulary, comprehension listening and communicating. You should take the next step: familiarize yourself with the IELTS system. Based on your beginning stages and strength, the time needed to develop the overall level of English is different. It will take some time to get correct and used to the test format with the different IELTS specifications.
There are a number of IELTS preparatory courses to assist you in preparing your IELTS, both online and in person. Many prep-classes are free, others may charge fee. We cannot stress sufficiently how critical these help when you are study for your exam. Search online and/or in the place you stay in your choice for Prep classes
Here are few crucial measures to allow you to reach a good IELTS score:

• Start your training early, be diligent and regularly track your progress.
• Systematically learn Standard English grammar.
• Practice using your English skills to learn, speak, read and write in four separate ways.
• Take the chance to speak verbally and in writing in English.
• Enhance your vocabulary. Overnight, this isn't possible. Every day you want to know at least 10 new words from various topics.
• Read more texts on different subjects-Administration, economics, literature, history, education, etc.
• Hear the news and watch documentaries in English on diverse topics.
• Consider placing yourself to chat to other English speakers – your passions, your ambitions, your daily lives, your family, your jobs, your dreams and your ambition.
• Consider taking an IELTS course or consult with a qualified and professional IELTS mentor until you have a solid foundation for English language knowledge and skills.
• When you are not sure if you're qualified to begin the IELTS examination, take a preliminary evaluation and get input from a skilled tutor at your level and through your steps.
• To conclude your IELTS training and preparation, begin studying for several weeks before the date of your exam in practical conditions.

IELTS preparation helps to ensure that you are fluent in English and able to enroll in a Master's or programs taught in English or is able to communicate in work environment. . Universities and organizations need all four capabilities to be similarly fine. And training for the IELTS doesn't just mean reaching a good ranking. Improving your English skills is the most critical aspect.
 
Just remember, there is no short cut to get a good score in IELTS. If you're worried about taking the exam, it's best to talk to a person who knows everything about the exam and understand one thing that releasing yourself from fears is highly important.
 
Still have questions and doubts? Our IELTS experts and counselors can give you good advice on how to overcome all the doubts about IELTS or any other language test for immigration and studies abroad.

Get in touch for more detail
☎ +91 (0) 11-47587090
✉ [email protected]
Follow us on