Categories: IELTS

IELTS Online Training

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is widely recognized as a reliable means of assessing the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is the language of communication. For more information, please visit www.ielts.org.

IELTS consists of four components. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Tests. There is a choice of Reading and Writing tests according to whether a candidate is taking the Academic or General Training.

Academic: For candidates wishing to study at undergraduate or postgraduate levels and for those seeking professional registration.

General Training: For candidates wishing to migrate to an English-speaking country (USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK) and for those wishing to train or study at below degree level.

Test Components are taken in the following order:

Academic / General Training:

Listening: 4 parts, 40 items, approximately 30 minutes

Reading: 3 sections, 40 items, 60 minutes

Writing: 2 tasks, 60 minutes

Speaking: 11 to 14 minutes

Listening:

The test consists of four parts, each with ten questions. The first two parts ae concerned with social needs. The first part is a conversation between two speakers and the second part is a monologue. The final two parts are concerned with situations related to educational or training contexts The third part is a conversation between up to four people and the fourth part is a monologue.

A variety of question types is used including multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form completion, note completion, table completion, summary completion, sentence completion and short answer questions.

Candidates hear the recording once only and answer the questions as they listen. Ten minutes are allowed at the end for candidates to transfer their answers to the answer sheet.

Reading:

This test consists of three sections with 40 questions. There are three texts, which are taken from journals, books, magazines, and newspapers. The texts are on topics of general interest. At least one text contains detailed logical argument.

A variety of question types is used, including multiple choice, identifying information (True/False/Not Given), identifying the writer’s views /claims (Yes/No/Not Given), matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion and short-answer questions.

Writing:

This test consists of two tasks. It is suggested that the candidates spend about 20 minutes on Task 1, which requires them to write at least 150 words, and 40 minutes on Task 2, which them to write at least 250 words. Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the writing score.

Task 1 requires candidates to look at a diagram or some data (in a graph, table, chart) and to present the information in their own words. They are assessed on their ability to organize, present, and possibly compare data, and are required to describe the stages of a process, describe an object, or event, or explain how something works.

In Task2, candidates are presented with a point of view, argument, or problem. They are assessed on their ability to present a solution to the problem, present and justify an opinion, compare, and contrast evidence and opinions, and to evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence, or arguments.

Speaking:

This test consists of two tasks.

This test takes between 11 and 14 minutes and is conducted by a trained examiner.

There are three parts.

Part 1:

The candidate and the examiner introduce themselves. Candidates then answer general questions about themselves, their home/family, their job/studies, their interests, and a wide range of similar familiar topic areas. This part lasts between four and five minutes.

Part 2:

The candidate is given a task card with prompts and is asked to talk on a particular topic. The candidate has one minute to prepare, and they can make some notes if they wish, before speaking for between one and two minutes. The examiner then asks one or two questions on the same topic.

Part 3:

The candidate and the examiner engage in a discussion of more abstract issues which are thematically linked to the top in Part 2. The discussion lasts between four and five minutes.

The speaking test assesses whether candidates can communicate effectively in English. The assessment considers fluency and coherence, Lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation. More information on assessing the speaking test including speaking assessment criteria (public version) is available on the IELTS website.

How is IELTS scored?

IELTS results are reported on a nine-band scale. In addition to the score for overall language ability, IELTS provides a score in the form of a profile for each of the four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking)

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.