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IELTS, International English Language Testing System, is designed to assess the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is the language of communication.
IELTS is jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations
(Cambridge ESOL), British Council and IDP: IELTS Australia.
IELTS is recognized by universities and employers in many countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA. It is also recognized by professional bodies, immigration authorities and other government agencies. It covers four language skills --
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| Listening |
The listening module takes around 30 minutes. There are 40 questions. There are four sections. In
Listening module tape is played ONCE only.
During the test, time is given to candidates to read the questions and write down and then check their answers. Answers are written on the question paper as candidates listens. When the recording ends ten minutes are allowed for candidates to transfer their answer to an answer sheet.
The first two sections are concerned with social needs. There is a conversation between two speakers and then a monologue.
The final two sections are concerned with situation related more closely to educational or training contexts. Their is a conversation between up to four people and then a further monologue.
A range of English accents and dialects are used in the recordings which reflects the international usage of IELTS. |
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| Reading |
The Reading module takes 60 minutes. There are 40 questions, based on three reading passages with a total of 2,000 to 2,750 words. Both the Academic Reading and General Training Reading modules have the same format. All answers must be entered on an answer sheet during the 60 minute test. No extra time is allowed for transferring the answers. |
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| Academic Reading |
Texts are taken from magazines, journals, books and newspapers. Texts have been written for a non-specialist audience.
At least one text contains detailed logical argument. One text may contain non-verbal materials such as diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If text contains technical term then a simple glossary is provided. |
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General Training Reading |
The first section, 'Social survival', contains texts relevant to basic linguistic survival in English with tasks mainly about retrieving and providing general factual information.
'Training survival', the second section, focuses on the training context. This section involves a text or texts of more complex language with some precise or elaborated expression.
The third section, 'general reading', involves reading more extended prose with a more complex structure but with the emphasis on descriptive and instructive rather than argumentative texts, in a general context relevant to the wide range of candidates involved |
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| Writing |
The Writing module takes 60 minutes. There are two tasks to complete. It is suggested that about 20 minutes are spent in task 1 which requires candidates to write at least 150 words. Task 2 require at least 250 words and should take about 40 minutes.
Answer must be given on the answer sheet and must be written in full. Candidates should note that scripts under the required minimum word limit will be penalized. |
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Academic Writing |
In task 1 candidate are asked to look at a diagram or table, and to present the information in their own words. They may be asked to describe and explain the Data, describe the stages of a process or describe an object or event.
In task 2 candidates are presented with a point of view or argument or problem.
Part of the task realization is to respond appropriately in terms of register, rhetorical organization, style and content. Appropriate responses are short essays or general reports, addressed to tutors or examiners. |
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General Training Writing |
In task 1 candidates are asked to respond to a given problem with a letter requesting information or explaining a situation.
In task 2 candidates are presented with a point of view or argument or problem.
Part of the task realization is to respond appropriately in terms of register, rhetorical organization, style and content. Appropriate responses are personal semi-formal or formal correspondence (Task 1) and short essays or general reports, addressed to tutors or examiners (Task 2). |
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| Speaking |
The speaking module takes between 11 and 14 minutes and consists of an oral interviews between the candidates and an examiner. All interview are recorded on audio cassette.
In part 1 candidate answers general questions about themselves, their home/families, their jobs/studies, their interests and a range of familiar topic areas. This part lasts for four to five minutes.
In part 2 the candidate is given a verbal prompt on a card and is asked to talk on a particular topic. The candidate has one minute to prepare before speaking at length, for between one or two minutes. The examiners then ask one or two rounding off questions.
In part 3 the examiner and the candidate engage in a discussion of more abstract issues and concepts which are thematically linked to the topic prompt in part 2. The discussion lasts between four and five minutes. |
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