The full form of IELTS is International English Language Testing System. It is a standardized test that measures the English language proficiency of non-native English speakers. The test is administered by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English and is widely accepted as proof of English language proficiency by universities, employers, and governments around the world.
The IELTS test is held multiple times every year. The score band received from the IELTS test is valid for 2 years. There are more than 900 test centers in over 130 countries. Over 2 million people take the IELTS test every year for higher studies, work abroad, or immigration purposes.
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What is the Full Form of IELTS?
IELTS Full Form = International English Language Testing System
Versions of IELTS Test
There are two versions of the IELTS test: the IELTS Academic test and the IELTS General Training test. Both versions of the IELTS test are graded on a 9-band scale, with scores ranging from 1 (non-user) to 9 (expert user). The test is administered by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English.
1. IELTS Academic test
This test is designed for people who want to study at a university or other higher education institution, or who want to work in a profession that requires a high level of English language skills. It measures the four language skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. The test includes tasks such as summarizing information from a lecture, writing an essay, and participating in a spoken conversation.
2. IELTS General Training test
This test is designed for people who want to migrate to an English-speaking country, or who need to demonstrate their English language skills for work or other purposes. It measures the same four language skills as the Academic test, but the content and tasks are more relevant to everyday, practical situations. The test includes tasks such as writing a letter, completing forms, and participating in a spoken conversation about everyday topics.
Before taking the IELTS test, you should determine which version of the test is most suitable for your needs. You should also familiarize yourself with the test format and content, and practice your English language skills to improve your chances of getting a good score on the test.
Subjects or Papers in IELTS
There are four papers in the IELTS test: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
- Listening [40 Minutes]: The listening test consists of four recorded passages, each followed by a series of questions. The passages cover a range of accents and topics and may include a conversation between two people, a monologue, or a lecture.
- Reading [60 Minutes]: The reading test consists of three or four texts, each followed by a series of questions. The texts may be taken from magazines, newspapers, books, or online sources, and cover a range of topics.
- Writing [60 Minutes]: The writing test consists of two tasks. In Task 1, you are given a graph, table, chart, or diagram and asked to describe, summarize, or explain the information in your own words. In Task 2, you are given a prompt and asked to write an essay in response to it.
- Speaking[11 to 15 Minutes]: The speaking test consists of a face-to-face interview with a trained examiner. The test is divided into three parts: an introduction and interview, a long turn, and a discussion. During the introduction and interview, the examiner asks you about yourself and your interests. In the long turn, you are asked to speak for one to two minutes about a given topic. In the discussion, you and the examiner have a conversation about the topic.
Application Process of IELTS Test
The application process for the IELTS test varies depending on the location and the test center. However, the general steps are as follows:
- Determine which version of the IELTS test is suitable for your needs: the IELTS Academic test or the IELTS General Training test.
- Find a test center in your area: You can visit the website of the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, or Cambridge Assessment English, the three organizations that administer the test, to search for test centers and dates in your country or region. You can also contact the test center directly to find out when the test is offered.
- Register for the test: You can usually register online or by contacting the test center directly. You will need to provide some personal and identification information and pay a test fee. The test fee varies depending on the location and the test version.
- Confirm your test date, time, and location: After you have registered for the test, you will receive confirmation of your test date, time, and location.
- Prepare for the test: It is important to familiarize yourself with the test format and content and to practice your English language skills in order to improve your chances of getting a good score on the test.
- Take the test: Arrive at the test center on time on the day of the test. Latecomers may not be allowed to take the test.
- Get your test results: You will usually receive your test results within two weeks of taking the test. The results are usually available online or by mail. You will receive a test report form, which shows your scores on each of the four papers and your overall IELTS score.
IELTS Band Scoring
The IELTS test is graded on a 9-band scale, with scores ranging from 1 (non-user) to 9 (expert user). Your overall IELTS score is calculated by averaging your scores on the four papers: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
The band scores are not equivalent to percentage marks or grades. They are used to describe your level of English language proficiency, with each band representing a range of language abilities. The band scores are as follows:
- Non-user (band score 1): This level indicates that you have no ability or very limited ability to use the English language.
- Intermittent user (band score 2-3): This level indicates that you have a very limited ability to use the English language, and may be able to understand and produce only very simple language.
- Extremely limited user (band score 4-5): This level indicates that you have a limited ability to use the English language, and may be able to understand and produce basic language, but with some difficulty.
- Limited user (band score 6): This level indicates that you have a functional ability to use the English language, but may have some difficulty with complex language.
- Modest user (band score 7): This level indicates that you have a good ability to use the English language, but may still have some minor errors or misunderstandings.
- Competent user (band score 8): This level indicates that you have a very good ability to use the English language, but may still have some occasional errors or misunderstandings.
- Good user (band score 8-9): This level indicates that you have a very good to excellent ability to use the English language, with only occasional errors or misunderstandings.
- Very good user (band score 9): This level indicates that you have an excellent ability to use the English language, with only very occasional errors or misunderstandings.
Your overall IELTS score is the average of your scores on the four papers. The minimum score required for each version of the test varies depending on the institution or organization that is requesting the score. It is important to check the specific requirements of the institution or organization before taking the test.
Some Common Questions Asked in IELTS Test
Here are some examples of common questions that may be asked in the IELTS test:
Listening:
- What is the speaker’s main purpose for giving the talk?
- What does the speaker say about the topic?
- What does the speaker say about the benefits of the product/service?
- What does the speaker say about the negative aspects of the product/service?
Reading:
- What is the main idea of the passage?
- What is the author’s purpose for writing the passage?
- What is the main argument of the passage?
- What is the author’s opinion on the topic?
Writing:
- How would you describe the graph/chart/table/diagram?
- What is the trend shown in the graph/chart/table/diagram?
- What are the main features of the graph/chart/table/diagram?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of the product/service described in the passage?
Speaking:
- Can you describe yourself and your background?
- What do you do in your free time?
- Why do you want to study/work abroad?
- What do you think are the most important qualities for a leader to have?
These are just a few examples of the types of questions that may be asked in the IELTS test. It’s important to note that the test is designed to assess a wide range of English language skills, including listening, reading, writing, and speaking. As such, the questions and tasks may vary depending on the specific section of the test.
Read more about IELTS full form, meaning, and other details.
