IELTS - International English Language Testing System
What is IELTS?
IELTS, the 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 the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations
(Cambridge ESOL), British Council and IDP: IELTS Australia. IELTS conforms to the
highest international standards of language assessment.
IELTS is recognised by universities and employers in many countries,
including Australia,
Canada, New Zealand,
the UK and the USA. It is also recognised by professional bodies, immigration
authorities and other government agencies.
Where can I take IELTS?
More than 800 test centers around the world administer IELTS. Most test centers
are run by the British Council, IELTS Australia, or universities and language schools.
Some testing centers also offer off-site testing for large groups by prior arrangement
with IELTS. Contact your local examination center or visit www.ielts.org
to find out where the nearest IELTS test center is located.
Where can I find information about registering for the test?
You can contact your nearest examination center or visit the official IELTS website
for more information about application procedures and the location of a test center
near you.
The Test Format
There are four sub-tests, or modules, to the IELTS test: Reading, Writing, Listening
and Speaking. Students must sit all four sub-tests. While all students take the
same Listening and Speaking tests, they sit different Reading and Writing tests,
depending on whether they have selected the Academic Module or the General Training Module.
On the day of the test, the four subsections will be taken in the following order:
Total Time
2 hours 45 minutes
The Speaking test may even take place a day or two later
at some centres.
IELTS Listening test lasts for about 30 minutes. It consists
of four sections, played on cassette tape, in order of increasing difficulty. Each
section might be a dialogue or a monologue. The test is played once only, and the
questions for each section must be answered while listening, although time is given
for students to check their answers.
IELTS Reading test lasts for 60 minutes. Students are given
an Academic Reading test, or a General Training Reading test. Both tests consist
of three sections, and in both tests the sections are in order of increasing difficulty.
IELTS Writing test also lasts for 60 minutes. Again, students
take either an Academic Module, or a General Training Module. Students must perform
two writing tasks, which require different styles of writing. There is no choice
of question topics.
IELTS Speaking test consists of a one-to-one interview with
a specially trained examiner. The interview is recorded and has three separate parts:
An introduction and interview, an individual long turn where the candidate speaks
for one or two minutes on a particular topic, and a two-way discussion thematically
linked to the individual long turn. This interview will last for approximately 11-14
minutes.