What is IELTS?

IELTS, International English Language Testing System, is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non- native English speakers. Citizens from a non-English speaking country should attempt this test, if they desire to pursue an education career growth, or to be a working citizen overseas. The purpose of this test is to gauge the candidate’s ability to handle the English Language. Ina simple term, whether the candidate can cope up with the level of the International English language, to be able to study or work in a country where English is the ONLY language of communication, in Universities and at work domains. This test asses your Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking skills.

The IELTS test is conducted in more than 1200 test centers in over 140 countries. This test is accepted by3000 academic institutions in the United States, most Australian, Canadian, British, European, Irish and New Zealand academic institutions, and various professional organizations across the world. IELTS is the only English Language Test approved by UK visas and immigration for visa customers applying both outside and inside the UK. It also meets requirements for immigration to Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

IELTS test can be taken either on paper or computer.

Paper-based IELTS

You sit at a desk with the question papers and answer sheets for the Reading, Listening, and Writing tests in an official IELTS test center. The speaking test is carried out face-to-face with a trained IELTS examiner.

Computer-based IELTS

You have answer the Reading, Listening, and Writing tests on a computer with the questions presented on the screen in an official IELTS test center. The speaking test is not on the computer and is carried out face-to-face with a trained IELTS examiner.

There are two types of IELTS tests: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.

IELTS Academic

IELTS Academic is for test-takers who are aspiring to study an Undergraduate or Postgraduate Program or courses in a university/college in English speaking countries and for those who are seeking professional registration in countries such as in the UK.

IELTS General Training

IELTS General Training is for test takers who wish to migrate to English speaking countries such as UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Ireland and for those who wish to study Secondary education.

IELTS for UKVI (Academic or General Training)

IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training for UKVI are designed to meet certain administrative requirements that are specified by the UK Home Office. This test is for candidates who are applying for Tier 1 and Tier 2 Visas.

The actual test is as same as the IELTS test in terms of test format, question type, and scoring. However, the test report forms will be slightly different from those of the regular IELTS test.

IELTS Life Skills

IELTS Life Skills test is approved by UKVI as a Secure English Language Test. This test is for candidates who are applying for a ‘family of a settled person’ visa, extension of a ‘family of a settled person’ visa, or for indefinite leave to remain or citizenship.

This test assesses the candidates speaking and listening skills at level A1, A2, or B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

IELTS test assesses the candidate’s listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills. The duration of this test is 2 hours 45 minutes.

Listening and Speaking modules are the same in both general training and academic versions of the exam. However, candidates taking the academic module face more complex assignments in IELTS Reading and Writing sections. You will take the first three parts of the test on the same day in the following order: Listening, Reading, and Writing (there are no breaks between these three tests). Speaking test will be held either on the same day or seven days before or after that, depending on the availability of the slots.

Listening

A simultaneous approach of Listening to a recording of native English speakers, and answering the questions. There are 40 questions unevenly spread out in four parts.

The duration of each audio clip is ranges from 2 minutes to 5 minutes. In the Listening Section, you will hear roughly 20 different clips with twenty different voices. The total time for this test to complete varies from 40 to 30 minutes.

Reading

The Reading section tests a wide range of Reading skills, including identifying the main idea, reading for specific detail, understanding arguments, recognizing writers’ opinion, and identifying the attitudes and purpose.

Writing

The Writing test consists of two tasks that should be completed in 60 minutes. The First task is different for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, while the second task is the same.

• Task-1: Report on a Graph, table ,or Chart (IELTS Academic) / Letter Writing (IELTS General Training)
• Task 2 – Essay ( Response to a point of view, argument or problem)

Speaking

The speaking test assesses your use of spoken English. The duration of this test is 11-14 minutes.
This test will be conducted face to face by a certified IELTS examiner. The entire test will be recorded for later assessment.

This test has three parts:
Part -1 (4- 5 minutes): The examiner will ask you general questions, such as what is your favorite food.

Part-2: The examiner will give you a cue card( Topic card ).You will have to speak about the topic on the card. You will have one minute to prepare before speaking for up to two minutes.

Part-3
The examiner will ask further questions about the topic in Part 2. This part lasts between 4 to 5 minutes.

IELTS scores are reported as band scores on a scale of 0 -9.
You will be given a band score from 1 to 9 ( 0 for those who fail to take test entirely )for each section of the test – Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The overall band score is the average score of all the four sections, rounded to the nearest whole or half band.

Listening

This section has 40 questions. Each correct response is awarded one mark. Score out of 40 are converted to IELTS nine-band score, rounded to nearest whole or half band.

Reading

This section has 40 questions. Each correct response is awarded one mark. Score out of 40 are converted to IELTS nine-band score, rounded to nearest whole or half band.

Writing

The examiner rates the tasks on certain assessment criteria:

• Task Achievement (for Task 1), Task Response (for Task 2)
• Coherence and Cohesion
• Lexical Resource
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy

For each of the four assessment criteria, the examiner awards a nine-band score. The criteria are weighted equally, and the score on the task is the average.

Speaking

The examiner rates the response on certain assessment criteria:

• Fluency and Coherence
• Lexical Resource
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy
• Pronunciation

For each of the four assessment criteria, the examiner awards a nine-band score. The criteria are weighted equally, and the speaking score is the average.

The fee of the test is 14,000 INR.

There are four websites:

• IELTS.org
• IELTS Essentials
• British council IELTS website
• Cambridge IELTS website

You can book your slot for the IELTS test at British Council (www.britishcouncil.in/exam/ielts) or IDP www.ieltsidpindia.com/

Book At One Of Our Centres

Manhattan Review is an authorized partner of both the British Council and IDP to book the test dates.

Let us know whether you would like to take the test with the British Council or IDP.

We will help you book the test date of your choice.

You will receive a confirmation mail.

Book Online

Create an account online by registering at British Council or IDP

• Select test center, and the available slots
• Make the payment using Credit card
• You will receive the confirmation on the email

Direct Payment

You can visit the nearest British Council or IDP office and register for the IELTS exam.

For more details visit:www.britishcouncil.in/exam/ielts; https://www.ieltsidpindia.com/