The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is one of the most widely accepted English proficiency tests for individuals seeking to study or work in English-speaking countries. It assesses the language skills of candidates in four main areas: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Here's a more detailed overview of each component:
Listening (30 minutes)
The Listening section consists of four recorded monologues and conversations. Test-takers listen to a range of accents and academic or social contexts. There are 40 questions, and the recording is played only once.
Reading (60 minutes)
The Reading section evaluates the ability to understand and interpret written texts. It includes three passages with a variety of question types, such as multiple-choice, matching, sentence completion, and True/False/Not Given. Academic and General Training versions have slightly different reading passages.
Writing (60 minutes)
The Writing section assesses the ability to present ideas in a clear and coherent manner. In the Academic version, candidates are required to describe a graph or diagram and write an essay. In the General Training version, there is a letter-writing task instead of a graph description. Task 1 has a recommended word count of 150 words, while Task 2 has a recommended word count of 250 words.
Speaking (11-14 minutes)
The Speaking section is a face-to-face interview with an examiner.
- Part 1: Introduction and interview (4-5 minutes)
- Part 2: Long turn - candidates receive a task card with a topic and have one minute to prepare notes before speaking for 1-2 minutes.
- Part 3: Discussion - a more extended discussion related to the topic in Part 2 (4-5 minutes).
Scoring
Each section (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) receives a band score ranging from 0 to 9. The overall band score is the average of the four section scores, rounded to the nearest whole or half band.
IELTS Versions
Academic IELTS: This version is suitable for individuals planning to pursue higher education or professional registration.
General Training IELTS: This version is often required for immigration purposes, work experience, or training programs.
Test Format: IELTS is available in two formats: Paper-based and Computer-based. The content and timing of both formats are the same.
Validity: IELTS scores are generally valid for two years from the test date.