Your go-to guide to IELTS from myglobaluni

Your go-to guide to IELTS from myglobaluni

Global demand exists for English language proficiency. Additionally, estimates indicate that roughly 1.5 billion individuals worldwide are studying English. The IELTS gives students a fair and accurate means to demonstrate their level of English proficiency. For many English language learners, the IELTS is a useful certification. It can demonstrate your proficiency in all facets of the English language, which is helpful if you intend to relocate, study, or work overseas.

In this article we will take a closer look at what the IELTS Exam entails-

What is the IELTS Exam?

Foreign applicants who wish to study or work in a nation where English is the dominant language of communication must take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. The UK, Australia, New Zealand, the US, and Canada are the most common nations that accept IELTS for university applications. Hearing, reading, speaking, and writing are the four core communication abilities of the English language that are largely assessed by the test. IDP Education Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment jointly own and operate the IELTS test.

IELTS is recognised by more than 10,000 organisations as a valid indicator of real-world English communication proficiency. IELTS evaluates test-competency takers in four areas of the English language: speaking, reading, and writing. IELTS, which can be given on a computer or on paper, is the only high-stakes language exam accepted for immigration in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. IELTS was more than 30 years ago a four-skills English language testing pioneer with a focus on human conversations. Today, IELTS remains the gold standard for English language exams.

Types of IELTS Tests

IELTS assessments come in two types: Academic and General Training. Although both are meant to evaluate your proficiency in the English language, there are a few little distinctions between the two:

The IELTS Academic focuses on English speaking, reading, writing, and listening for individuals wishing to pursue academic education at a university or elsewhere. This test is taken by plenty of students who want to study abroad in an English-speaking nation.

 The IELTS General Training also emphasises English speaking, listening, reading, and writing, but is more suited to applicants for studies below the degree level. This test is also taken by anyone looking for work or moving to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the UK.

It’s critical to understand which IELTS framework best meets your demands.

Eligibility of the IELTS Exam

The IELTS framework aims to offer a fair and reliable evaluation for English language learners all around the world. As a result, anyone who is older than 16 years old can sign up to take the IELTS exam.

IELTS Syllabus 

The IELTS syllabus has four portions that span reading, writing, listening, and speaking to provide a thorough manner of evaluating the learner’s English proficiency. Of course, every test is unique, so it’s difficult to predict what subjects will be covered. However, themes like education, the environment, society, family, the workplace, sports, and food are present in all four parts.

It’s critical to be prepared to answer questions about subjects you might come across in everyday life because the IELTS is a test of your overall English abilities. Let’s examine each syllabus one at a time:

  • Reading– You’ll have to read a number of texts for the IELTS reading section and answer questions about them. In the Academic and General Training versions of the IELTS, this portion is slightly different. You’ll need to show a range of abilities on the IELTS reading test, such as the ability to identify a text’s key ideas, to distinguish between details, and to comprehend implication and suggested meanings.
  • Writing– The IELTS writing examination evaluates your ability to put your thoughts on paper. Once more, there are subtle differences between this component of the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Both, however, will require you to produce a suitable response, arrange your thoughts, and make use of a number of grammar principles.
  • Listening– This section aims to gauge how effectively you comprehend spoken English in various contexts. Your ability to follow discussions’ ideas, themes, perspectives, and information will be tested in the listening part. The exam consists of a collection of talks between fluent English speakers that have been recorded. After that, you will respond to inquiries based on these recordings.
  • Speaking– Your ability to converse in English will be tested on the IELTS speaking portion. A chat between you and a qualified examiner will resemble a normal one. You’ll need to articulate and analyse your beliefs in this section while also using suitable language and grammar.

IELTS Exam Format 

The listening and speaking portions of the Academic and General Training examinations are identical, but the reading and writing portions differ. The listening, reading, and writing components are typically taken back-to-back on the same day with no breaks. The speaking portion, however, can be taken up to a week before or after the others.

The test is divided into the following sections, and it takes 2 hours and 45 minutes to finish them all-

  • IELTS Listening Test: 40 questions, 30 minutes.
  • The Academic or General Training IELTS Reading Test has 40 questions and takes 60 minutes.
  • IELTS Academic or General Training Writing Test: 60 minutes, 2 questions.
  • IELTS Speaking Test: 3 segments, 11–14 minutes total.

As mentioned above, each portion is divided into smaller components and evaluates a variety of skills.

IELTS Scoring 

An overall band score is used in the IELTS exams to assess each candidate’s performance. There are entire and half bands available for each portion of the test, with scores ranging from 1 to 9. The average of the four sections is used to compute your final score.

Below is a breakdown of how each area of the IELTS scores:

  • Listening. One mark is awarded for each accurate response on the 40 questions that make up the test. The IELTS band scale is then applied to the score out of 40.
  • Reading. Once more, a grade is assigned out of 40 and is then converted to a whole or half band. Although there are some variances in how marks are converted, the scale is the same for both the Academic and General Training tests.
  • Writing. This portion consists of two tasks, and a band score is generated using the IELTS assessment criteria. Each assignment receives a grade based on its coherence and cohesion, vocabulary, and the variety and precision of its grammar.
  • Speaking. Examiners once more assign a band based on assessment criteria. Fluency and cohesiveness, vocabulary, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation all factor towards grades.

Depending on their profile and goals, universities, colleges, governments, and employers around the world have varied English proficiency requirements. So, before sitting for an IELTS exam, it’s crucial to find out what score you need. The scores from the IELTS Academic and General Training tests are valid for two years after you get them.

IELTS band scale

A score is provided to applicants for the IELTS examinations at the conclusion of the exam, and this number ultimately determines how well they perform overall. The scale reads roughly as follows:

  1. Band 9: An Expert – A person with a solid command of the English language who is able to handle any circumstance with the help of it.
  1. Band 8: Very good — Overall good performance with a few minor errors that can be corrected using the knowledge already acquired.
  1. Band 7: Good — Relatively strong performance with sporadic problems in uncharted territory.
  1. Band 6: Competent — Able to comprehend and manage more complex situations while handling issues with ease in accustomed circumstances.
  1. Band 5: Modest — Has a limited command of the language, can manage problem-solving, and only occasionally makes mistakes.
  1. Band 4: Limited — Has restricted vocabulary and situations and limited knowledge and competency.
  1. Band 3: Extremely limited Able to comprehend and communicate in a very narrow range of circumstances, and frequent breakdowns, even in moderate circumstances, are to be expected.
  1. Band 2: Intermittent, implying difficulty understanding even basic English language. No real chain communication is possible, aside from a few broken words.
  1. Band 1: Non-User —  Only uses a very small number of words and doesn’t demonstrate much language proficiency.
  1. Band 0: No User — Did not make any attempt to take the test.

How to register for IELTS?

  • IELTS Online Registration- The IELTS registration process is now quick and easy. Three booking phases are available for the IELTS exam. Candidates must visit the official IELTS website first, after which they must:
    • Make a profile
    • Based on the availability at the local IELTS test sites, choose a suitable day.
    • To complete your registration, make a payment online.
  • IELTS Offline Registration- The IELTS exam registration form must be obtained by candidates from the official website. Fill all the other form requirements and manually select the test date. Following that, the candidate must pay in cash or by demand draft made out to “IDP EDUCATION INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, Payable at New Delhi” (to pay cash to visit the nearest ICICI bank with a payment slip). The candidate must provide a working Blue Dart courier address on the registration form.

IELTS Exam Dates 

There are up to four test dates offered each month, for a total of 48 scheduled exam dates in a calendar year. Please take note that speaking tests will be given up to 7 days before and/or after the test date, while listening, reading, and writing (LRW) examinations must be taken on the same day.

IELTS Fees

The costs can change depending on where in the world you are. Whether or not the test is required for immigration and visas typically affects the range. Below are a few examples-

Australia- AUD$340

Canada– $309 to $319

India- 13250 to 18500 INR.

Nigeria- 75,00 to 97,000 NGN

United States-Between $215 to $295 USD

Benefits of taking the IELTS Exam 

  • Many of the most prestigious universities and colleges in the world recognise IELTS scores as proof of English language proficiency.
  • The majority of governments favour IELTS scores over those from any other English language test as evidence of your language proficiency as a prerequisite for permanent residency. The IELTS General Training examination is the only non-academic exam offered for immigration to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the USA, in contrast to other test providers.
  • IELTS evaluates you on your practical communication skills and gives you an accurate assessment of the four skills being assessed, making it the test that is most fair to you. It has two versions: Academic and General Training, and its main emphasis is on evaluating a candidate’s language skills rather than their subject-matter expertise. The Speaking examination is also given in a one-on-one setting with a trained examiner.
  • IELTS results are accepted by professional registration organisations in a variety of areas, including accounting, engineering, law, medical, nursing, pharmacy, and teaching bodies in many nations. This implies that in order to obtain professional registration in an English-speaking nation, you will need to take the IELTS exam.

IELTS is one of the most commonly accepted systems in the world for anyone who desires to demonstrate their English proficiency. Businesses, academic institutions, trade associations, and government organisations all recognise the certificate as evidence of English language proficiency.

myglobaluni has a variety of courses that can aid with your IELTS exam preparation as well as the development of your English in a variety of contexts. myglobaluni is a leading study abroad platform that helps students to find the right study abroad programs, colleges, & universities. Call now: +91-7337781100 for study abroad counselling.

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