IELTS score of an immigrant applicant offers an opportunity for the immigration officers to judge the applicants for their English. Earlier, there were face-to-face interviews with the applicants and come to a final judgment but it had many loopholes and the outcome usually resulted in bias outcomes. This test helps the immigration officer to judge the candidate on the basis of all the required four skill such as understanding power, reading abilities, speaking skills and listening capabilities.
About IELTS
IELTS- EXPLORE YOUR HORIZON
IELTS (international English language testing system) is the world’s most popular English test.
Opening doors and creating opportunities, it can help you live, study and work around the world. More than 9000 organizations worldwide accept IELTS including government academic and employment institutions. In fact, IELTS is the only English language test accepted for immigration purposes by all countries.
ADMINISTERS OF IELTS
IELTS test is jointly administered by the British Council, IDP IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.
TEST FORMAT OF IELTS
IELTS test is conducting in two versions - Academic and General. It is important for the student to know at first hand that in which version he/she supposed to take the test.
Out of four modules, the first three modules of the test, Writing, Reading, Listening are taken on the first day without any break .While the Speaking test can be taken either 7 days before or after the other modules or on the same day.
NEED OF TWO VERSIONS
The Academic test is for those who want to study in an English-speaking country. The General Training test is for those who want to do work experience or training programs, secondary school or migrate to an English-speaking country.
All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking tests.
TIME DURATION OF TEST
IELTS test takes 2 hours 45 minutes for four modules.
Listening-30 Minutes
Reading-60 Minutes
Writing- 60 Minutes
Speaking- 11-14 Minutes
IELTS EXAM PATTERN
Reading (60 minutes) (Scoring scale: 0-9 bands)
Reading has 3 passages and 40 items (questions). Each item is worth one mark.
Writing (60 minutes) (Scoring scale: 0-9 bands)
It consists of 2 tasks (Writing Task 1 and Writing Task 2) and candidates must answer BOTH tasks.
Listening (40 minutes) (Scoring scale: 0-9 bands)
IELTS Listening has four sections, each with 10 items (or questions). Each item is worth one mark.
Speaking (11-14 minutes) (Scoring scale: 0-9 bands)
IELTS Speaking is a one-to-one interaction between the candidate and an examiner.
LOCATIONS TO TAKE IELTS
A candidate can take test over 900 locations worldwide for you can visit your nearest test centre on the IELTS Worldwide Search.
DATES OF IELTS
IELTS is available on 48 fixed dates a year – up to four times a month, depending on local demand. Go to your nearest center to see their next test date.
COST OF TEST
Both the Academic and General Training tests have the same cost as it has set fee structure. To find out the test fee in your local currency, check the IELTS Worldwide Search for your nearest center.
Modules like Listening and speaking for both Academic training and General training are same but Reading and Writing have some differentiation.
IELTS ACADEMIC
This test is for those students who desire to study in foreign universities and colleges. It checks their ability of understanding and using the language having four modules.
WRITING
Writing has two tasks to complete having duration of 60 minutes. Writing task 1 of 150 words in which graphs, flow chart, diagrams, tables, and maps are described and Writing task 2 contains an essay of 250 words only.
READING
Reading module has same time duration of 60 minutes with 40 questions in which students have to read passages solving questions from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical, diagrams, graph, text from books, journals, and newspapers. It is comprised of 3 passages.
LISTENING
Listening test also contains 40 questions. Listening is conducted to check the understanding of students regarding monologues and conversations. The test is conducted for 30 minutes and extra 10 minutes are given for transferring answers to the answer sheet.
SPEAKING
In Speaking test candidates have to confront face to face interview, general/introductory questions, speaking on a familiar topic and a discussion. Speaking test takes 11 to 14 minutes. In first part general /introductory questions on your work or study experience, family, tradition, interest, hobbies, favorites, experiences are asked which is followed by a particular topic in which preparation time is given then is response time. Finally, there is discussion on the same topic.
IELTS GENERAL TRAINING
This test is for those candidates who want to attain employment opportunities in foreign country or for immigration purposes. It is also divided into four sections.
WRITING
Writing test is of 60 minutes. Candidates have to write two tasks. Writing task 1 is a letter of 150 words and Writing task 2 is an essay of 250 words.
READING
Time duration for Reading is 60 minutes having 3 sections to read and solve as reading test contains total 40 questions. In first section, there are two or three texts but simple. Section two has two texts and section three has a long passage like academic.
LISTENING
Listening test also contains 40 questions. Listening is conducted to check the understanding of students regarding monologues and conversations. The test is conducted for 30 minutes and extra 10 minutes are given for transferring answers to the answer sheet.
SPEAKING
In Speaking test candidates have to confront face to face interview, general/introductory questions, speaking on a familiar topic and a discussion. Speaking test takes 11 to 14 minutes. In first part general /introductory questions on your work or study experience, family, tradition, interest, hobbies, favorites, experiences are asked which is followed by a particular topic in which preparation time is given then is response time. Finally, there is discussion on the same topic.
MARKING IN IELTS
Unlike other English test IELTS has scale of bands. Candidates are judged on the basis of their bands. Bands are from 1 to 9 in each part of the test. The proficiency of candidates to use and understand English in all four modules is determined by this scoring. In reading and listening, there are 40 questions and a special table converts the scores out of 40 into a band score. Candidate can get a whole band or a half band according to band scale of IELTS. IELTS results are valid only for two years.
BANDS FOR DIFFERENT USER ARE AS FOLLOW:
Band 9 - Expert User
Band 8 - Very Good User
Band 7 - Good User
Band 6 - Competent User
Band 5 - Modest User
Band 4 - Limited User
Band 3 - Extremely Limited User
Band 2 - Intermittent User
Band 1 - Non User
Band 0 - No original English Used
IELTS FOR IMMIGRATION
If you are applying for a visa to move or study in any part of the world, you can choose one of the tests to prove your level of English.
WHY TO TAKE IELTS WITH BRITISH
Institute has more than 16 years experience of teaching and testing English. That is a lot of experience, and it means that if you take on English language test with us, you can be confident that will be well looked offer.