IELTS

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is an exam used to measure an individual’s English language proficiency.  It is recognized and accepted by thousands of employers, educational, governmental and professional organizations in more than 135 countries.  The test is administered in more than 800 centres in 130 countries around the world.  It is offered 48 times a year and takes approximately three hours to complete.  Individuals can take the test as many times as they want.

There are two versions of the exam—academic or general training.  The academic version is for individuals who want to study at English-speaking institutions, while the general training version is appropriate for people who will be working or participating in training programs in English-speaking countries.


IELTS Format

There are four parts to both versions of the exam:

• Listening.  This part of the exam consists of 40 questions and takes 30 minutes to complete.  Students listen to four recordings and answer questions about each.
• Reading.  This section contains 40 questions and takes 60 minutes.  Students read brief excerpts and answer questions about what they have read.  There are a variety of types of questions on this section, including multiple choice, sentence completion, short answer and more.
• Writing.  Sixty minutes are allotted for the writing portion of the exam.  Students are given two writing tasks to complete.  In the first they are asked to describe information presented visually.  In the second, they must answer the question provided and provide adequate support for their response.
• Speaking.  The speaking section of the exam consists of a one-on-one interview that lasts 11-14 minutes.

The listening and speaking sections are the same on the academic and general training versions of the exam. However, the reading and writing sections are different. 

The listening, reading and writing portions are always completed on the day of the exam.  However, depending on where a candidate takes the test, the speaking portion may be completed on the same day or up to seven days before or after the test date.


IELTS Scoring

Each exam has a total of five scores—one for each section and an overall score.  Scores for each section range from one to nine in whole and half increments (e.g. 5.5, 6.0, etc.).  Each score reflects a different level of English language proficiency with one representing a non-user and nine representing an expert user.  Results are available 13 days after the exam date.


Preparing for the IELTS

The International English Language Testing System has a variety of official materials to help individuals prepare for the exam, including:

• An informational booklet that explains the test.
• Official practice materials that give candidates a chance to familiarize themselves with the format of the exam and the types of questions that will be asked.
• Sample questions that are available online at the IELTS website.

In addition, prep classes and IELTS tutors can give interested candidates the extra support and structure they need to maximize their score.