IELTS EXAM

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. It is required to be taken by international students who wish to study in a country where English is the primary language of communication. The UK, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and Canada are the nations where IELTS is most recognized for university applications. 
 

English language skills

The IELTS Syllabus is determined by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge ESOL Examinations. There is a computer-based IELTS and paper-based IELTS.  The four major English language skills examined by the exam are 

• Listening
• Reading 
• Speaking 
• Writing 

For the IELTS listening, reading, and writing sections computer-based test, candidates use a computer. The speaking test is done in front of a trained examiner. Those taking the IELTS on paper complete the reading, writing, and listening section by using HB pencils or a pen. The speaking section is done in front of an IELTS examiner.
 
Types of IELTS Exam:
IELTS examinations are divided into two categories: 

• IELTS Academic Test
• IELTS General Test

For both types of IELTS exams, the listening, and speaking sections are identical. The writing and reading sections vary depending on which one is taken. The reading, writing, and listening sections are all completed on the same day, with no breaks in between. The speaking test can be completed before or after one week of the other tests.

• IELTS Academic Test: Candidates who are applying for higher education or professional registration in another country must appear for the IELTS Academic exam.
• IELTS General Test: Those who intend to migrate to major English-speaking nations such as Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom take the IELTS General Test. Those who want to get admission in training programs or secondary education, or get work experience in a country where English is the first language of communication, must appear for this test.

IELTS Test Pattern
The total time for IELTS is 2 hours 45 minutes. It is divided into 4 parts:

• Writing - 60 minutes
• Reading - 60 minutes
• Listening - 30 minutes (10 minutes is given extra for transferring the answers to an answer sheet)
• Speaking - 11 to 14 minutes

IELTS Eligibility
The IELTS exam is open to everyone, regardless of gender, age, race, nationality, or religion. As such, the IELTS administrators have not set an age limit. However, Candidates who are under the age of 16 are not recommended to apply.  The IDP has not established any IELTS eligibility requirements. It is open to anyone who wishes to pursue higher education or employment in a foreign country (both Academic and General Training). Candidates should, however, carefully check the educational institution's eligibility requirements before applying.
 
IELTS Exam Syllabus 
 There are four sections to the IELTS exam. It consists of Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. It assesses the proficiency of test-takers in these various aspects of the language including sentence structures, vocabulary, grammar, and the general usage of the language. Here are the details: 

• IELTS Reading Section:

The reading section is broken into 3 parts, each of which has 40 questions, the majority of which are MCQs. Candidates' skills are evaluated in areas such as short answer question fact identification, identifying writer's attitudes/views, sentence or summary completion, and matching list or phrases.

• IELTS Writing Section:

There are only two questions in the Writing Section. In the first question, it will be given a diagram, data, or a table, and they must then represent the information in their own words. In the second question, candidates are given an argument, or point of view problem.

• IELTS Listening Section:

The listening section of the IELTS exam is divided into 4 parts, each of which includes audio clips. The 1st would be about social needs, while the other two would be about education conditions. The audio clips might be a dialogue or a speech and will only be played once. Short answers, MCQs, note completion, etc types of questions will be asked based on these clips. 

• IELTS Speaking Section:

In Part 1 candidates must introduce themselves by discussing their family, hobbies, interests, educational history, and so on. In Part 2 candidates will be given a flashcard with a topic printed on it. They can think for a few minutes and then speak for 2-3 minutes about it. After that, the interviewer may ask some follow-up questions. In Part 3 there would be a thorough examination of the topic presented in Part 2 as well as the candidate's speech and comprehension. 
 
IELTS Registration
The registration for IELTS is done both online and offline, however, most students opt for the online as it is a convenient and secure method. 

• In-person registration - You can register via phone, SMS, e-mail, or the internet. You must identify a nearby test location and obtain the contact number to register via phone. You must provide all information with ID evidence, and then reserve a date and time slot. When it comes to IELTS exam registration, you will require a valid national ID proof, such as a passport or driver's license. 
• Online Registration - The easiest and most convenient way to register for IELTS  is to do it online:

1. Visit www.ieltsidpindia.com
2. Choose "Register for IELTS"
3. Choose the test day and location
4. Fill out the online application
5. Pay for the exam with a credit card
6. Get an instant seat reservation and confirmation.

IELTS Exam Dates
The IELTS test dates are scheduled many times throughout the year.  You should choose an IELTS exam date that is convenient for you while also considering the institution's admissions deadlines. Since IELTS is a very popular test, it is advised to schedule the test seat before the registration deadline. Please note, that once all the test places have been assigned and the session is full, you will not be able to get a suitable IELTS exam date.
 
IELTS Registration Fee
The IELTS registration fees differ with the country you choose to give the exam.  It is taken to more than 100 countries in the world. You must confirm the amount when scheduling a test slot and then pay with a digital payment method. Here are some of the countries and Fees for IELTS:

Australia	AU $340
Canada	CA $309 - $319
France	€235
Finland	EUR 250
Germany	€229
Hungary	62,800 Ft
India	INR 13250
Netherlands	€225 - €230
New Zealand	NZ $385
Spain	€220
United Kingdom	£200
USA	US $215 - $250

 
Preparation For IELTS
To prepare for IELTS, one needs to focus more on vocabulary and grammar. Take practice tests, since it is the most effective technique to discover shortcomings. This is an important step because it will help you figure out where your strengths and limitations are.
Before you begin practicing, you need to know what to expect from the test pattern. You should familiarize yourselves with it by reviewing the content of the test, as well as the question and task types for each section. You should begin studying for the exam at least 3–6 months ahead of time.  Here are some Important Tips For IELTS Exam:

• Read about the general topics such as current affairs, science, news, climate change, history, economics, animals, sociology, etc. 
• You should focus on vocabulary, tenses, grammar, and sentence structure equally.
• You should write precise, relevant answers and avoid writing long paragraphs and sentences.
• You should conform to the word limits to finish the exam in the time allocated.
• You should make sure that they have a good vocabulary and maintain the right pronunciation for all the test papers.
• You should test yourself in a 2 hours and 45 minutes time frame just like on exam day. 
• You should not spend too much time on the questions they can’t find an answer to. You should move to the next question and get back to that question if they have any time left at the end.
• You should practice both British and American accents, as some numbers and words are pronounced differently.

IELTS Score
If you have appeared for the computer-delivered IELTS test, you will obtain your IELTS result online within 5 to 7 days from the test date. If you have appeared for paper-based IELTS, you will obtain your results online within 13 calendar days. IELTS results remain online for only  28 days.
IELTS results/scores are scored on the scales of bands. The bands range from 0 to 9, where 9 denotes the greatest fluency in the language. Each institute or organization specifies its level of IELTS results to meet its requirement. The validity of the IELTS score is only for 2 years. After this period the scores expire and the institutes will not accept the scores.
 
IELTS Test From Home
IELTS Online allows candidates to take the test from their home or another suitable location. IELTS will cover all 4 skills, Listening, Writing, Reading,  and Speaking Online. The test will be similar in content and pattern to the present IELTS tests offered by pen and paper and computer.