What is ielts?
IELTS stands for the International English Language Testing System. It is a widely recognised standardised test designed to assess the English language proficiency of individuals who are not native English speakers and are seeking to study, work, or migrate to English-speaking countries.
IELTS is accepted by numerous institutions and organisations in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States, among others. The test assesses the four main language skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
There are two main types of IELTS tests:
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IELTS Academic: This version is primarily for individuals applying to universities and other higher education institutions in English-speaking countries for academic purposes. It assesses whether the test taker has the language skills necessary for academic study.
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IELTS General Training: This version is more focused on practical and everyday language use. It is often taken by individuals seeking work experience, training programs, or migration to countries where English is the primary language. It’s also used for certain visa applications.
The IELTS scores are reported on a band scale from 1 to 9, with 1 being the lowest and 9 being the highest. Each of the four language skills (listening, reading, writing, and speaking) is scored separately, and then an overall band score is provided as an average of these four scores.
The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam consists of four main modules, each assessing a specific language skill. The four modules are:
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Listening: This module assesses your ability to understand spoken English in various contexts. It includes a variety of audio recordings, such as conversations, monologues, discussions, and lectures. You’ll answer a range of questions based on the information you hear.
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Reading: In the Reading module, your comprehension skills in reading English texts are tested. You’ll encounter a variety of written materials, including articles, essays, advertisements, and more. The questions assess your ability to understand main ideas, specific details, and the overall structure of the text.
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Writing: The Writing module consists of two tasks:
- Task 1 (Academic): You’ll be presented with a visual representation (such as a graph, chart, or diagram) and asked to summarize the information in your own words.
- Task 1 (General Training): You’ll be given a situation and asked to write a letter in response, which could be formal, semi-formal, or informal.
- Task 2: Commonly known as the essay task, you’ll be asked to write an essay on a given topic, expressing your opinion and providing supporting arguments.
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Speaking: This module evaluates your ability to communicate effectively in spoken English. The Speaking test is conducted as a face-to-face interview with an examiner and is divided into three parts:
- Part 1: Introduction and general questions about yourself, your family, studies, and interests.
- Part 2: You’ll be given a topic and one minute to prepare before speaking for up to two minutes on the topic.
- Part 3: This part involves a deeper discussion on the topic from Part 2, exploring broader issues and ideas related to the topic.
The test is managed by several organisations, including the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English. It’s important to check the specific requirements of the institutions or organisations you’re applying to, as they might have