IELTS

IELTS
INTRODUCTION
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is widely recognized as a reliable means of assessing whether candidates are ready to study or train in the medium of English. Three partners, the University of Cambridge Local Examination Syndicate, the British Council and IDP Education Australia (through its subsidiary company IELTS Australia pty limited) own IELTS. The main purpose of IELTS tests is to give future IELTS candidates an idea of whether their English is at their required level.
WHAT IS THE TEST FORMAT?
IELTS consists of six modules. All candidates take the listening and speaking modules. There is a choice of reading and writing modules according to whether a candidate is taking the academic or general training version of the test.
Academic
For candidates taking the test for entry to undergraduate or postgraduate studies or for professional reasons.
General training
For candidates taking the test for entry to vocational or training programmes not at degree level, for admission to secondary schools and for immigration purposes
The test modules are taken in the following order
Listening

4 sections, 40 items
30 minutes.

Academic reading General training reading
3 sections, 40 items OR 3 sections, 40 items
60 minutes. 60 minutes.

Academic writing General training writing
2 tasks OR 2 tasks
60 minutes 60 minutes.

Speaking
10 – 15 minutes

Total test time
2 hours 45 minutes

LISTENING
This is in four sections, each with 10 questions. The first two sections are concerned with social needs. There is a conversation between two speakers and then a monologue. The final two sections are concerned with situations related to educational or training contexts. There is a conversation between up to four people and then a monologue.
A variety of question type is used, including: multiple choice, short-answer questions, sentence completion, notes/charts/table completion, labeling a diagram, classification, matching.
Candidates hear the recording only once and answer the questions as they listen. Ten minutes are allowed at the end to transfer the answers to the answer sheet
ACADEMIC READING
There are three reading passages, of increasing difficulty, on topics of general interest and candidates have to answer 40 questions. The passages are taken from magazines, journals, books and newspapers. At least one text contains detailed logical document.
A variety of question types is used, including: multiple choice, short-answer questions, sentence completion, notes/charts/table completion, labeling a diagram, classification, matching lists/ phrases, choosing suitable paragraph heading from a list, identification of writer’s views/attitudes – yes, no, not given.
GENERAL TRAINING READING
Candidates have to answer 40 questions. There are three sections of increasing difficulty, containing texts taken from notices, advertisements, leaflets, newspapers, instruction manuals, books, and magazines. The first section contains texts relevant to basic linguistic survival in English, with tasks mainly concerned with providing factual information. The second section focuses on the training context and involves texts of more complex language. The third section involves reading more extended texts, with a more complex structure, but with the emphasis on description and instructive rather than argumentative texts.
A variety of question types is used, including: multiple choice, short-answer questions, sentence completion, notes/charts/table completion, labeling a diagram, classification, matching lists/ phrases, choosing suitable paragraph heading from a list, identification of writer’s views/attitudes – yes, no, not given, or true, false, not given.
ACADEMIC WRITING
There are two tasks and is suggested that candidates spend about 20minutes on task 1, which requires them to write at least 150 words and 40 minutes on task 2 - 250 words. The assessment of task 2 carries more weight in marking than task 1.
In task 1 candidates are asked to look at a diagram or table and to present the information in their own words. They are assessed in their ability to organize, present and possibly compare data, describe the stages of a process, describe an object or event, explain how things works.
In task 2 the candidates are presented with a point of view, argument or problem. They are assessed on their ability to present a solution to the problem, present and justify an opinion, compare and contrast evidence and opinions, evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or arguments.
Candidates are also judged on their ability to write in an appropriate style.
GENERAL TRAINING WRITING
There are two tasks and it is suggested that candidates spend about 20 minutes on task 1, which requires them to write at least 150 words and 40 minutes on task 2 – 250 words.
The assessment of task 2 carries more weight in marking than Task 1.
In Task 1 candidates are asked to respond to a given problem with letter requesting information or explaining a situation. They are assessed on their ability to engage in personal correspondence, elicit and provide general factual information, express needs, wants, likes and dislikes, express opinions, complaints, etc.,
In Task 2 candidates are presented with a point of view, argument or problem. They are assessed on their ability to provide general factual information, outline a problem and present a solution, present and justify an opinion, evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or arguments.
Candidates are also judged on their ability to write in an appropriate style.
SPEAKING
This consists of a conversation between the candidate and an examiner and takes between 10 and 15 minutes. There are five sections,
1.Introduction
The examiner and candidate introduce themselves and the candidate is encouraged to talk briefly about their life, home, work and interests.
2.Extended discourse
The candidate is encouraged to speak at length about some familiar topic of general interest or of relevance to their culture, place of living or country or origin. This will involve explanation, description or narration.
3.Elicitation
The candidate is given a task card with some information on it and is encouraged to take the initiative and ask questions either to elicit information or to solve a problem.
4.Speculation and Attitudes
The candidate is encouraged to talk about their future plans and proposed course of study. Alternatively the examiner may choose to return to a topic raised earlier.
5.Conclusion
The interview is concluded.
Candidates are assessed on their ability to communicate effectively with native speakers of English. The assessment takes into account evidence of communicative strategies and appropriate use of grammar and vocabulary.
HOW IELTS IS SCORED?
IELTS results are reported on a nine-band scale. In addition to score for overall language ability IELTS provides a score, in the form of a profile, for each of the four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking). These scores are also reported on a nine-band scale. All scores are recorded on the Test Report Form along with details of the candidate’s nationality, first language and date of birth. Each overall Band Score corresponds to a descriptive statement, which gives a summary of the English language ability of a candidate classified at that level. The nine bands and their descriptive statements are as follows:
9: Expert User – Has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.
8: Very good user – Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccurate and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.
7: Good user – Has operational command of the language, though occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language will and understands detailed reasoning.
6: Competent user – Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
5: Modest user - Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.
4: Limited user - Basic competence is limited to familiar situation. Have frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to complex language.
3: Extremely limited user - Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.
2: Intermittent user - No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated works or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs.
Has great difficulty spoken and written English
1: Non user - Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.
0: Did not attempt the test – No assessable information.
Most universities and colleges in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada accept an IELTS Overall Band Score of 6.0 or 6.5 for entry to academic programmes. IELTS scores are increasingly being recognized by Universities in the USA.

SIVAKUMAR.G (1999 BATCH)