For students, job seekers and people looking for a permanent residence in a foreign country, IELTS is a test made by professional bodies from all across the world who are known to be English native speakers.
The reason why IELTS was created in the first place was to test the ability of a person concerning the English language.
Students who wish to study in an English speaking country, people who immigrate to other countries for employment and people who plan on permanently residing in an English speaking country are bound to take this test.
It determines your ability to read, write, converse and understand the basics of the English language at the very least.
Countries like the U.S., Canada, U.K., New Zealand, and Australia highly approve of IELTS scores on the basis of which they allow people to study in their educational institutes or work for their economy.
IELTS test comprises the four main modules namely, reading, writing, listening and speaking. These four modules consist of 40 questions each and each question carries one mark.
The modules are further divided into two main tasks and the questions are in different task types such as matching and multiple choice questions. There is a particular amount of time given to the person who’s taking a test for each module such as half an hour or a complete hour.
IELTS has two main types known as IELTS General Training and IELTS Academic. For people who wish to study in a native English speaking country should take IELTS Academics whereas the people who wish to go for employment or residential purposes should go for IELTS General Training.
There is not much difference between both the types except for two modules which are reading and writing.
Both of these modules have the same paper format and similar question types, the amount of time given is almost the same as well except for the data and information the test-taker is tested upon.
For people who go for IELTS Academics, the questions given in their test will be related to much more complex data taken from course books or complicated analysis over a particular subject.
For people who go for IELTS General Training, the questions will mostly be based upon general knowledge taken from magazines and newspapers or from daily life etc.
What IELTS test should you take depends upon the requirement of your educational institute or the company or business you are planning to work under.
The scoring of the test is the main thing you must focus on. The IELTS test scoring is in the form of bands ranging from 1 to 9, where 5 is considered the weakest 9 or 8 is considered the highest.
Every module carries 40 marks in total and each module has marked a band which at the very lasts is analyzed with the final bands of the rest three modules, gaining you your final IELTS test score.
How Can I Prepare For IELTS Online?
In this fast-moving world where internet and technology has taken over almost every aspect of human life, it is not an issue to do whatever you please within seconds. And by that, we mean that it is very easy for students, workers, and even children to gain access to anything they want through the internet.
Similarly, if you plan on going to another country for higher education or just for employment purposes, you do not have to worry about failing in the IELTS test because you could not take the preparation classes. Everything is within your reach and on your fingertips.
There are countless websites and YouTube videos that guide you through the IELTS test format and how can you prepare for it online without any trouble.
You can easily look up all the information you need for your IELTS test and how can you prepare for it without a problem online.
Some of the good websites have also put up the entire self-assessment test formats for you to attempt and get familiar with before you go for your official IELTS test.
All you need to do is prepare yourself accordingly by searching the tips to clear the test with a great final band, the actual IELTS test format and try multiple attempts at clearing the test as you also learn to manage the time for each module as that is a very important part of the whole process.
You do not need a teacher for the IELTS preparation. You can self-teach yourself all through the internet online. Keep practicing the test formats over and over again and you are great to go.
IELTS Test Format
The IELTS Test format is simple to understand and memorize if you wish to attempt it for yourself.
IELTS Academic — Listening Test:
In IELTS listening test, 4 different recordings will be played. English native speakers are heard speaking in the recordings and the accents can differ.
Mainly British and Australian accents are heard. The content of the recordings is the same for both; IELTS academic as well as IELTS general training.
The time provided to complete the listening module for the test is approximately thirty minutes. Ten extra minutes are given to the candidate to shift their answers on an answer sheet.
IELTS Academic — Speaking Test:
Speaking module is also the same for both, IELTS academic and IELTS general training as well.
The speaking module is basically an interview taken by a professional native English speaker who will ask the candidate several questions related to their test as well as their daily life.
This module is divided into three parts. The maximum time consumed by the speaking module is up to 15 minutes. There will be questions about work, home, family, interests and education.
In the next part, the interviewer can ask you to deliver a small speech over the subject mentioned in the given cards and lastly, the interviewer will ask you questions about the information you provided in the rest of the three modules during your test.
IELTS Academic — Reading Test:
This module is designed to test the reading skills including your ability to understand complex academic content and recognizing the purpose and main ideas of the content provided.
The time given to solve this module is sixty minutes, containing 40 questions.
The questions in the IELTS Academic reading test is divided into three long texts taken from newspapers, magazines, course books and journals.
The questions will be in the form of eleven different task types. Such as, multiple choice question, information identification, writer’s claim identification, matching information, features, headings, sentence endings etc.
IELTS Academic — Writing Test:
IELTS Academic writing test is divided into two tasks i.e. Task and Task 2.
About 60 minutes are given to complete this module.
Task 1: A diagram will be provided for you to understand it and then describe or summarize the information as you can. You must explain the data, stage of the process, and everything asked about the event mentioned.
Task 1 determines four criteria namely, task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource and grammatical range and accuracy.
Task 2: In this task, you will be asked to write an essay in formal style over the given subject. You must provide authentic and relevant information in approximately 150 words with proper sentences and grammar.
Task 2 determines another four criterion, such as task response, coherence, and cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical range, and accuracy.
IELTS General Training — Listening Test:
You will get to hear four recordings of different native English accents speaking. Each recording will have ten questions, making it forty questions in total.
The time given to pass this module is 40 minutes in total.
Your ability to understand the accents and different types of speech will be tested through this module in order to determine whether you can survive and communicate in a foreign English-speaking country or not.
IELTS General Training — Speaking Test:
Similar to the interview taken by certified professional bodies for IELTS Academic, people who give IELTS General Training test also have to go through this module in the same way.
There are three parts to the whole module. Questions related to the test theory as well as your personal life and interest are asked. Total time this module takes in about 15 to 16 minutes.
IELTS General Training — Reading Test:
The content you will be tested upon will be much easier to understand and solve. This module will contain texts and paragraphs from magazines, newspapers, advertisements, company handbooks, notices and guidelines, things you will usually encounter in your daily life.
This module has three sections called social survival, workplace survival, general reading. Section one will have three short text paragraphs. Section two will have two text paras.
Section three comprises of one long paragraph. The time provided is the same as IELTS academic. Poor grammar and spelling mistakes can also lose you marks if you have repeated the same mistakes over and over again. 40 questions in total and each carries 1 mark.
IELTS General Training — Writing Test:
IELTS general training writing test is also divided into two main tasks, namely Task 1 and Task 2. You will be given approximately an hour to complete this module.
Task 1: It comprises of one question in which the candidate is asked to write a letter, either requesting something or explaining an issue. The letter can be formal, semi-formal or personal in style.
There are no such restrictions or rules over the writing style you choose to go within IELTS general training writing test.
Task 2: In this task, you will be asked to write an essay of about 150 words over the given subject which will be relatively easier as compared to IELTS academic writing test however, there are no rules or restrictions over the writing style of the essay as well. It can be personal in style as you like.
IELTS Success
There are countless websites across the internet which can help you in preparing for the IELTS test but IELTS Success is an online platform you can rely on.
This platform not only brings you remarkable results is your final test scores but also make you realize how easy it is to prepare for IELTS online. IELTS Success is a platform that brings you practice simulation, writing preparation, a mock test as well as a blog for your test tips and hacks.
The excessive tools on IELTS Success such as automatic essay grading, live speech analysis, and mock tests make it a far better online IELTS preparation platform as compared to other sites. You can boost your scores within a week or two if you get help form IELTS Success.
Once you sign up, you will be able to practice 12 exercises for free, free automated essay grading for the first five times, unlimited speech analysis for three sections and free access to blogs and tips that can save your final IELTS test score in the first attempt.
