International applicants who intend to study or work in a nation where English is the primary language of communication must take the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) English language test. The United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada are the most popular nations that accept IELTS for university applications. The exam primarily evaluates candidates' proficiency in the four fundamental English language abilities listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Cambridge English Language Assessment and IDP (International Development Program) Education Australia jointly own and administer the IELTS exam.
Why is the IELTS Exam required?
For academic and immigration purposes abroad in English-speaking nations like Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada, the IELTS 2022 exam is a requirement. For applicants seeking visas from both inside and outside the UK, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has approved only this English Language Test. Students frequently question whether or not the IELTS exam is required. No, not all universities require IELTS for admission. IELTS scores may not even be necessary for admission to many universities. However, keep in mind that if you choose not to take IELTS, your chances of receiving a student visa may decrease because the visa officials might not be satisfied with your English proficiency in the absence of a score. Therefore, it is safer to take the IELTS and aim for a score of at least 6 overall bands.
IELTS 2022 Highlights
| Exam Name | IELTS |
| IELTS full form | International English Language Testing System |
| Most popular for | Study, work, and migration to English-speaking countries like Australia, New Zealand, and the UK |
| Also accepted by | Canada and USA |
| Conducted by | IDP Education Ltd. |
| Mode of Exam | Computer and Paper – delivered test |
| IELTS Fee | Rs. 15,500 for registration |
| Score Range | On a scale of 1 (the lowest) to 9 (the highest) |
| IELTS Contact | IDP Head Office +91-124-4445999/ 1800-102-4544 Email: ielts.india@idp.com British Council 0120-4569000 / 0120-6684353, Mon-Sat 09.00 to 18.00 Email: ExamsCustomerCare@britishcouncil.org |
Types of IELTS
IELTS examinations come in two types: Academic and General Training. The speaking and listening portions of each of these tests are identical, however, the writing and reading portions vary depending on which test a person takes.
IELTS Academic Test
IELTS Academic is taken by those who apply for higher education or professional registration abroad.
IELTS General Test
IELTS General Test is taken by those who wish to migrate to major English-speaking countries like Canada, Australia, and the UK. This test is also taken by those who want to enroll in training programs or secondary education or want to gain work experience in a country where English is the main language used for communication.
Here is the IELTS Exam pattern – At a Glance
The IELTS Exam consists of four sections:
- IELTS Listening section
- IELTS Reading section
- IELTS Writing section
- IELTS Speaking section
IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training Test Format
Speaking (Common to both)
About the test
The Speaking Section's test format includes a verbal interview between the applicant and the examiner. All speaking evaluations are taped. This portion could take between 11 to 14 minutes for each candidate. There are three elements to this section of the test, each of which aims to serve a particular purpose in terms of the interaction style, task input, and candidate output.
Format
The Speaking Section consists of three parts:
- Part 1: In this scenario, the examiner would pose broad inquiries to the candidate on a variety of subjects, including personal interests, family, studies, and employment. This exchange lasts for about four to five minutes.
- Part 2: The contender would be given a card carrying a subject on which he would have to speak during this segment. The candidate would have a total of one minute to research the subject before speaking for two minutes. The examiner would next probe further into the subject.
- Part 3: In this section, the examiner would probe the candidate further about the topic in Part 2. This particularly lasts for four to five minutes, during which the candidate gets an opportunity to discuss abstract ideas and issues.
Listening (Common to both)
About the test
Candidates would have to listen to four recordings of native English speakers and respond to a series of questions in this section. This particular segment lasts for a total of 30 minutes. The primary goal of this section is to assess the candidates' comprehension of the main concepts and specific factual information.
Format
- Recording 1: The initial recording would feature a two-person conversation taking place in a typical social setting.
- The second recording would be a monologue that was staged in a typical social setting.
- The conversation between four people in the following recording was conducted in an instructional or training setting.
- Finally, a monologue about an academic topic would be recorded.
Academic Reading
About the test
There are 40 questions in this area of the IELTS exam, which has been created to evaluate the candidate's reading skills. The applicant will read a variety of passages and respond to questions appropriately throughout the full 60 minutes of this segment.
Format
There would be three lengthy paragraphs in the reading section, which could be either descriptive, factual, or analytical. These sentences are essential extracts from books, magazines, journals, novels, newspapers, and research papers. Following the reading of the passages, the candidate would be required to respond to questions.
General Training reading
About the test
This component of the IELTS test consists of 40 questions and is intended to assess the candidate's reading abilities. The exam lasts for 60 minutes in total.
Format
Candidates are given passages from commercials, company policies, brochures, and other materials, similar to the format used in academic exams. Given that the chosen texts are typically something one meets every day; the general tendency implies that this is easier than the academic format.
Academic Writing
About the test
Candidates would be required to write on issues related to undergraduate and graduate studies in this section. Candidates will have to finish two tasks in less than an hour.
Format
The first task would involve giving the candidate a piece of paper with a diagram, table, or graph on it. The next question requires the candidate to compose an essay in response to the inference made from the provided data and to defend his position with concrete examples drawn from the same data.
General Test Writing
About the test
Here, the applicant would have to write about broad interest subjects. They would have to finish two chores in less than an hour.
Format
The first task would require the applicant to draft a letter per the scenario. The letter's formality, informality, or personality will depend on the circumstances. You will be required to defend your position, make a request, or provide an explanation to a certain authority. You will be required to write an essay for your second homework based on the preceding point of view.
IELTS Eligibility 2022
Anyone can take the IELTS test, regardless of their age, gender, race, nationality, or religion; however, individuals under the age of 16 are not advised to do so. Anyone who wishes to pursue higher studies abroad or wants to work abroad can attempt the IELTS IDP exam (both Academic and General Training).
IELTS Registration 2022
When registering, keep your passport close to hand because you will need to provide your passport number. On top of that, you must also bring your passport to the test. Simple measures can be taken to register for IELTS:
- You must first go to the British Council's official registration page (https://www.ielts.org/).
- Sign up for a British Council account.
- Locate the testing facility that is closest to you.
- Register and pay for the IELTS exam online.
Anyone under the age of 18 must have their parent or legal guardian schedule the exam on their behalf. Once you have registered for the IELTS exam, your test center will email you a written confirmation with the date and time of your IELTS test.
IELTS Exam Fees
IELTS test fee in India varies as per the test type. Please follow the below table for detailed information on the IELTS exam fee 2022 in India.
| IELTS Test Type | Fee (INR) |
| Computer-delivered IELTS | 15,500 |
| Pen and paper-based IELTS | 15,500 |
| IELTS Life Skills (A1 and B1) | 14,600 |
| Computer-delivered IELTS for UKVI fees in India | 15,750 |
| IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration | 15,750 |
How is IELTS Scored?
IELTS is made to evaluate all levels of English language proficiency. The band scores from the four sections will be added together to create your overall IELTS score. IELTS results are given on a scale of 1 to 9 for each of the four abilities, and an overall band score is also given. In each section of the examination, you can earn full bands (for example, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0) or half bands (for instance, 5.5, 6.5, 7.5). To better comprehend how your IELTS score will be determined, you must have some understanding of the scoring structure.
The table mentioned below shows how to read the IELTS score banding
| Band | Skill Level | Meaning |
| Band 9 | Expert user | Has fully operational command of the language |
| Band 8 | Very good user | Fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies |
| Band 7 | Good user | Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies and misunderstandings in some situations |
| Band 6 | Competent user | Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations |
| Band 5 | Modest user | Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes |
| Band 4 | Limited user | Have frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language |
| Band 3 | Extremely limited user | Conveys and understands the only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns occur in communication |
| Band 2 | Intermittent user | Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English |
| Band 1 | Non-user | cannot Essentially use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words |
| Band 0 | Did not attempt the test | No accessible information provided |
IELTS Result
IELTS test results are released one week (online) or 13 calendar days (offline) after you sit for the test, so you won't have to wait long to learn your scores. When your results are ready, you'll get an email. To view your results, log into your IELTS account on the IELTS Results IDP website.
Tips to prepare for IELTS
Understanding the format of the IELTS test and what to expect on test day will help you to prepare better for IELTS. Start your IELTS journey by reading these 6 easy steps from what test to apply for through to what to expect on a test day. If you intend to schedule an IELTS exam but are unsure of where to begin your preparation, keep reading for 6 simple steps to kickstart your IELTS preparation.
- Choose the right IELTS test
- Familiarize yourself with the test
- Learn about the question types
- Understand the band scores
- Study and set goals
- Know what to expect on test day
Many students attempt to write IELTS essays by learning extensive lists of "academic" vocabulary, which they then attempt to use in their essays. This has the drawback of encouraging applicants to use terms that are either improper (meaningless) or false (the grammar is wrong). To achieve one of the higher band scores, it is crucial to have a diverse vocabulary, but this does not imply you should strive to stuff your essay with as many difficult terms as you can. Your score will be lowered and blunders will result from that strategy.
You will be better prepared to obtain the IELTS band score you require if you include these 6 steps in your IELTS preparation plan.
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