Understanding the IELTS Test

In this post, I will be talking about one of the most popular English proficiency tests in the world, which makes it the top choice of the aspirants looking to migrate to native English-speaking countries. The fee for booking this test today in India is 17k. The test started in the year 1989. It was jointly developed by:

• Cambridge English Language Assessment
• British Council
• IDP: IELTS Australia

The IELTS, also known International English Language Testing System, is accepted by 11000 + academic institutions worldwide, with top Universities such as

• Ivy League universities in the U.S. (e.g., Harvard, Yale, Princeton)
• Prestigious UK universities (e.g., Oxford, Cambridge, LSE)
• Australian Group of Eight universities (e.g., ANU, University of Melbourne)
• Canadian institutions (e.g., University of Toronto, McGill University)
• Top European universities in countries like Germany, France, and the Netherlands.

The most popular variants of this test are academic and general.

Academic IELTS: It is for students who aspire to study in a foreign country where English is their primary or native language. To be precise, the test takes 2 hours and 44 minutes and can be given in two modes: pen-and-paper and computer-delivered. This test measures your ability to read, write, listen, and speak English. Reading and writing will be an hour each, whereas listening will be for 30 minutes. The speaking test takes between 11 and 14 minutes.

Reading and Listening will have 40 questions in each test that you will have to solve in the stipulated time. Writing will have two tasks: task 1, which involves graph writing, and the next is an essay. For writing task one, you have twenty minutes, while an essay will have 40 minutes.

In the Listening module, the question types include

1. Fill in the blanks—one word or no more than three words.
2. Multiple-choice questions: Select one or more correct answers from a set of options.
3. Map-type questions Label parts of a map, plan, or diagram.
4. Selecting the appropriate options from the box: Choose the correct options from a list.
5. Matching sentences: Match incomplete sentences with the appropriate options from the box.
6. Form, Note, Table, Flowchart, or Summary Completion: Fill in missing information in forms or charts.
7. Short-answer questions: Provide brief answers to direct questions.
8. Selection of letters: Choose the correct letters (e.g., A, B, C) from a list of options.

In reading there are three comprehensions, and the time to solve each is 20 minutes. You will have a total of 40 questions, and with time I have experienced that students struggle with this module a lot.

1. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) Choose the correct answer from a set of options.
2. Matching Headings: Match headings to paragraphs or sections of the passage.
3. True/False/Not Given: Decide if the information is true, false, or not given in the text.
4. Yes/No/Not Given: Determine if the statements agree with the information in the text.
5. Matching Information: Match pieces of information (e.g., locations, ideas) to paragraphs.
6. Sentence Completion: Complete sentences using words or phrases from the passage.
7. Summary, Note, Table, Flowchart Completion: Fill in missing information in summaries or charts.
8. Diagram Labelling: Label parts of a diagram using information from the passage.
9. Short-answer Questions Provide brief answers to questions based on the text.

General IELTS: This exam is for individuals who wish to apply for a permanent residency or work permit. As with the IELTS academic, the only difference is in the reading and writing section; otherwise, speaking and listening are the same as in the IELTS general. In the reading module, you will have to solve four small and one lengthy unseen passage. In writing, only one question differs, which is the graph, which gets replaced by a letter.

IELTS UKVI: It is for people who want to go to, especially the United Kingdom. The test format is the same as the IELTS general and academic.

Criteria to be fulfilled in the Speaking and Writing Test of the IELTS

Task Response: Refers to how accurately one addresses the question and whether the test taker uses a pragmatic approach to answer all the parts of the question. If the answer makes sense and replies to what is being asked in an essay of the writing module or to the questions in the speaking test, he is given a band score on the basis of what he answers. Task response measures your ability to fully understand the question and produce a logical response to it. The contribution of marks is 25% to your speaking and writing exam.

Coherence and Cohesion: It means the flow or the logical sequence with which the information is given to the examiner. Cohesion refers to the use of appropriate linkers in English to convey your message. This is also a contributor to 25% of your scores on the speaking and writing test.

Lexical Diversity: It refers to the variety of words that you use in your speaking and writing tests. A range of sophisticated vocabulary will fetch you decent scores on this test. Repetition of words suggests that you do not have enough word banks. Words related to the topic or question are critical to getting a high band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The test taker is supposed to frame the answers in a way that they are grammatically accurate. The punctuation in the writing test, like the comma, full-stop, and semicolon, is checked in this. Make sure your sentences are grammatically sound and error-free.

These are two important marking criteria that should be fulfilled in the speaking test.

Fluency refers to the smoothness and pace at which you speak. An external examiner will be rating you on your fluency during the test.

Pronunciation: The ability to pronounce the words correctly refers to pronunciation in a language. This avoids confusion and helps in easy understanding of the language.