What is IELTS?
IELTS, or the International English Language Testing System, is a standardized test designed to assess the language proficiency of individuals who want to study or work in English-speaking environments.
Types of IELTS tests:
1. IELTS Academic:
2. IELTS General Training:
This version of the test is intended for individuals applying for higher education or professional registration in an English-speaking environment. It assesses whether you are ready to begin studying or training where English is the language of communication. The content and tasks in the reading and writing sections are more suited to an academic context.
This version is suitable for those migrating to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK, or applying for training programs, secondary education, or work experience in an English-speaking environment. The General Training test focuses on basic survival skills in broad social and workplace contexts, with the reading and writing sections designed to test English language skills in a practical, everyday context.
3. Additional IELTS Tests:
Apart from the main Academic and General Training tests, there are a few specialized versions:
A. IELTS Life Skills
A test for people who need to prove their English speaking and listening skills at Levels A1, A2, or B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It’s designed for those who need to meet the specific immigration requirements of some countries, such as the UK, and focuses on basic survival skills in broad social and workplace contexts.
B. IELTS for UKVI
These are specific versions of IELTS designed to meet certain administrative requirements specified by the UK Home Office. They are available in both Academic and General Training, as well as the IELTS Life Skills tests.
Four Sections of IELTS:
(Common for both Academic and General Training)
(Different for Academic and General Training)
(Different for Academic and General Training)
(Common for both Academic and General Training)
- Duration: Approximately 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes’ transfer time)
- Sections: 4 sections, 10 questions each, total of 40 questions
- Content: Includes recordings of native English speakers and covers conversations, monologues, and discussions.
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Sections: 3 sections, total of 40 questions
Academic Reading:
- Content: Includes three long texts ranging from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical, sourced from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers.
General Training Reading:
- Content: Features extracts from books, magazines, newspapers, notices, advertisements, company handbooks, and guidelines. These are materials you are likely to encounter on a daily basis in an English-speaking environment.
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Tasks: 2 tasks
Academic Writing:
- Task 1: Describe a chart, graph, diagram, or table in your own words.
- Task 2: Write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem.
General Training Writing:
- Task 1: Write a letter requesting information, or explaining a situation.
- Task 2: Write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem, which tends to be more personal than the Academic essay.
- Duration: 11–14 minutes
- Parts: 3 parts (Introduction and interview, Long turn, Discussion)
- Content: Conducted as a one-on-one oral interview with an examiner. The candidate discusses familiar topics, speaks at length about a given topic, and engages in a more abstract discussion related to the long turn.