www.ielts.org
Delivered locally,
recognised
globally
BCIE Riga, 2012
www.ielts.org www.ielts.org
Aims
• To give a sound understanding of:
– What IELTS is
– Where and why students take it
– IELTS format, content and scores
– How to prepare for IELTS
www.ielts.org
IELTS
An introduction
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What is IELTS?
• The ‘International English Language Testing System’
• Jointly managed by 3 partners:
• Experts in English language testing internationally
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What does IELTS do?
“Designed to assess the English language ability of people
who intend to study or work where English is the language
of communication”
• Test of communicative proficiency in English
• Original 4 skills test covering:
– Listening
– Reading
– Writing
– Speaking
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Academic candidate’s top
destinations 2012
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Why do students take
IELTS?
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Institutes of further and higher education:
Australia, Canada, European countries, Hong Kong, New
Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, the United Kingdom, United
States and many other countries worldwide
Professional bodies:
Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and USA
Immigration authorities:
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK
Global recognition – one test for many countries and many purposes – recognised by 7,000 organisations
worldwide (August 2012)
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Generally:
• 5.0 – 5.5 often required for Foundation degree programmes
• 5.5 – 6.5 often required for Undergraduate programmes
• 6.0 – 7.0 often required for Masters/Postgraduate
programmes
• 7.0 usually required for professional studies
The score is decided by the University NOT by IELTS: this is
why scores may be different for each university.
What scores do you need for university study?
www.ielts.org
Use the online Global Recognition
System www.ielts.org
to find out which institutions will
accept your IELTS scores
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Globally accessible and convenient
• Tests administered at over 800 centres and venues
worldwide
• Up to 48 test dates per year (4 per month)
• Results released 13 days after test
• TRF can be sent directly to receiving organisations
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Delivered locally – friendly customer service
• High customer standards within the centre to ensure a
stress free testing experience
– Friendly testing environment & staff
– Strict security and centre management
– Straight forward registration procedure
• Every effort made to cater a candidate with special
requirements
• Test fee set in the country and payable in local currency
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Successful communication involves interaction
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Candidates and recognising institutions value the face-
to-face speaking test
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Test format and content,
band scores and test
results
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Question Paper Production
• 3 – 4 years to develop one item (question)
• Item writers in Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA and now
Canada
• Content sourced globally
• 6 stages of paper construction – rigorous standards applied
• Topics or language context which may introduce a bias
against any group are avoided
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Academic or General Training
IELTS?
Academic:
• Entry to University / College
/ professional registration
• Assesses ability to study or
train at undergraduate or
postgraduate level
General Training:
• Immigration, vocational,
secondary education,
language training and work
experience
• Assess survival skills in a
broad social and
educational context
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Test format
Listening 30 minutes, 4 sections, 40 items
General Training Reading 60 minutes, 3 sections, 40 items
Academic Reading 60 minutes, 3 sections, 40 items
General Training Writing
60 minutes, 2 tasks
Academic Writing 60 minutes, 2 tasks
Speaking 11 - 14 minutes, 3 parts
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Test Scores
9 - band scoring system:
9 – expert user
8 – very good user
7 – good user
6 – competent user
5 – modest user
4 – limited user
3 – extremely limited user
2 – intermittent user
1 – non user
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Fast results
• Results available in 13 days
• Valid for tw o years
• Overall and module score
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IELTS Before the test
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How to prepare for IELTS
• Courses
For courses in the UK you can see what is available at
British Council accredited English language institutions:
http://www.educationuk.org/english (Enter ‘IELTS’ as your
keyword search).
For courses in Riga you can contact Baltic Council for
International Education: www.balticcouncil.org
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How to prepare for IELTS
• Preparation materials on-line
You can download some free samples from www.ielts.org:
http://www.ielts.org/test_takers_information/test_sample.as
px
You can also download an order form for the IELTS Official
Practice Tests through www.ielts.org:
http://www.ielts.org/test_takers_information.aspx
The British Council’s Learn English Professionals site has a
section on IELTS preparation:
http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-english-gateway.htm
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How to prepare for IELTS
• Preparation materials
You can buy How to Prepare for IELTS materials or Road to
IELTS CD-Roms through your British Council office
The British Council IELTS web pages offer additional
materials specific to each local market; check
www.britishcouncil/learning-ielts.htm
There are many other publications available from
bookstores or directly from publishers which will help you
get used to the test format and style.
https://www.teachers.cambridgeesol.org/ts/teachingresourc
es
www.ielts.org
The world speaks IELTS
– do you?