IELTS IELTS

International English Testing System International English Testing System

OverviewOverview

The TestThe TestAll Candidates are tested in listening, All Candidates are tested in listening, reading, writing and speaking. reading, writing and speaking.

Listening 30 minsListening 30 minsReading 60 minsReading 60 minsWriting 60 minsWriting 60 minsSpeaking 11 Speaking 11 –– 14 mins 14 minsTotal test time 2 hours 45 minutes Total test time 2 hours 45 minutes excluding breaks.excluding breaks.

ListeningListeningTime: 30 minutesTime: 30 minutes 4 sections, 40 4 sections, 40 questionsquestionsReal-world listening situationsReal-world listening situationsRange of topics and tasksRange of topics and tasks- listening for specific information - listening for specific information e.g.dates, place namese.g.dates, place names- understanding gist- understanding gist- understanding speaker attitude/opinion- understanding speaker attitude/opinion

Listening Test FormatListening Test Format

Section 1: conversation Section 1: conversation –– 2 speakers 2 speakersSection 2: monologueSection 2: monologueSection 3: conversation Section 3: conversation –– 4 speakers 4 speakersSection 4: lectureSection 4: lecture

General listening strategiesGeneral listening strategiesRecording is played onceRecording is played onceRead question CAREFULLY BEFORE Read question CAREFULLY BEFORE listeninglisteningFamiliarise yourself with question typesFamiliarise yourself with question types- completing a chart- completing a chart- selecting pictures- selecting pictures- note-taking exercises- note-taking exercises-MC questions-MC questions

ReadingReadingTime: 60 minutesTime: 60 minutes 3 reading 3 reading passages, totally 40 questionspassages, totally 40 questionsTexts are taken from books, Texts are taken from books, magazines, journals and newspapersmagazines, journals and newspapers Question typesQuestion types- find detailed information - find detailed information - identify attitudes and views- identify attitudes and views- complete a diagram- complete a diagram

General Reading StrategiesGeneral Reading Strategies

Identify reading skills being testedIdentify reading skills being testedPractise these skillsPractise these skills

WritingWritingTime: 60 minutesTime: 60 minutes 2 tasks 2 tasksTask 1(20mins): descriptive report of Task 1(20mins): descriptive report of a table or diagram, 150 words a table or diagram, 150 words Task 2(40 mins):250 word essay in Task 2(40 mins):250 word essay in response to an opinion or a problem. response to an opinion or a problem. Discuss issues, construct an Discuss issues, construct an argument and use the appropriate argument and use the appropriate tone and register.tone and register.

General Writing StrategiesGeneral Writing Strategies

Read the question carefullyRead the question carefully

Familiarise yourself with descriptions Familiarise yourself with descriptions of data of data –– in newspapers, textbooks in newspapers, textbooks

Practise formulating your own ideas Practise formulating your own ideas on topicson topics

SpeakingSpeakingTime: 10 Time: 10 –– 15 minutes 15 minutes Face to face interview between one Face to face interview between one candidate and one examiner. candidate and one examiner. Part 1(4-5mins): Introduction and Part 1(4-5mins): Introduction and interviewinterviewPart 2(1-3 mins incl. prep): Individual talkPart 2(1-3 mins incl. prep): Individual talkPart 3(4-5 mins): Discussion topics Part 3(4-5 mins): Discussion topics

Speaking Speaking

Speak fluently and link ideas Speak fluently and link ideas coherentlycoherentlyDemonstrate a range of appropriate Demonstrate a range of appropriate vocabularyvocabularyUse accurate grammar and Use accurate grammar and appropriate registerappropriate registerSpeak so that a listener can Speak so that a listener can understandunderstand

Speaking strategiesSpeaking strategiesPart 1Part 1– Take the initiative if possibleTake the initiative if possible– Always say more than yes or noAlways say more than yes or no– Try to overcome nervesTry to overcome nerves

Speaking StrategiesSpeaking StrategiesPart 2Part 2- Take the 1 min preparation time- Take the 1 min preparation time- Jot down some main ideas- Jot down some main ideas- Sound interested in the talk- Sound interested in the talk

Speaking StrategiesSpeaking StrategiesPart 3Part 3- Give informed responses- Give informed responses- Demonstrate your control of the - Demonstrate your control of the languagelanguage- Attempt to express abstract ideas- Attempt to express abstract ideas- Support your opinions- Support your opinions- Show that you are willing to provide - Show that you are willing to provide extended repliesextended replies

ScoringScoring

IELTS provides a profile of a IELTS provides a profile of a candidatecandidate’’s ability to use Englishs ability to use EnglishCandidates receive a score on a Band Candidates receive a score on a Band Scale from 1-9Scale from 1-9

Scores on the IELTS test are graded into nine Scores on the IELTS test are graded into nine bands as follows:bands as follows:

Band 0-Did not attempt the testBand 0-Did not attempt the test

Band 1Band 1--Non UserNon User

Band 2Band 2--Intermittent UserIntermittent User

Band 3Band 3--Extremely Limited UserExtremely Limited User

Band 4Band 4--Limited UserLimited User

Band 5Band 5--Modest UserModest User

Band 6Band 6--Competent UserCompetent User

Has generally effective command of Has generally effective command of the language despite some the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situationsparticularly in familiar situations..

Band 7Band 7--Good UserGood User

Band 8Band 8--Very Good UserVery Good User

Band 9 Band 9 --Expert UserExpert User

General StrategiesGeneral Strategies

Familiarise yourself with the test.Familiarise yourself with the test.PractisePractiseTime ManagementTime Management

The EndThe End