What is IELTS? This is an international English language testing system. It is jointly managed by the British Council and the Cambridge Assessment. The system was created in 1989. It is considered one of the key English language tests in the world.
When answering the question of what IELTS is, it must first be noted that this system is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian and New Zealand academic institutions. As well as over 3,000 universities in the United States and various other professional organizations around the world.
IELTS is the only English language test approved by the UK authorities and immigration authorities for visa applicants both outside and inside the UK. It also meets the requirements for immigrating to Australia where the TOEFL and Pearson Test of Academic are accepted. In Canada, IELTS, TEF or CELPIP are required by immigration and authorities.
Continuing to answer the question of what is IELTS, it is worth touching on the topic of assessment. The lowest score is not required to pass the test. IELTS summary or report modeltests are issued to all examinees with a score from “Group 1” (“non-user”) to “Group 9” (“expert”), with each institution setting its own threshold. There is also a "0" score for those who did not attempt the exam. Institutions are advised not to consider a report older than two years as valid unless the user can prove that they have worked to maintain their level. In Russia, you can take the IELTS test in Moscow.
In 2017, more than 3 million exams were administered in over 140 countries, up from 2 million in 2012, 1.7 million in 2011 and 1.4 million in 2009. In 2007, for the first time, IELTS delivered over one million tests in a single month period, making it the world's most popular English language exam for higher education and immigration certification.
Test structure
So, what is IELTS, in general terms, it is clear. Now it's worth considering the exam device.
There are two modules:
- Academic
- General training.
There is also a separate activity offered by testing partners called IELTS Life Skills. It is intended for those who wish to enter universities and other institutions of higher education, as well as professionals such as doctors and nurses who wish to practice in an English-speaking country.
The Common Test is for those who plan to pursue non-academic studies or work experience, and for immigration purposes.
Life Skills is for those whoyou need to prove your speaking and listening skills at level A1 or B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Such a system can be used to apply for an indefinite visa. And also in order to stay or get citizenship in the UK.
Four parts of the IELTS test
The test consists of the following sections:
- Listening: 30 minutes.
- Reading: 60 minutes
- Writing: 60 minutes.
- Speech: 11-14 minutes
Total test time: 2 hours 45 minutes.
Listening, reading and writing are completed in one period. The Speaking Test can be taken on the same day or up to a week before or after the other parts.
All test takers take the same listening and speaking exams, while reading and writing differ depending on whether the test taker needs an academic option or general enough.
Listening
The module consists of four sections, ten questions each. It takes 40 minutes: 30 for testing, plus 10 for writing answers to the exam sheet.
Sections 1 and 2 are about everyday social situations.
In the first option, there is a conversation between two speakers (for example, a conversation about organizing a trip).
Section 2 employs one person (let's say we are talking about local institutions).
Sections 3 and 4 about educational and learning situations.
This is a conversation between two keynote speakers (for example,a discussion between two university students, possibly led by a mentor).
And in section 4, one person is talking about an academic subject.
Each module begins with a brief introduction telling the test-taker about the situation and the speakers. The examinee then has time to review the questions. They are in the same order as the information on the entry, so the first answer will come before the second point, and so on. The first three sections have a break in the middle, allowing you to look at the rest of the questions. Each module can only be listened to once.
At the end of the IELTS test, students have 10 minutes to transfer their answers to the checklist. Test takers will lose points for incorrect spelling and grammar.
Reading
The handout consists of three sections and texts totaling 2150–2750 words. When preparing for IELTS, it is worth considering that there will be different types of questions. Multiple-choice questions, short explanation, identifying information, revealing the author's views, marking charts, completing summaries using words taken from the story, and matching information, headings, features in text and sentence. Test-takers should be careful when writing answers, as you can lose marks for incorrect wording of thought and grammar.
Texts in IELTS Academic
Three stories to read from books, magazines, newspapers and online resources written fornon-specialists. All topics are of general interest to students at the undergraduate or graduate level.
Texts in IELTS General Training
Section 1 contains two or three short stories that deal with everyday topics. For example, schedules or behavior are things a person had to understand while living in an English-speaking country.
Point 2 includes two texts that deal with labor. For example, official instructions, contracts, training materials.
Section 3 contains one long text on general topics. It is generally descriptive, longer, and more complex than the stories in sections 1 and 2. Text will be taken from a newspaper, magazine, book, or online resource.
Writing
It's pretty easy to pass IELTS, but you need to be fluent in grammar. The written document offers two tasks to complete. In task 1, test takers write at least 150 words in 20 minutes. In the second block, 250 units in about 40 minutes. Test-takers can be penalized if their response is too short or off topic. Explanations must be written in full sentences.
IELTS Academic
Task 1: Test takers describe a graph, table or chart in their own words.
Assignment 2: Students discuss a point of view, argument or problem. Depending on the task, it is necessary to present a solution, justify an opinion, compare and contrast evidence and consequences, and evaluate and challenge ideas or arguments.
IELTS General Training
Task 1: test takers write a variantsolutions to the proposed daily situation. For example, a letter to an employee regarding accommodation and a housing problem. Or it is suggested to write to a new employer about time management. Or maybe send a response to the local newspaper about the airport development plan.
Task 2: Test takers write an essay on a general topic. For example, should smoking be banned in public places, should educational activities for children be permanent, how can environmental issues be addressed.
Performance
The IELTS English Speaking Test is a face to face interview between the examiner and the examiner.
The program consists of three sections:
Section 1. Introduction and interview (4-5 minutes). Test takers may be asked about their home, family, work, studies, hobbies, interests, reasons for taking the IELTS exam, as well as other general topics such as clothing, leisure time, computers and the internet.
Section 2. Long story. Test takers receive a card with a task on a specific topic. They have one minute to prepare for the conversation. The card indicates the points that should be included in the report, and one aspect that must also be present during the speech. Test-takers are expected to speak on this topic for 2 minutes, after which the examiner may ask one or two questions.
Section 3. Discussions (4-5 minutes). The third section includes a discussion between the examiner and the test-taker, usually on questions related to the topic they already discussed in the second part.
Students receive a grade for eachtest component - listening, reading, writing and speaking. The individual scores are then averaged and rounded to give the total score. The same system applies during the IELTS trial.
Tagging rules
The IELTS grading scale is nine-point, each corresponding to a specific competency in English.
The rounding convention applies: if the average of the four skills ends at 0.25, then it increases to the next half. And if up to 0, 75, then rounding occurs to a smaller whole point.
IELTS assessment criteria
What do certain test scores mean?
Rated "9". Advanced user. Has full operational command of the language: relevant, precise and fluent with excellent understanding.
Score "8". A very good user. Has full operational command of the language with rare non-systematic inaccuracies. Misunderstandings can arise in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex, detailed arguments well.
Mark "7". Good user. Good command of the language, although with a few inaccuracies, inappropriateness and misunderstandings in some situations. Usually handles complex language well and has great attention to detail.
Rated "6". Professional user. Has a generally effective style, despite certain inaccuracies, inconsistencies and misconceptions. Able to use and understand rather difficult speech, especially infamiliar situations.
Score "5". Simple user. Has some language, handles a single meaning in most situations, though likely to make many mistakes. Must be able to handle basic communications in their field.
Mark "4". Limited user. Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent difficulties in understanding and formulating. Cannot use complex language.
Score "3". Extremely limited user. Translates and realizes only the total meaning in certain situations. There are frequent breakdowns in communication.
Rated "2". Intermittent user. No real communication is possible, except for basic information using single words or short formulas in familiar moments and in order to satisfy essential needs. Has difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
Result "1". Not a user. Essentially unable to apply language other than a few isolated words.
Category "0". Didn't try to pass the test. No scoring information provided at all.
Before starting the exam, it is better to take an IELTS practice test.
History
The English Language Testing Service was founded in 1980 by Cambridge English Language Assessment (then known as UCLES) and the British Council. It had an innovative format that reflected changes in learning and teaching. This was also expressed in the growth of the "communicative" study of language and "English forspecial purposes." The test items were designed to reflect the use of the item in the real world.
During the 1980s, the number of test takers was low (from 4,000 in 1981 to 10,000 in 1985). There were practical difficulties during the examination. As a result, the ELTS project was created to control updates.
The service started in 1989. The test takers took two non-specialized modules - "Listening and speaking", and two specialized - "Reading and writing". The number of people passing the exam increased by about 15% per year, and by 1995, there were 43,000 participants in 210 testing centers around the world.
IELTS Fraud Episodes
According to publicly released information, offenses are extremely rare. One of the most significant cases of the scam happened in 2011. This event was called the “Kurtin incident.”
An institute manager in Tasmania hacked employee accounts in order to change IELTS final scores in a shared database without staff consent. The fact of cheating was revealed only thanks to a mechanical system that looked for errors and deviations in the exam results. And in the summer of 2011, the trial issued a verdict to the offender - 24 months in prison. In addition to him, 9 other employees were found guilty of involvement in fraud.
