Your proficiency in any language can be gauged through the four primary skills – Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. These are the four sections that you will be tested on in your IELTS. So, let’s take a quick look at the sections.
Four Sections of IELTS
1. Reading
This is a task that assesses your comprehension skills. A text (from books/ magazines/ journals/ any other source) is given. You will be given 1 hour to answer 40 questions based on it. The format of the questions include MCQs, True/ False, Choosing the right headings, Sentence Completion, Summarising and Short Answers.
2. Writing
In this section, you are expected to complete 2 tasks in 1 hour. In the first question, you are given a piece of visual information. It could be a picture, any type of graph or even a table. You have to describe it in about 150 words. The second question is where you discuss/ debate an argument or a point of view in about 250 words.
3. Listening
In this section, you will listen to 4 different recordings and answer 10 questions for each of them. The recordings can be in different accents including British, Australian, New Zealand and North American. You will be allowed to take notes when the recordings are being played and will be given the last 10 minutes to transfer your answers into the answer sheet. It is important to note that the recordings will be played only once. You will be given about 40 minutes to complete this entire task.
4. Speaking
This is an in-person interview with your examiner. It takes about 15 minutes to complete. There are 3 parts to this section.
- In the first part, you will be asked to introduce yourself and answer a few basic questions.
- For the second part, you will be given 1 minute to prepare yourself to speak for 2 minutes about a topic given by the examiner. You are allowed to make notes and are expected to structure your talk before presenting it.
- The last part is a discussion based on the topic presented in the previous task.
As our IELTS trainers keep saying, “do not fake an accent!”. The idea that imitating a native accent will help you score higher is a huge myth. The examiners are trained to assess your communication skills, clarity of thought and grammar. Your accent plays no part in your scoring.
Ultimately, the goal of IELTS is to test comprehension from reading or listening, coherence and cohesion, vocabulary, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation.
IELTS Academic or General
As a prospective international student, it is natural to worry about which one to apply for – the academic or the general test. The answer is simple. You do not get to choose. When you look at the admissions criteria for most universities, they clearly specify that only IELTS Academic Scores will be considered.
- If you are applying for an undergraduate degree or anything higher than that, IELTS Academic is the way to go. This is designed for students aiming to attend university.
- If you are looking to study below the bachelor’s level, such as a diploma or a vocational training, then IELTS General is suitable. Typically, those migrating for work or a dependent visa choose IELTS General.
In terms of difference, the Speaking and Listening tests are the same in both these formats. The difference is in the Reading and Writing sections where the topic can be more academically inclined. The cost of taking up IELTS is the same, irrespective of whether it is General or Academic.
There is also another test type: IELTS Life Skills that assesses only your speaking and listening skills. This assessment is not considered in most professional set ups. Only those applying for family visa, spousal visa or indefinite leave to remain choose this module.
Testing format
Depending on your convenience, you can choose one of the three formats to take up your IELTS exam.
1. IELTS on Paper
This is the traditional method where you will go to a recognised testing centre, sit at a desk with question papers and answer sheets to complete your tests. You will also meet a trained examiner who will conduct your speaking test in person. The results are available typically in 2 weeks after the completion of the test. It is a myth that the paper-based test is harder than the computer test. The difficulty level remains exactly the same. The choice rests entirely up on your convenience.
2. IELTS on Computer
If you choose this method, you will still go to an official testing site, read your questions on a computer screen and input your answers on the same computer. However, for the speaking section, you will meet your examiner in a face-to-face interview. The results are available in 3-5 days after taking the test.
Here are some advantages of choosing this method:
- The results are declared much sooner.
- There is a word count feature in the writing section. This can save time and help you plan better.
- The computer-based test also allows one-module retake. You can choose to re-take one of the four, if you are unhappy with your performance. However, it is important to note that some top tier universities do not consider this score. So, double check the eligibility criteria of your preferred universities before choosing this option.
3. IELTS Online
This is different from the computer format because this allows you to take up the test from your home or any other private location. The test remains the same but simply gives you the option of taking it from any location. However, it becomes your responsibility to ensure you do not face technical difficulties while taking it up. For the speaking section, you will attend an online video call with a trained examiner.
Two important points to note:
- IELTS Online is available only for the academic module.
- Your test report will mention that you took up the test online. While this is not an issue with most universities, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires you to take up your test in an official IELTS test centre.
Scoring
Each of the 4 sections are rated from 0 – 9 with increments of 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75. The overall score is an average of all the 4 sections with scores ending in .25 rounded up to the next half band and scores ending in .75 rounded up to the next whole band. This is why a lot of universities also specify a minimum requirement for each section, in addition to the total score.