IELTS Course
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a highly regarded exam for assessing English language proficiency, recognized worldwide by educational institutions, employers, immigration agencies, and professional organizations. Whether your goal is to study, work, or live in an English-speaking country, a strong IELTS score is crucial in demonstrating your language abilities. Preparing for the IELTS exam is a crucial step for students aspiring to study abroad, as it plays a significant role in securing both university admissions and student visas. Our IELTS preparation course is meticulously designed to help you achieve the high scores needed for a successful student visa application.
Types of IELTS Exams
There are two primary versions of the IELTS exam:
IELTS Academic
- Purpose: Designed for those applying to higher education or seeking professional registration in an English-speaking country.
- Content: Evaluates your ability to use English in an academic context, with tasks reflecting language and topics relevant to academic settings.
- Importance: Often required for university admission, student visas, and professional certifications.
IELTS General Training
- Purpose: Tailored for individuals planning to migrate to countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the UK, or those applying for secondary education, training programs, or work experience in an English-speaking environment.
- Content: Focuses on practical English language skills needed in everyday social and workplace scenarios.
- Importance: Typically used for immigration purposes and by employers to verify language proficiency.
Exam Sections and Format
| Section | Duration | Details | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 30 minutes | Listen to four recordings and answer related questions. | Covers a variety of accents and dialects, testing comprehension in different contexts. |
| Reading | 60 minutes | Three reading passages with associated tasks. | Extracted from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers; tests skills like skimming, understanding main ideas, and recognizing arguments. |
| Writing | 60 minutes | Academic: Describe a visual or write an essay. General: Write a letter and an essay. | Practicing essay writing daily is recommended, especially for those aiming for a score of 6 or higher. |
| Speaking | 11-14 minutes | Face-to-face interview with an examiner. | Tests fluency, coherence, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. |
Tips for Achieving Success
- Consistent Practice: Regular practice is vital, particularly in areas like writing, which many find challenging.
- Familiarize Yourself with the Format: Understand the types of questions and time constraints for each section.
- Use Official Resources: Practice with official IELTS materials to simulate test conditions.
- Take Mock Tests: Time yourself while taking practice tests to build stamina and confidence.
- Enhance Vocabulary: A strong vocabulary is essential for all sections.
- Consider Professional Guidance: Enrolling in a preparation course can provide structured practice and expert feedback.
IELTS Course Content
The IELTS exam is a globally recognized assessment of English language proficiency, taken by over 2.5 million candidates annually across 140 countries. This test is crucial for anyone looking to study, work, or migrate to English-speaking countries.
Key Features of IELTS
- Global Accessibility: Administered at more than 4,000 test centers worldwide, making it easily accessible. You can find your nearest center on the official website.
- International Recognition: IELTS scores are accepted in over 140 countries, including key destinations like Australia, the USA, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and Ireland. Educational institutions and organizations in these countries use IELTS scores to evaluate non-native English speakers.
IELTS Band Scores
| Band Score | Listening Raw Score | Reading Raw Score (Academic) | Reading Raw Score (General Training) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | 39 | 39 | 40 |
| 8.5 | 37 | 37 | 39 |
| 8.0 | 35 | 35 | 38 |
| 7.5 | 32 | 33 | 36 |
| 7.0 | 30 | 30 | 34 |
| 6.5 | 26 | 27 | 32 |
| 6.0 | 23 | 23 | 30 |
| 5.5 | 18 | 19 | 27 |
| 5.0 | 16 | 15 | 23 |
| 4.5 | 13 | 13 | 19 |
| 4.0 | 10 | 10 | 15 |
Most universities accept an average score of 6.5, with a minimum of 6 in each section.
Top Universities Accepting IELTS Scores
- USA: Yale University (7.0), Harvard University (7.0), Columbia University (7.0), Northwestern University (7.5), MIT (7.0)
- UK: Oxford University (7.5), Cambridge University (7.0), King’s College London (7.0), University of Bristol (6.0), University of Edinburgh (6.5)
- Canada: McGill University (6.5), University of Toronto (6.5-7), McMaster University (6.5), Victoria University (6.5), University of British Columbia (6.5)
- Australia: Sydney University (6.5), University of Melbourne (7.0), Monash University (6.5), University of Queensland (6.5), Australian National University (6.5-7.0)
FAQ's
1 What is IELTS?
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the worlds most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration, with 3.5 million tests taken in the past year. For more information, please visit http://www.takeielts.org.
2 Which organisations accept IELTS?
IELTS is accepted by more than 10,000 organisations worldwide. These include universities, immigration departments, government agencies, professional bodies and multinational companies.
3 Who owns IELTS and who writes the test?
IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English. International teams of writers contribute to IELTS test materials. Ongoing research ensures that IELTS remains fair and unbiased. Test writers from different English-speaking countries develop IELTS content so it reflects real-life situations.
4Why are there two versions of the test?
There are two types of the IELTS test: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. The IELTS Academic test is for people applying for higher education or professional registration in an English-speaking environment. It reflects some of the features of academic language and assesses whether you are ready to begin studying or training.The IELTS General Training test is for those who are going to English speaking countries for secondary education, work experience or training programs. It is also a requirement for migration to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK.The test focuses on basic survival skills in broad social and workplace contexts. Listening and Speaking are the same for both tests, but the subject matter of the Reading and Writing sections differs depending on which test you take.
5 Which test should I do?
Please go to https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/what-ielts and read the description of the Academic and General Training tests. Individual organisations have different requirements. Make sure you check which IELTS test the organisation you are applying to recognises. Note that you must know which version to take when you complete the online application form.
6 What is the test format and how long will it take?
The IELTS test has four sections Listening (30 minutes), Reading (60 minutes), Writing (60 minutes) and Speaking (11-14 minutes). The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes. you' ll take the first three parts of the test on the same day, in the following order: Listening, Reading and Writing (there are no breaks between these tests). Your Speaking test will be held either on the same day or seven days before or two days after , depending on local arrangements.
7What help is available for test takers with visual, hearing, speaking or learning difficulties?
Our official IELTS test centres can help if you have visual, hearing, speaking or learning difficulties. If you need a modified version of IELTS, please give the test centre three months notice. If special arrangements (for example, extra time) need to be made then please give the test centre six weeks' notice. Your English language ability will be assessed objectively, regardless of any disability or special needs that you may have.
8When can I take IELTS?
IELTS is available on 48 fixed dates a year up to four times a month, depending on local demand.
9How much does IELTS cost?
IELTS has a set fee for its test. The Academic and General Training tests are the same cost. When you apply online, you will be told the fee.
10 What if I need to postpone or cancel my application?
If you postpone or cancel your application more than 5 weeks before the test date, you will receive a refund minus an administration charge. If you postpone or cancel within 5 weeks of the test date, you will be charged the full fee unless you have a medical reason. If you provide a medical certificate within 5 days of the test date, you will receive a refund minus the local administrative cost.
