International English Language Testing System
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is an entrance requirement to academic courses, secondary, vocational, and training programs by the majority of universities and institutions abroad. Increasingly, American universities have started accepting valid scores in IELTS for admission to the Under-Graduate, Graduate and Post-Graduate courses. The IELTS is designed to assess the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is used as the language of communication.
TEST FORMAT
Candidates are tested in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
– The first three modules – Listening, Reading, and Writing – must be completed in one day.
– The Speaking may be taken, at the discretion of the test center, on the same day or up to two days later.
PATTERN OF IELTS TESTS
| SECTION 1 – LISTENING | 30 Minutes |
| 4 Sections: 40 Questions | |
| Sec. One and Sec. 3 Dialogues | |
| Sec. Two and Sec. 4 Monologues |
| SECTION 2 – READING | 60 Minutes |
| 3 Sections: 40 Questions | |
| 13 to 14 Questions per section |
| SECTION 3 – WRITING, 60 Minutes | |
| 2 Tasks: | |
| Task 1: Test takers are required to describe visual information in their own words in approximately 150 words. | |
| Task 2: Test takers are required to present a point of view on an argument/problem and are expected to complete this task in around 250 words. Task 2 carries more weight than Task 1. |
| SECTION 4 – SPEAKING | 11-14 Minutes |
| 3 Sections: | |
| Part 1 – Personal Interview | 4-5 minutes |
| Part 2 – A short speech (2 minutes) and questions asked on the topic | 3-4 minutes |
| Part 3 – Involves a discussion on the above topic |
The score in each of the subtests and an overall (average) score is recorded as levels of ability, called Bands.
Total Score: 9 for each Section and an overall score out of 9.
The student has the option WHILE REGISTERING FOR the test to list down the names of five universities on the IELTS form, which will be sent to the universities free of cost.
The IELTS scores are valid for 2 years.