Planning to settle abroad or ready to pursue higher education in distant countries? Then you must be well trained enough to clear the IELTS exam. IELTS is a standardized examination to test your English language proficiency and is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment.
Why IELTS?
A lot of students and get confused whether why do they have to apply for IELTS and what is the importance of this examination. The simple answer to this question is that foreign universities and visa agencies need to be sure whether you are well versed with the language of that country or not and how will you be able to communicate.
About IELTS
| Score/grade validity | 2 years |
| Score/grade range | 0 to 9, 0.5 band increments |
| Valid in | More than 140 countries |
| Annual number of test takers | More than 3 million in 2018 |
| Knowledge tested | Listening, reading, writing and speaking of the English language |
| Purpose | To assess the English language proficiency of non-native English speakers |
IELTS is an English language exam that is required to be taken by international candidates considering studying or working in a country where English is used as the primary language.
To give an attempt for this examination your age must be 16 or above and you must have a valid passport. A candidate can apply for the examination if you are planning to study in UK/Australia/Canada/New Zealand/USA or if he/she is a medical professional, planning to work or study further in UK/Australia/USA.
Is IELTS compulsory?
No IELTS is not compulsory and a lot of universities do not even consider the score of the examination but if you have not applied for the examination then your chances of getting a student visa might hamper as the visa officers may not be convinced about your English proficiency without IELTS scores.
How to prepare for IELTS?
IELTS is not a rocket science and can be cleared easily if you keep some important points in your mind before giving it a shot.
Understand the test format
To start preparing for IELTS you must make yourself with the pattern of the examination, the questions asked and the rules and regulations.
Practice with sample test questions
Going through sample test materials and last year questions is always very helpful and also gives you an idea about the questions that will be asked.
Official IELTS practice material
There are official CD’s available in the market from which you can study last year’s exam papers and can also get your hands on new and revised questions to crack this examination like a cake walk. The study material is also available on the Cambridge university site or you can also visit the test centers personally and grab a copy of study material from there.
Consider a preparation course
If you want to get assistance in your preparation then you can easily enroll in different courses held at the IELTS centers and language schools. Visit your nearest center and apply as soon as possible so that you can get maximum time to prepare before the big day!!
How many times IELTS exam is conducted in a year?
IELTS examination is held many times in a year. As the test is offered up to 48 times a year it can be taken by candidates at their convenience to meet their individual
Candidates are given grades according to their performance ranging from 1 to 9 for each consisting of – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The results combined from all four sections will then reflect your final score which will be declared within 13 days and is valid for 2 years.
Each year thousands of students fill their forms to apply for universities in USA and if you are one of them then you must keep in mind that if you want to be ahead of the crowd then you must apply for IELTS as it double your chances of getting a student visa very easily.
All you need to know:
There are more than 3400 institutes in USA who consider IELTS as a compulsory score.
Take a quick tour and do proper research before applying in any of the colleges as there are many institutes like British council that also provide scholarships to the students.
If you are planning to study or settle in Canada then consider IELTS to be you first step towards attaining your goals. The test scores are considered by the Citizenship and Immigration department of Canada and are also compulsory in all 340 universities across the country.
Points to keep in mind for IELTS in CANADA
IELTS is considered the first major score that is checked by all the universities in the country to make sure that you will be well versed and understanding by the localities over there.
This exam score is also important if you are applying for immigration to Canada as it acts as a proof of as proof of English language proficiency for express entry and for Quebec-selected skilled workers.
You must clear all four sections of the examination with a minimum score of 1.0 to be eligible to apply in the country.
Top places to study for the IELTS examination
IELTS is not just about checking your English ability but it is also the first major step that you have to clear if you want to achieve your dreams. There are a lot of test centers and institutes that provide classes and sessions that are helpful in cracking the score.
Let’s’ take a quick look at some top institutes that will help you beat the score very easily
British Council: one of the oldest and the most loved institute offers free resources, best expert advice, convenient test dates, easy booking and best results to all its students.
Jamboree: with centres in almost all major cities in India and neighboring countries this institute covers all aspects and sections of the exams along with mock test, real-life scenarios and extra expert support and guidance to help you get the best scores.
Camford academy: a well known name for all IELTS aspirants this institute offers a full fleged 2 months course and also has some crash courses varying from 1 week to 3 weeks.
IELTS exam syllabus
IELTS is divided into 4 sections: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Reading: The reading module consists of three texts of general interest with issues which are for candidates entering postgraduate or undergraduate courses and is followed 40 questions that have to be answered in 30 minutes. The questions asked are of different types ranging from multiple choice sentence or summary completion, identifying data for short-answer questions, matching lists or phrases and identifying writer’s’ views/attitudes.
Listening: The Listening module is divided into four sections in which you will be given conversations to listen and then interpret your observations. The first two conversations will be directly related with social needs, while the last two will be with situations more closely related to education. A variety of question types will be asked on the conversations like multiple choice, short-answer questions, notes completion, sentence completion etc.
Writing: short essays, general reports and speec
Speaking: As the name suggests this section will be a personal interview and will be totally focused on the way you present yourself. It will reflect your communication skills and knowledge.
Conclusion
Hurry up and get ready to clear this exam and fly away to accomplish your dreams and to build a better career. Register yourself for the course in your preferred institute and start preparing for the upcoming IELTS examination date.