IELTS Preparation

One test. Countless opportunities.

IELTS is accepted for both study and migration by governments in more countries than any other English language test. By choosing IELTS you have more options for the future:

Study ? Thousands of educational institutions around the world use IELTS to help select their students.

Work ? IELTS is required by professional registration bodies for accounting, engineering, law, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, teaching and more in many countries.

Migrate ? IELTS is accepted by governments as a requirement for permanent residency in Australia, Canada, the UK and New Zealand.

Six more reasons to choose IELTS:

1. 48 test dates per year: IDP IELTS Australia and British Council offers 48 test dates per year at over 200 locations worldwide.
2. Prepares you for study and work overseas : IELTS tests many of the English language proficiency skills you will need to use in your studies and in your work in English speaking environments.
3. The trusted test. : IELTS is co-owned and was co-created by a global partnership of education and language experts: the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL). Our commitment to quality and reliability is why IELTS is accepted and preferred by thousands of top colleges, universities, professional registration bodies and employers in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK and the US.
4. Fairer to you : You deserve a fair chance to do your best. That?s why, unlike other tests, IELTS gives you a quiet room for the Speaking test with no distractions or interruptions. Your speaking skills will be carefully assessed by a highly qualified examiner ? we don?t rely on computers to judge your performance.
5. Faster results : IELTS results are issued 13 calendar days after you sit the test. Results can be previewed online, while your test report form can be delivered by mail, be collected from your test centre, or sent directly to the institution you are applying to (with your permission).
6. The international test : IELTS test questions are written by a team of writers from all over the world. All questions are carefully prepared and trialled to avoid any bias toward certain cultures, age groups or gender. Both American and British spellings are accepted to make the test fairer to everyone, wherever you learn English or sit the test.

How your score has been calculated

The Academic and General Training papers are graded to the same scale.

Overall band score : Your overall band score is calculated by taking the mean score of the four test components (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking). The score for each component is equally weighted. Your overall band score is rounded up to the nearest whole or half band.

For example : If you achieve 6.5 for Listening, 6.5 for Reading, 5.0 for Writing and 7.0 for Speaking, you will be awarded an Overall Band Score of 6.5. Total score of 25 ÷ 4 = 6.25 which is a band score of 6.5.

If you achieve 4.0 for Listening, 3.5 for Reading, 4.0 for Writing and 4.0 for Speaking, you would be awarded an Overall Band Score of 4.0. Total score of 15.5 ÷ 4 = 3.875 which is a band score of 4.0.

Listening and Reading scores : IELTS Listening and Reading components each contain 40 questions. Each correct item is awarded one mark, therefore the maximum raw score you can achieve for each component is 40. Band scores ranging from Band 1 to Band 9 are awarded to candidates on the basis of their raw scores.

Please note : In order to equate different test versions, the band score boundaries are set so that all candidates? results relate to the same scale of achievement. This means, for example, that the Band 6 boundary may be set at a slightly different raw score across versions.

Writing and Speaking scores : When marking the Writing and Speaking components of the test, examiners use detailed assessment criteria which describe written and spoken performance at each of the 9 IELTS bands.

Writing: Examiners award a band score for each of four criterion areas : Task Achievement (for Task 1), Task Response (for Task 2), Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. The four criteria are equally weighted.

Speaking: Examiners award a band score for each of four criterion areas : Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy and Pronunciation. The four criteria are equally weighted.

Assessment criteria : To get a better understanding of the level of performance required to attain a particular band score, you should familiarise yourself with the assesment criteria.

My IELTS result will only be valid for two years. Why? The IELTS partners recommend that a Test Report Form which is more than two years old should only be accepted if it is accompanied by proof that you have actively maintained or tried to improve your English.

Listening

The Listening test is 30 minutes long and is four separate recordings.

The Listening test is the same for both Academic and General Training tests.

The following IELTS Listening Sample Tasks are to be used with the Answer Sheet and MP3 audio files/transcripts. Each answer sheet indicates which Recording to listen to, or if a transcript is provided.

Listening Sample Task - Form Completion (PDF,59KB)
IELTS Listening Recording 1 (MP3, 1.2MB)
Listening Sample Task - Multiple Choice (PDF, 16KB)
IELTS Listening Recording 2 (MP3, 402KB)
Listening Sample Task - Short Answer (PDF, 25KB)
IELTS Listening Recording 3 (MP3, 574KB)
Listening Sample Task  - Sentence Completion (PDF,17KB)
IELTS Listening Recording 4 (MP3, 549KB)
Listening Sample Task - Matching (example 1) (PDF. 21KB)
Listening Sample Task - Matching (example 2) (PDF, 21KB)
Listening Sample Task - Plan/Map/Diagram Labelling (PDF,25KB)
Listening Answer Sheet (PDF, 233KB)

Academic Reading

The Academic Reading test is 60 minutes long.

Texts for the Academic Reading test are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers.

A variety of questions is used, chosen from the following types: multiple choice, identifying information, identifying writer’s views/claims, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.

Academic Reading Sample Task - Diagram label completion (PDF,61KB)
Academic Reading Sample Task - Identifying information (PDF,35KB)
Academic Reading Sample Task - Identifying writer's views (PDF,56KB)
Academic Reading Sample Task - Matching features (PDF,22KB)
Academic Reading Sample Task - Matching headings (PDF,26KB)
Academic Reading Sample Task - Multiple choice questions (PDF,21KB)
Academic Reading Sample Task - Table completion (PDF,59KB)
IELTS Reading answer sheet (PDF, 130KB)

Academic Writing

The Academic Writing test is 60 minutes long.

The test comprises two writing tasks of 150 words and 250 words.

In Task 1 you will be asked to describe some visual information (graph/table/chart/diagram), and to present the description in your own words. You need to write 150 words in about 20 minutes. In Task 2 you will be presented with a point of view or argument or problem. You need to write 250 words in about 40 minutes.

Below are samples of Task 1 and Task 2. (Note that the Academic Writing test is different to the General Training Writing test).

Academic Writing Sample Task 1 (PDF, 34KB)
Academic Writing Sample Task 2 (PDF, 11KB)
IELTS Writing Answer sheet (PDF, 700KB)
IELTS Academic Writing Sample Script (PDF, 1.4MB)

General Training Reading

The General Training Reading test is 60 minutes long.

A variety of questions are used, chosen from the following types; multiple choice, identifying information, identifying writer’s views/claims, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.

General Training Reading Sample Task - Flow Chart Completion(PDF, 40KB)
General Training Reading Sample Task - Identifying Information(PDF, 99KB)
General Training Reading Sample Task - Matching Information(PDF, 43KB)
General Training Reading Sample Task - Matching Features (PDF,32KB)
General Training Reading Sample Task - Matching Headings (PDF,31KB)
General Training Reading Sample Task - Multiple Choice Questions (PDF, 24KB)
General Training Reading Sample Task - Sentence Completion(PDF, 19KB)
General Training Reading Sample Task - Short Answer Questions(PDF, 18KB)
IELTS Reading Answer sheet (PDF, 130KB)

General Training Writing

The General Training Writing test is 60 minutes long.

It has two writing tasks of 150 words and 250 words.

In Task 1, candidates are asked to respond to a situation, by writing a letter for example, requesting information or explaining a situation. In Task 2, candidates write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.

Below are samples of Task 1 and Task 2. (Note that candidates for the General Training module do a different Writing test to the Academic module).

General Training Writing Sample - Task 1 (PDF, 21KB)
General Training Writing Sample - Task 2 (PDF, 11KB)
IELTS Writing Answer sheet (PDF, 130KB)
General Training Writing Sample Script (PDF, 869KB)

Speaking

In the Speaking test, you have a discussion with a certified Examiner. It is interactive and as close to a real-life situation as a test can get.

The test is 11 to 14 minutes long with three parts. In Part 1, you answer questions about yourself and your family. In Part 2, you speak about a topic. In Part 3, you have a longer discussion on the topic.

The Speaking test is the same for both Academic and General Training tests.

Speaking Sample Task Part 1 - Prompt (PDF, 21KB)
Speaking Sample Task Part 1 - Recording (MP3, 631KB)
Speaking Sample Task Part 1 - Transcript (PDF, 12KB)
Speaking Sample Task Part 2 - Prompt (PDF, 20KB)
Speaking Sample Task Part 2 - Recording (MP3, 762KB)
Speaking Sample Task Part 2 - Transcript (PDF,11KB)
Speaking Sample Task Part 3 - Prompt (PDF, 18KB)
Speaking Sample Task Part 3 - Recording (MP3, 1.2MB)
Speaking Sample Task Part 3 - Transcript (PDF, 13KB)

Common Myths about IELTS

False advice is often given about IELTS. Instead you should concentrate on improving your English. Practise your English every day to perform better.

Myth	Truth
IELTS is too difficult	IELTS is no more difficult than any other exam. The questions are straightforward and designed to assess how well you can use your English – not to trick you or test your opinions. As with any exam, IELTS requires thorough preparation. Also, remember that there is no pass or fail in IELTS. The results are reported on a 9-band scale (1 being the lowest, 9 being the highest). This scale has remained consistent for over 20 years. The score you need is determined by the requirements of your visa or the institution/organisation to which you are applying. Always remember to check what score you need before you take the test.
If I sit the test in my home country, I might get a better result.	This is a common myth. However it is important to understand that the IELTS test will be the same level of difficulty wherever you sit the test.Think about where you will feel most confident taking the test. It is important to recognise that good meals and good sleep in the lead-up to your test will help you perform your best. Also consider how far you need to travel early on test day to reach the test centre. Keep in mind that all IELTS examiners in each country receive the same high level of training and are closely monitored to ensure they rate your responses consistently wherever you sit the test.
If I smile and make the examiner laugh in my Speaking test, I may get a better mark.	Smiling can help you feel relaxed which in turn might help you perform better. Every examiner is trained and monitored closely to be fair to every candidate and assess your level of English only. The examiners will not give you more or fewer marks if you are smiling and laughing.
I will lose marks if I don’t speak with an Australian, American or British accent.	You are not expected to change your accent for the IELTS test. Instead, focus on speaking clearly and at a natural pace so that the examiner can understand you. Practising your English every day and listening to different native speaker accents will help you to pronounce difficult words more clearly.
If I write more than the word limit in my Writing test, I will get more marks.	The minimum word limit is important. You must write at least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2. If you write less than this, you will lose marks. However if you write more, this does not mean you will gain marks. Rather it is more important that you use correct English, appropriate grammar, a wide range of vocabulary and sentence structures.
If the opinions I express in my Writing or Speaking test are different to the examiner, I might lose marks.	In your Writing and Speaking test, there are no right or wrong opinions. The examiner is assessing how well you can use your English to report information and express ideas.
If I keep practising sample questions I will get a better bandscore	Practising sample tests will help you learn what is expected in each part of the test. This is good test preparation in order to maximise the English skills you have. However, remember that to improve your English you need to use English in everyday contexts – speak it with your friends, write notes and email in English, read English newspapers, listen to English radio. If you feel you need help with your English, you should also consider taking an English course. For more advice, click here.
I’ve heard it is easy to cheat at IELTS.	IELTS is protected by sophisticated and multi-layered security measures to prevent cheating in order to protect you and the organisations that accept your results. These measures include: Identity checks at registration Your photograph is taken and your finger is scanned when you register or arrive for the test. This photograph is used to ensure that the same person sits every part of the test   Identity checks are also undertaken during the Reading and Writing test and again on check-in for the Speaking test.   All test materials are collected, checked against registration and seat details and double-counted before test takers are released from their test session. All test centres are regularly monitored and audited. Test papers are printed on high-security paper and distributed automatically without human intervention. Every test paper includes a unique combination of questions – no two tests are the same Systems are in place to automatically and routinely scrutinise test results. In the event that any anomaly is identified, the candidate, Test Centre and any organisation that has been sent the result are notified and appropriate action is taken which may include cancellation of an individual’s result. IELTS make it easy for universities, employers and government to check the validity of results at any time, using a secure verification system. Any malpractice, which includes getting somebody else to sit the test on your behalf, will result in being disqualified from the test. Details of the malpractice will also be passed to any organisations to which you have applied, including relevant visa processing authorities.
IELTS is harder than other English tests.	Thousands of educational institutions, employers, and professional registration bodies accept IELTS because it is a high quality and fair test. This is why IELTS is also accepted by more governments for migration purposes than any other test. The institution/organisation you are applying to will determine what level of English you need.

Source www.ieltsessentials.com

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