IELTS Exam - Registration, Eligibility, Fees, Dates, Preparation, Result and more.

October 04, 2019 IELTS , IELTS Exam , IELTS Preparation , Study Abroad 0 Comments

IELTS Exam

What is IELTS?

IELTS full form stands for the International English Language Testing System. It is an English language ability exam, which evaluates a candidate’s ability to converse in the English language across all four essential modules: speaking, writing, reading, and listening.

It is managed by three essential organizations: the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL), the British Council IELTS and IDP IELTS Australia.

Numerous students who have prepared for or appeared for the TOEFL are surprised when they confront difficulties understanding accents and expressions used by British speakers in the IELTS. This is why a thorough IELTS Exam preparation, via self-study or a language school that covers IELTS course, is required to succeed in the IELTS test.

There are Two Types of the IELTS test:

Academic, and
General Training

Test-takers must know beforehand, which module is required for their purposes, as the scores are not interchangeable. Each test has a duration of two hours and forty-five minutes. Test-takers are required to pay IELTS fees for administration of the exam.

Broadly speaking, the IELTS is taken by the individuals who wish to study, live, or work in a country where English is the primary language of communication. In particular, the test is taken by three fundamental classifications of individuals:

The individuals who need to study in an English-medium school, university, or college in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, or New Zealand
The individuals who wish to apply for immigration to nations, for example, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand
The individuals who need to prove their English capability to meet the prerequisites of professional associations or regulatory bodies in various countries

The IELTS has existed since 1989. Today, more than 3 million tests are taken in more than 140 countries every year.

Computer-Based IELTS:

The Computer-based IELTS, as the name suggests, is IELTS taken on the computer instead of the pen and paper test, which is traditionally associated with the IELTS. The structure, patterns and questions remain same as the pen and paper version. Even how you book for the IELTS test is unchanged.

IELTS used to conduct computer-based tests in 2016 for the students willing to study in the UK. However, both the British Council and IDP have introduced Computer-based tests for all the students. The most beneficial part of the Computer Delivered IELTS is, the results are declared in 5 to 7 days. The students can choose the time they are convenient with, and there are more test dates for the Computer Based IELTS tests. Read More: Computer Based IELTS

Eligibility Criteria for IELTS exam

IELTS is not recommended for candidates under the age of 16.
Mostly students take IELTS Online test.
Students who are applying to study in UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US.
Medical specialists planning to work or follow an additional study in the UK, Australia or US.
People planning to migrate to Canada, Australia or New Zealand.

IELTS Exam Pattern

IELTS Test includes of four modules:

Listening
Reading
Writing
Speaking

Reading and writing are different in Academic and General Module. Listening and Speaking stays the same for both the exam types.

Academic Training- For applicants taking the test for entry to undergraduate or postgraduate studies for proficient reasons.

General Training- For applicants taking entry to professional or training programs not at degree level, for admission to secondary schools and for immigration purposes.

The format of the test is as under:

Total Test Duration of IELTS test is 2 hours 45 minutes.
The first three modules – Reading, Writing and Listening are completed in one day.
The first three modules - Listening, Reading and Writing - must be completed in one day.
The IELTS Speaking test may be taken, at the discretion of the test centre, in the time seven days before or after the other Elements.
The exams are designed to cover the full range of skill from non-user to expert user.

IELTS Test Format

IELTS Test Module	Time Duration	Brief Description
Listening	30 minutes	4 sections, 40 items
Writing	60 minutes	2 Writing tasks
Reading	60 minutes	3 sections, 40 questions
Speaking	11-14 minutes	3 part one-on-one conversation

IELTS Syllabus

The IELTS Syllabus contains four Components - Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening - to get IELTS band scores, which is revealed on the IELTS Test Report Form (TRF). All applicants take the same IELTS Listening and Speaking Parts, while the IELTS Reading test and IELTS Writing Parts vary depending upon the General and Academic Test.

IELTS Listening

IELTS listening test includes four units of increasing difficulty. Each section, which can be either a speech or dialogue, starts with a short introduction telling the applicants about the condition and the speakers. Then they have some time to look over questions. The first three divisions have a break in the middle permitting applicants to look at the remaining questions. Each section can be heard only once.

IELTS Listening Syllabus:

Multiple choice
Short-answer questions
Notes Completion
Sentence Completion
Labeling a Diagram

IELTS Reading

In the academic section, the IELTS reading test includes three sections, with 3 scripts normally followed by 13 or 14 problems for a total of 40 questions generally. The General exam also has 3 sections. But the scripts are shorter, so there can be up to 5 texts to read.

IELTS Reading Syllabus:

Multiple-choice
Sentence or summary completion
Identifying data for short-answer questions
Matching lists or phrases
Identifying writers’ views/attitudes

IELTS Writing

In the Academic part for IELTS writing, there are two tasks: in Task 1 applicants define a diagram, graph, procedure or chart, and in Task 2 they reply to an argument. In the General Training section, there are also two tasks: in Task 1 applicants write a letter or explain a condition, and in Task 2 they write an essay.

IELTS Writing Syllabus:

Analyse Diagram, Table or Data: 150 Words
Analyse Point of View, Argument and Problem: 250 Words

IELTS Speaking

The IELTS speaking test comprises three segments. The first part is taken in the form of an interview throughout which applicants may be enquired about their interests, hobbies, reasons for taking IELTS test as well as other general IELTS speaking topics such as fashion, free time, computers and the internet or family.

In the second part, applicants are given a theme card and then have one minute to prepare after which they must speak about the given topic.

The third part includes a conversation between the examiner and the applicant, normally on questions relating to the topic which they have already spoken about in section 2. This last segment is more immaterial and is regularly measured the most difficult.

IELTS Speaking Syllabus:

Personal Interview
Little Speech
Discussion

IELTS Test Dates

You can take IELTS test four times a month. You can choose your IELTS dates and convenient test centre on IELTS website along with the kind of exam you would want to take (choose between IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training). You will then see IELTS exam dates that are available and click apply by filling up the application form. Both IDP IELTS and the British Council IELTS offer the test on 48-fixed IELTS exam dates a year, running into four times a month. The schedule for the whole year is available on the website.

Candidate should register one month prior to secure your place on your preferred day at your chosen test centre.Just remember to register one month prior to secure your place on your preferred day at your chosen test centre.

IELTS Test Centres

IELTS Centers	IDP India	British Council
Number of Test Centres	50	42

After the registration on the website, you will be asked about the date when you want to take you exam, and the city you prefer. Prior to five days of your exam, the exam venue details will be sent to your email ID.

IELTS material

How to prepare for IELTS?

Any exam needs 80% of the preparation to pass, and 20% of that preparation to clear it. Once you have understood the format for the kind of test you would want to take, start skimming through IELTS Exam practice tests papers and IELTS sample tests.
You can take IELTS practice test online by factoring in the time you will be given for taking the actual tests. You can find them on website where sample questions and answers are given. Separately, you can also buy IELTS self-study books and related IELTS study material and IELTS listening practice tests that are available at British Council IELTS tests centres and selected bookstores across the globe.
The British Council IELTS website has a list of books with brief description that you could refer to while preparing for your IELTS test.
Likewise, you can ask for some good book references from the people who have taken the exam before you. The Official Cambridge IELTS Guide is one top recommendation by many. It comes with a DVD and has questions for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Another is the Cambridge IELTS Practice Tests Series.
Many books are available, but you should first stick to the source material for the preparation, i.e. IELTS vocabulary books, the British Council IELTS books, Cambridge IELTS books and the like.

IELTS Preparation

These are some essential steps that you must follow while preparing for the IELTS test. It may seem like a daunting task, but we are going to give you some helpful IELTS study tips to help you refine your study habits.

You must concentrate on building your Core English Skills
A major error some IELTS applicants make when preparing for the exam is concentrating only on IELTS mock tests. Many consider that the IELTS more mock tests they do, the better prepared they will be. This is a misconception.
The test is talent-based, not knowledge-based. This means that every IELTS mock test you do will comprise diverse content that you cannot study for. It is about the excellence of your abilities, and not the number of your IELTS mock tests.
Language is an ability. Therefore, you need to learn speaking skills, listening skills, writing skills and reading skills. You can’t approach building your language abilities the same way when you do IELTS mock tests. Though understanding with the exam format is half the battle, do not undervalue the necessity to develop your language skills.
So, find a good English teacher, take IELTS course and immerse yourself in the language through books, newspapers, music, and movies. Find some English-speaking friends and organize an English only conversation club. The more normal the language becomes to you, the more calm you are going to feel in the exam.

Learn from your weaknesses

To achieve success anywhere, you will have to learn from your mistakes, and be aware of the weaknesses and habits you repeat. Candidates often tend to repeat the same mistakes repeatedly even after they are given a thorough feedback.

Take your time to understand your errors thoroughly. Are they related to spelling? If so, follow IELTS writing tips, practice writing misspelled words correctly. Are your errors related to verb tense? Then focus on that, is it related to vocabulary? Then focus on that. Learn the rules and how to use them. The important thing is to not make those errors again.

Ielts Essay Writing Tips

Develop your writing skills by learning how to structure an essay paragraph by paragraph. Practice IELTS reading Practice test and understanding IELTS essay questions. It is easy to go off topic or not directly answer the question. Additionally read many different sample IELTS essay questions and write sample responses.

The more practice you get writing responses to different IELTS essay questions, the more comfortable you will feel with various topics. Be careful not to memorize sample IELTS essays. I have seen many candidates make this mistake. Even if you get the similar topic in the exam, the concentration of the question will be diverse and so the answer will have to exactly address the question.

IELTS examiners know how to spot learnt essays and they will give zero no matter how well written it is. It is also significant to practice writing 250 words in timed situations. Your writing should be the neat and legible. Therefore, if you do not feel comfortable with writing by hand, then practice more writing, until you feel comfortable doing that.

Ielts Speaking Practice

The same goes with IELTS speaking Test. IELTS speaking Practice can be done with a friend. Become comfortable talking about yourself and your experiences. You can have some common answers pre-prepared related to your basic information related to the first part of the test, but this should come out as impulsive and natural.

Furthermore, remember to avoid memorizing presentations for part 2. The examiner will know if you are repeating memorized answers. Always keep in mind that you are talking about yourself. Therefore, develop a habit to do it on a daily basis. Even if it means speaking to yourself!

Read a diverse range of articles

Read up on general topics such as news, current affairs, science, climate change, animals, history, economics, sociology, etc. The more you read, the more you will develop the habit of understanding the context of the sentences and new vocabulary.

This will help you increase your knowledge of English and feel more comfortable with the reading paragraphs in the exam. If you are doing IELTS academic, but have never read an academic paragraph until the day of the exam, you could be in trouble. So, use sites like National Geographic, the Economist, the New Internationalist and Science Daily to become an academic reader.

Learn native like fluency

You can listen to some podcasts and ted talks to understand different accents and pronunciations. Not only can this help you understand different accents, but is also a great way to expose yourself to new vocabulary and different interesting IELTS speaking topics. Remember, the broader your general language and general knowledge, the more comfortable you will be with the language and topics in the test.

Know the test tips and strategies

Finally, learn the exam tips and strategies and apply them to practice exams. This will help you learn how to manage your time and how to utilize it effectively to complete each section of the exam. Time management is one of the most important aspects when it comes down to tests. However, at the end of the day, it rests on your language skills the most.

Understand and analyse each module of the test thoroughly. For example, understand the IELTS reading Practice test – how many passages there are, how long they are, how many questions there are, the types of questions there are, etc. This will help you understanding where you should be giving more time, and where it should be less. When you have learnt and answered every type of the questioned, you will not be surprised on the test day with something new. Once you feel comfortable answering True, False, Not Given questions for example, then you will not be afraid of them when you see them on test-day.

IELTS Registration

IELTS Exam registration is the first step towards application procedure of IELTS 2019. Study abroad applicants interested in Appearing for IELTS should fill the IELTS 2019 application form online. While filling up IELTS application form, candidates can select their IELTS test dates as well as the centre in which they will be appearing for the IELTS test 2019. Students must select the exam date keeping in mind the application deadline of the university he/she has applied to. Applicants have to follow some simple steps in order to finish IELTS application form 2019.

You can register for IELTS test 2019 by following the steps given below:

Visit the British Council IELTS website
Go to “Take an Exam” tab, and choose “IELTS” in the pull-down menu.
Click “Register for IELTS now” on the next page.
Fill in required details like month, city and module to get the list of test dates
You can choose the available date and click ‘Apply’ next to it.
After you read the Terms and Conditions statement carefully, check the box saying you have read and agreed to the T&C, and click ‘Continue’
Fill in your personal information on the next page.
At the end of the page, there is an option if you want to send IELTS scores to other organizations. Click ‘Yes’ to send the result
Click ‘Continue’ once you fill inaccurate information
On the next page, you can state the five universities where you need to send IELTS result

You can discover the due date for IELTS registration of each exam date by entering your choice of country and city. Check with your university/organization whether you need to sit an Academic or General Training test. You will be required to show IELTS Academic scores for universities/institutions and General for other organizations.

IELTS Fee

After you have registered for your examination, you will have to pay your IELTS fees of INR 12,650.

How to Pay your IELTS Exam Fees:

You can choose any of the payment method to pay:

1. A VISA / Master Card Credit or Debit Card. (Not applicable for British council)

2. Demand Draft from the listed banks on the website.

3. A bank deposit into the banks fixed by the institution.

IELTS score

The IELTS test results are prepared after 13 calendar days from the day exam was taken. To check the IELTS Exam results, applicants should enter the login details, comprising a date of birth, ID number, and candidate number. IELTS result will be available only for 40 days. The system will not show IELTS results after given days. There is no pass or fail in IELTS, IELTS results are classified on the 9 level IELTS band scores system. Each educational organization or organization sets its individual level of IELTS results in 2019 to meet its individual necessities. The IELTS 9 scoring system evaluates and reports exam scores for each language skill or sub-tests.

IELTS Bands

The table below shows how IELTS scores are calculated and converted into band scores.

IELTS Listening score

Correct Answers	Scored Bands
13-15	4.5
16-17	5
18-22	5.5
23-25	6
26-29	6.5
30-31	7
32-34	7.5
35-36	8
37-38	8.5
39-40	9

IELTS Reading Academic Score

Correct Answers	Scored Bands
13-14	4.5
15-18	5
19-22	5.5
23-26	6
27-29	6.5
30-32	7
33-34	7.5
35-36	8
37-38	8.5
39-40	9

IELTS General Reading

Correct Answers	Scored Bands
19-22	4.5
23-26	5
27-29	5.5
31-32	6
32-33	6.5
34-35	7
36	7.5
37-38	8
39	8.5
40	9

IELTS Result

Visit the official British Council IELTS website to check IELTS result online.
Click 'Take an exam' under which you have to click 'IELTS'
On the right-hand side of the page, click 'Your Results'.
The next page you will see an option 'Preview your IELTS result online'. Before you click that, make sure you go through the information shared on the page.
When you click 'Preview your IELTS result online', the next page will ask you to fill in details like the test date, date of birth, identification document number and candidate number. Once you fill in all the information, click 'Find'.

Alternatively, if you prefer the other way: you can pick up your IELTS result 2019 from the test centre depending on your arrangement with the centre. You can check your IELTS scores at the centre itself by providing your password or ID number you used while registration of the exam.