You might have (or not have) heard about the IELTS test before. In any way, here are the most important things you should know about this English language assessment.
What is IELTS?
IELTS stands for “International English Language Testing system” and is the most popular test for English language proficiency worldwide. It was established in 1889 by the Cambridge Language Assessment, the British Council and an Australian partner, and has since been passed by millions of people worldwide, with 3 million people in 2017 only. The test is available in two distinct modules – “Academic” and “General Training” which can be taken for different purposes (more later).
When and where can I take it?
Overall, there are over 1,200 test centres in more than 140 countries. Through the IELTS official website, you can find your nearest location on where to take the test from anywhere in the world. In London, for instance, there are 19 places, mainly colleges and centres by the British council, where you can take your test. IELTS in England can be offered every week, however, not every location has tests for all of the dates. At some of them you can only take the test once a month, therefore it is important that you inform yourself and sign up early.
Which module is the right one for me?
As mentioned, there are two types of the IELTS test from which you have to choose. The IELTS Academic is the one you need to apply for any higher education or for professional registration. All British universities require you to provide a certificate of your English proficiency, amongst which the IELTS Academic is the most popular one. The IELTS General Training is for anyone who wants to do secondary education, work experience and training programs and you also need it to migrate to the UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.
What do I need to do and what does my result mean?
For each module, the IELTS consists of the four areas of language assessment: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. The four parts provide varying time frames to complete the tasks.
Listening – 30 min
Reading – 60 min
Writing – 60 min
Speaking – 11-15 min
The total time for the exam therefore is 2h 45 min. For any additional information on the exact tasks of the test you can check out the official IELTS website.
Your exact tasks during the test depend of course on the module you are assessing. For instance, the writing part of the Academic module demands a formal writing style, while for the IELTS General Training a more personal style will be accepted as well. Upon completion of the test you receive a score on a scale from 0 to 9, depending on your skill level. At 6 for instance you are considered to be a “Good user” and the highest score of 9 means you are an “Expert user” with full operational command of the language.
How much does it cost me?
Prices for the IELTS tests (both modules) range from £165 to £175, depending on your date and location of choice. You should therefore check the website early so you can choose a date with the cheaper price if possible. Also, do not forget that a lot of people want to take the exam, so if you wait too long, your preferred date might be full already. London School of Education can help you to get more details about IELTS.
How can I prepare?
Finally, as you can imagine, most people will find the IELTs to be quite difficult. In order to succeed and appropriately show your skill level, you should prepare for the test as much as possible. You can, naturally, prepare on your own, but you might find it easier to be trained by professionals who know exactly what will be asked of you during the test. There are a number of organisations offering courses, however, most of them are quite pricey. If you are looking for cheap IELTS preparation, you can check out our offer right now.
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