A Definitive Guide To IELTS For Study Abroad Aspirants

A DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO IELTS

FOR STUDY ABROAD ASPIRANTS

General Overview Certainly, International English Language Testing System or IELTS is the most popular English-language test for spoken and written proficiency. Before actually getting to the main course, let’s talk about the weightage it holds over your subsequent career goals.

Ranging from the listening to speaking sections, it evaluates your skills and checks if you are suitable to survive in the English-driven country. Along with this, a plethora of universities and notable educational institutes seek for IELTS band score as an acceptance standard before being admitted to the respective university. Thus, performs a crucial role in moulding your career path hereafter.

Fortunately, IELTS test score are widely recognised and accepted in the abroad universities of USA, UK, New Zealand, Canada, Australia and more.

On top of this, this gives the most accurate measurement to your language abilities. Giving an assurance to where you are lying among other competitors and thus, strive for improvement at every floor.

IELTS exam does reflects your true skills and abilities while extending the set of vocabulary.

Further, let’s dig more into more important and necessary pointers related to IELTS. Bringing more clearer and sharper picture of IELTS to you.

What is IELTS? The main intention of attempting IELTS exam is to review your language skills in all four aspects. Recognised by more than 10,000 institutions across 1,600 centres in 140 countries, the IELTS score holds a supreme value on the international platform. Moreover, this test is exclusively designed for the applicants heavily incorporated in different aspects, study, work, immigration, seeking livelihood or settle in the abroad countries.

Over this, the IELTS is collaboratively owned by British Council, IDP – Australia and Cambridge Assessment English. Thus, the whole content including the questions, recordings and numeric data is developed by the expert team of professionals. Due to the strict nature of IELTS test, no malpractices are recorded and also ensure a neutral platform to 2 million candidates appearing every year.

IELTS Registration The first and foremost thing to look over are the nearest IELTS test centres and the available dates. Once you have created your profile on the site, generate an application form after submitting the forms.

The next step is to pay the application fees over the online platform and produce the receipt of the same. Make sure you keep the application form in the best condition as it will be required on the day of exam.

Along with this, an identity proof is also required for a complete verification of your profile. Be sure that the document is valid and within its expiration date, to avoid any sort of disqualification on the exam day. Once you are caught up with jotting application and paying fees, book the date of examination in the nearest centre to your home. The options will be available on IELTS website while selecting the slots for exam.

The moment your slot for assigned date is confirmed, the IELTS test centre will notify you through a confirmation mail containing the salient details like date, time etc. On the day of IELTS Test, carry the application form, payment fee receipt and the valid document along.

Types Of IELTS Test: 1. Academic Test Academic Test is exclusively for the international students willing to pursue their overseas education in the esteemed foreign universities and hence; commence their career path thereafter. This test is an ultimate gateway to top universities around the world. In fact, it is the sole key to your admission in undergraduate as well as postgraduate programmes in the reputed institutes. Basically, it assesses your language capabilities to commence your academia in the particular university.

2. General Training Test General Training Test applies to the individuals seeking for employment and immigration in the abroad countries. Even the students looking for work experiences and special training programmes organised by the universities are entitled to appear for this test. However, a majority of candidates appear for migrating to foreign countries exclusively for working and gaining new vocational experiences. For the General Training test, there no restrictions over the age limit.

IELTS Exam Format: 1. Listening Section Section one will be a conversation among multiple people talking about the current world affair or any academic aspect. The section two shall be a monologue about the social event took place recently and the information by the speaker is being shared. Thirdly, the section three is more like cross-conversation between three to four speakers talking about the educational training or programmes. It could be between the guardian & kids or professor & students. At last, the section four is again a monologue about the academic subject being taught during the university lecture.

The speakers will have a range of English accents, from British to Australian. This will induce a better understanding of the language in the day-to-day usage. In total, 40 minutes will be given to complete the listening section. Each part will be played only once.

2. Reading Section Comprising of 40 questions to be done under 60 minutes, this section evaluates multiple skills apart from just reading. It assesses your other notable abilities like skimming, scanning, understanding the main idea and jotting the key highlights of the passage. Further, it contains of 3 reading passages, each with peculiar topics and ideas. The content of passages can be from various sources like the piece from journals, magazines and newspapers.

For the Academic Reading Test, the source of content is more based on the current technological advancement, newspaper article or from the books. However, for General Reading Test the source of content is basically about the current world & political affairs, social event or magazine column., advertisements, the ones that you encounter every day.

3. Writing Section As per the stipulated time of 60 minutes, you’ll be required to complete two tasks in writing section. First one being the report writing for Academic Test givers and the letter writing for General Test givers.

For both of them, a table, pie-chart or graph will be provided as the problem statement. To which, the candidates are required to write a synopsis about the same, elaborating what the numeral data is stating. Duly note, not to exceed the word limit.

For the second task, both kind of candidates have to compose an essay over the given problem question. The question form can be anything from a motion to any point of view. From this, you have to write an explanation supporting your side of motion, with or against.

Both the tasks have limited amount of time for each of them. 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 minutes for Task 2. Hence, plan out your time space as per the priority.

4. Speaking Section Generally, the speaking section is not followed after the other three. A separate appointment shall be allotted to you for the same. This section is normally stretched for the period of 11-15 minutes in total.

Moreover, it evaluates your verbal skills, command over the language and the proficiency of English. In order to instil a longing career in the foreign country, your communication skills must be up to the mark to striving in the respective field. Speaking section is more like an interview taken place in 3 portions.

Starting off with an introduction with personal questions about your family, hobbies, past work experiences, school life and achievements. With the second portion, the examiners shall ask you to speak over a particular topic which will be sounder and about current happenings or your field. You will be given 1 minute to prepare to speak for over 2 minutes on the provided topic. Moving to the final portion, the examiner will pose related questions to you about the same. During this, you will be enabled to speak deeply about the topic, giving the examiners much clarity.

Speaking section and its format is same among both the tests, Academic as well as General.

IELTS Exam Fee As mentioned above, IELTS test is solely conducted & organised by IDP and the British Council. Along with this, the IELTS exam fees are also determined by the officials of the body. While the IELTS exam fees are varied at different locations of the world. For computer-based as well as paper-based test, the fees are INR 14,700.

How is IELTS score evaluated?

The IELTS band score are generated after your exam is over and are valid for a duration of TWO years. Each section is rated from the scale of 0 to 9. As per your performance in each section, you shall be score accordingly. At the end, your overall score will be the average score gained from 4 sections separately. This will be rounded off to the closest whole or half band. Do notice that each section in IELTS exam has the same score weightage.

After finishing your exam, the result will be out within 4 to 5 days. The result will not only show your overall score, but the score of each individual section. If your plans are to pursue degree from the foreign university, ideally your IELTS score must be over 6.5-7 bands to get into a formidable university. On top of this, you are enabled to send your IELTS score to five universities free of charge.

Last Minute Tips Remember, IELTS exam is solely for testing your proficiency and fluency in various aspects of English language. Undoubtedly, studying is an effective way to grasp the most, but in case of IELTS liberating yourself from the books and exposing to different sources to fetch formidable English-speaking insights is equally necessary. These sources are easily available around like reading newspaper articles, watching English movies & series, listening to intellectual podcasts, going through insightful blogs and books have always been the best source of all. Watch your tone and command when you speak in English. Try to induce and apply more vocabulary in your daily verbal communication. Resulting in even better enhancement of your spoken and written abilities.

At last, the golden line is to keep practicing whenever you get a chance. Always look for those conversations which can test your abilities and keep seeking for the most grasping from the surroundings all the time. Be it in different contexts, conditions, situations or people, strive for a constant process of acquiring and applying.

Why IELTS Coaching in Gandhinagar With Vihaan Overseas?

From implying our fruitful methods to providing relevant study material, Vihaan Overseas has always been to push the students towards their supreme goal. For IELTS preparation, we have scheduled special coaching classes to track their growth and create enough room for improvement. Through the certified faculties of IDP and British Council itself, an extremely profound and relevant knowledge shall be imparted for a better image of IELTS exam. Our team will assist you in getting the university lists and even help you in course selections.

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