Introduction to IELTS

What is IELTS?

International English Language Testing System

Introduction to IELTS

Who takes the IELTS test?

Students planning to study in a school or a higher education institution

People taking English-language learning program admissions and exits

Scholarship and certification candidates

English-language learners who want to track their progress

Students and workers applying for visas

What is your purpose?

Which organizations accept IELTS scores?

Over 9,000 organizations worldwide including:

Universities and institutions

Immigration departments and government agencies

Multinational companies and professional bodies

Organizations in the UK and the commonwealth nations (like Australia) prefer IELTS while those in the USA prefer

TOEFL.

Introduction to IELTS

What is IELTS Academic? (A)

IELTS Academic is for test takers wishing to study at undergraduate or postgraduate levels, and for those seeking

professional registration.

What is IELTS General Training? (G)

IELTS General Training is for test takers wishing to migrate to an English-speaking country (Australia, Canada, New

Zealand, UK), and for those wishing to train or study at below degree level.

Reading and Writing components of the two types of test are different (the A test contains more questions and

both the texts and questions are a bit more complex than those of G), but the Listening component is the same

for A and G.

As the majority of schools and universities require students to take IELTS Academic test, Acadsoc IELTS course will

focus on IELTS Academic for most parts.

Introduction to IELTS

Currently, IELTS tests are only administered in the manner of traditional pen-and-paper testing. You will not be

sitting the test on computer (though your answer sheet will be rated by both a human rater and automated

scoring methods). Candidates have to use the pencils and erasers provided by the test centre. (You need to get

used to writing with a pencil if you usually write with a pen in daily life, for IELTS allows only pencils for the test.)

The Speaking component is conducted face-to-face with a human rater.

Introduction to IELTS

You will be tested on FOUR skills: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking:

Component/Module Test Time (minutes)

Tasks

Listening 30 + 10 (transfer time) = 40

Listen to lectures, classroom discussion and conversations, and then answer questions.

Reading 60 Read 4-5 short factual texts and one longer complex text and answer questions.

Writing 60 Write an at-least-150-word response based on reading tasks and a 250-word essay.

Total Test Time: 160-180 minutes Speaking 11-14 Introduce yourself, talk about a particular topic and discuss

more abstract issues and ideas.

* The Listening, Reading and Writing components are always completed in the same day with no break.

Depending on the test centre, the Speaking test may be taken up to 7 days either before or after the test date.

Which component do you feel confident about and which component are you worried about?

Introduction to IELTS

IELTS Scores

IELTS is scored on a NINE-band scale. Each band (score) corresponds to a specified competence in English. Overall

Band Scores (the average band scores of the four components) are reported to the nearest half.

For example: if you average score across the four components is 6. 25, your Overall Band Score is rounded up to

6.5; if your average score is 6.75, then your Overall Band Score is rounded up to 7.0.

There is no pass or fail in IELTS. The band scores are for the purpose of assessing all levels of English proficiency.

The IELTS Band Score Scale

9 Expert user

8 Very good user

7 Good user

6 Competent user

5 Modest user

4 Limited user

3 Extremely limited user

2 Intermittent user

1 Non user

0 Did not attempt the test

Individual organizations set their own score requirements. Most universities require an overall 6 for

undergraduate studies and 7+ for postgraduate studies. What is your targeted score?

Introduction to IELTS

IELTS Scoring System for Listening and Reading:

Listening

Band score Raw score out of 40

5 16

6 23

7 30

8 35

Academic Reading

Band score Raw score out of 40

5 15

6 23

7 30

8 35

General Training Reading

Band score Raw score out of 40

4 15

5 23

6 30

7 34

Overall Band Score = (Listening Band Score + Reading Band Score + Writing Band Score + Speaking Band Score)/4

(The round-up rule applies.)

Introduction to IELTS

Introduction to IELTS

© 2014 Acadsoc Limited

Sample of the Writing Answer Booklet (Page 1 and 2)

Introduction to IELTS

© 2014 Acadsoc Limited

Sample of the Writing Answer Booklet (Page 3 and 4)

Introduction to IELTS

© 2014

Sample of Questions in Listening

Introduction to IELTS

© 2014

Sample of Questions in Listening

Introduction to IELTS

Introduction to IELTS

Sample of Questions in Reading

Introduction to IELTS

Sample of Writing Task 1

Introduction to IELTS

Sample of Writing Task 2

Introduction to IELTS

Sample of Speaking

Introduction to IELTS

Our IELTS Course Structure:

This course consists of 80 lessons, and each lesson is conducted in 50 minutes. This course covers all four

components of the IELTS Test, namely, Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.

Each component is separated into 16 classes covering the following areas:

1. Test Strategies

2. Test Techniques

3. Question Patterns

4. Time Management

5. Sample Questions

6. Mock Test

7. Mock Test Review

*Please note that assignments will be given from time to time as to maximize your experiences and knowledge on

IELTS. It is essential and it is your responsibility to complete all given assignments on time.

Introduction to IELTS

For your next lesson, we will start with the Listening component of IELTS.