IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System, which is a proficiency test that evaluates English language skills- listening, reading, writing, and speaking. The IELTS exam is taken by individuals who desire to pursue higher education or employment in English-speaking countries.
Today, around 12,000 academic institutions and professional pursuits worldwide accept the IELTS score, which underscores the importance of the exam. This blog has discussed the IELTS exam, including its pattern, syllabus, registration process, preparation strategy, and more.
Table of Contents
Importance of IELTS Exam for Indian Students
- The IELTS exam helps Indian students achieve the dream of studying, working, and living abroad, where English is used as a primary language or its proficiency is required.
- The IELTS exam is conducted worldwide for academic institutions and professional organisations in countries like the USA, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Canada and more.
- Since English has become the most integrated part of our lives, be it academic or professional, an individual must have a basic understanding and knowledge of this language to have better opportunities in life.
- IELTS has four components: speaking, reading, writing, and listening.
Types of IELTS Exam
Following is an overview of different types of IELTS exams, including content, duration, format, and validity.
| Type of IELTS | Content | Exam Duration | Format | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Academic English based on college/university coursework | 2 Hours 45 Minutes | Listening Reading Speaking Writing | 2 Years |
| IELTS General Training Test | Academic English based on university coursework and English used in everyday life | 2 Hours 45 Minutes | Listening Writing Reading Speaking | 2 Years |
| IELTS Life Skills | The English language is used in everyday life, such as at the workplace and in society | Varies from 16-20 minutes, depending on the level | Discussion on tasks related to: Personal details Friends Family Buying goods Work Health Leisure etc. | 2 Years |
The International English Language Testing System or IELTS is of three types:
- IELTS Academic
- IELTS General Training Test
- IELTS Life Skills
IELTS Academic
The IELTS Academic test evaluates the English language skills of those who want to enroll in undergraduate or postgraduate courses at universities outside India.
IELTS General Training Test
- The IELTS General Training Test is designed for individuals who wish to study below the degree level in an English-speaking country or migrate there for work-related purposes.
- It evaluates the English language skills commonly used in everyday life, such as social and workplace interactions.
IELTS Life Skills for UKVI
IELTS Life Skills is a UK government-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) that evaluates only English speaking and listening skills. This is applicable when a migrant is applying for the following type of UK Visa:
- Family Visa
- Extension to spouse, family, partner visa
- To become a British Citizen
Applicants are required to appear in the in-person discussion on the following topics relevant to daily life:
- Personal details/experiences
- Family and friends
- Work
- Health
- Leisure
- Education/training
- Transport
- Housing
- Weather
IELTS Exam Pattern
The IELTS exam pattern is divided into four sections:
- Listening section – 40 questions in 30 minutes
- Academic Reading section – 40 questions in 60 minutes
- Academic Writing section – 2 tasks in 60 minutes
- Speaking section – 3 parts in 11-14 minutes
IELTS Exam Pattern: Breakdown of Sections
Now, let us understand the IELTS exam pattern in great detail.
Listening Section
- The section consists of 4 parts, with 10 questions in each part.
- Part 1 and Part 2 are based on everyday and social situations.
- Part 3 and Part 4 are based on educational and training situations.
- Students hear the recordings in different accents, such as British, Australian, New Zealand, and North American.
- They will be given an additional 10 minutes to write their answer (only for pen and paper format).
- Incorrect spelling and grammar will lead to negative markings.
Content: 4 recorded conversations
Number of questions: 40 questions in four parts (10 questions in each part)
Time Duration: 30 minutes (10 minutes extra for answer writing)
Marking: Each correct response will grant 1 mark.
Type of questions
The listening section of the IELTS exam consists of questions of the following types:
- MCQs
- Match the Following
- Diagram labelling/plan/map based
- Form/note/table/flow chart/summary completion
- Sentence completion
- Short answer questions
Reading Section
- A narrative/descriptive or discursive/argumentative text is provided.
- These texts are from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online resources.
- Unlike the listening section, no extra time is provided.
- Incorrect spelling and grammar will lead to negative markings.
Content: 3 texts; the total text length is 2150-2750 words.
Number of questions: 40 questions in three parts
Time Duration: 60 minutes
Marking: Each correct response will grant 1 mark
Type of questions
- MCQs
- True and False
- Identifying the writer’s claim/view
- Matching Information
- Short answer questions
- Diagram labelling
- Summary/note/flowchart
- Sentence Completion
- Matching sentence ending
Writing Section
- In this section, applicants are asked to perform two tasks.
- First task: Describe the visual information in about 150 words. (diagram, graph, table, chart, etc. is provided)
- Second task: Write a discussion on some point of view, topic, or argument in about 250 words.
Content: Tasks to communicate the idea/opinion or logic in written form.
Number of questions: 2 tasks
Time Duration: 60 minutes
Type of questions
The writing section of the IELTS Academic Exam consists of questions based on the following topics:
- Task 1: Discussion on Chart, diagram, picture, object’s photo, etc
- Task 2: Discussion on relevant issues related to general awareness.
Speaking Section
- Face-to-face interview between the test taker and the examiner.
- It consists of three parts, each following a specific pattern and tasks.
Content: Discussion between the test taker and the examiner
Number of tasks: 3 tasks
Time Duration: 11-14 minutes
Type of questions
The speaking section of the IELTS exam consists of questions based on the following topics:
- Task 1 – Introduction & Interview
Time Duration: 4-5 minutes
- Task 2 – Long Turn
Time Duration: 3-4 minutes
- Task 3 – Discussion
Time Duration: 4-5 minutes
IELTS Exam Syllabus: Which Topics to Cover?
- The IELTS exam has no dedicated syllabus.
- However, aspiring test takers remain aware of their surroundings and read English newspapers and magazines daily.
- They are also encouraged to build the habit of listening to podcasts and writing journals regularly.
- This improves their competency and strengthens their confidence in appearing in the test.
- They may need to focus on the following topics while preparing for the IELTS exam:
- Agriculture Sciences
- General Knowledge & Current Affairs
- Science & Technology
- Social Sciences
- Humanities
IELTS Band Score
- After the IELTS exam, the test taker receives a test report that mentions their overall test score as well as scores for the listening, reading, writing, and speaking sections of the test.
- The band score is calculated by taking the average or mean of the four-section band scores rounded to the nearest half band.
- The band score corresponds to the level of proficiency in the English language. It ranges from 0-9.
- The section-wise band score is calculated by converting the number of correct answers to a band score of 0-9.
| Band Score | Level of Proficiency |
|---|---|
| 0 | No answer given |
| 1 | No ability to use the language |
| 2 | Difficulty in understanding written and spoken English |
| 3 | Frequent breakdown in communication |
| 4 | Basic competence is limited |
| 5 | Partial command of the English language |
| 6 | Effective command of the English language |
| 7 | Good command of the English language |
| 8 | Fully operational command of the English language |
| 9 | Expertise in the English language |
Registration for the IELTS Exam
You can apply for the IELTS exam in one of the following ways.
- Online Registration
- Offline Registration
- Registration by Courier
1. Online Registration
- Log on to the official IELTS website here.
- Select the option ‘Register for IELTS’.
- Select the test day and test city.
- Complete the application form by filling in personal details and other mandatory information.
- Pay the IELTS fees using a credit card.
2. Offline Registration
- Go to your nearest IDP Branch/head office.
- Fill out the application form available at the office.
- Sign the terms and conditions provided.
- Attach a copy of your passport.
- Pay the IELTS fee either by credit/debit card/ATM card.
- Payment can also be made by demand draft (drawn in favour of ‘IDP Education India Private Limited, payable at New Delhi’).
3. Registration by Courier
- Download the application form from the official IELTS website.
- Fill out the application form.
- Sign the terms and conditions provided.
- Attach a copy of your passport.
- Append the demand draft for the test fee (drawn in favour of ‘IDP Education India Private Limited, payable at New Delhi’).
- Send the duly filled application with all necessary documents to the following address:
IDP Education India Pvt. Ltd.
Global Gateway Towers, Tower-B, 5th Floor, Sikanderpur Ghosi, Sector-26, M.G. Road, Gurugram -122002, Haryana, India
IELTS Exam Registration: Required Documents & Fees
- For Indian students, only a passport with a name, photo, and signature is acceptable as proof of identity to register and appear for the test.
- Passport size colour photograph
- The registration of the IELTS exam (academic & general training test) costs around INR 17,000 per applicant.
IELTS Exam Preparation Strategy and Tips
- In the following sections, we have provided the 6-week study plan to help students better prepare for the IELTS exam.
- We have also included the essential things to be followed before and after registration along with test day and after test day tips.
- Applicants must first be aware of the IELTS exam pattern and format before commencing preparation for the test.
6 Week Study Plan
The chart illustrates each week’s objectives and their respective focus area.
| Band Score | Level of Proficiency | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Familiarisation with the IELTS exam format | Write down the target score Determine which skills you need to improve Take the initial practice test Start creating and following the schedule |
| Week 2 | Listening Section (Accent, pronunciation, fluency, judging the speaker’s tone) | Listen to English podcasts from different accents every day Make notes on the relevant point Draw your own opinion, idea and conclusion |
| Week 3 | Reading Section (Vocabulary, sentence formation, pronunciation, synonyms) | Read full-fledged English newspapers and magazines daily Make notes on relevant topics Draw opinions and possible arguments Discuss these points with friends and available tutors for a better understanding |
| Week 4 | Writing Section (Comprehension of sentence structure, tone, imagination, answer making, formal communication) | Write an extended essay every day on some common topic. Filter out the essential points Draw your conclusions and ideas on it Write a journal every day to get better fluency |
| Week 5 | Speaking Section (Vocabulary, fluency, pronunciation, tone) | Try to talk about the topic which seems interesting to you for 5 minute Gradually increase the speaking time duration to 9-10 minutes Record each speaking session and get it evaluated by the tutor Communicate with family, friends and known ones in the English language |
| Week 6 | Test and Practice | Revise the content section-wise Give mock tests and full-length practice tests |
IELTS Exam Tips
Below, we have mentioned some essential before-registration, after registration and test-day tips for students:
Before Registration
- Check whether the college/university you want to pursue higher studies accepts IELTS scores.
- Learn more about the nature of the test by reviewing the IELTS pattern, format, previous year’s question papers, etc.
- Go through the study planner and follow the strategies given.
- Every weekend, give mock tests and analyse your performance for a particular section of the IELTS.
- Before starting each week, decide to follow the strategies strictly.
- Give the room to flexibility to improvise the strategy according to need.
- Gather and collect the required documents before commencing the registration process.
After Registration
For testing at the IELTS centre:
- Log into the IELTS account to confirm the location and time of the test.
- Pre-determine your route to save time.
- Ensure to reach the centre before the commencement of the test.
- Carry a valid ID card to show at the centre during security check.
For testing at home:
- Review the working condition of the equipment on which the test will be given.
- Do not allow others to stay with you during the test.
- Remove the unnecessary items from the testing room that may distract you during the test.
- Have sufficient sleep the night before the test.
After Test
- The IELTS exam result will be available 13 days after completion (if taken in pen-and-paper mode).
- If taken on a computer, IELTS results will be available within 3-5 days of the test.
- If the test is given online (IELTS Online), then the results will be available 6-8 days after the test.
- Results are reported as band scores within the range of band 0 to band 9, with each band corresponding to a level of English-language proficiency.
- The result will show the overall band and the section-wise band.
- Test results can be received via SMS or through the IELTS portal.
Key Takeaways by Smart Academy
IELTS is one of the world’s most popular and reputed English proficiency tests. It is conducted to evaluate the English language skills of those who want to pursue higher studies or work abroad, basically in English-speaking countries. IELTS scores are accepted worldwide by almost 12,000+ academic and professional bodies.
FAQs
What is a good IELTS score to pursue higher studies abroad?
An IELTS score of 6.5-7.5 is generally considered good for someone who desires to pursue higher education abroad, depending on the countries, courses, and universities.
Are there any eligibility criteria for the IELTS Exam?
No, there are no eligibility criteria for the IELTS exam. Anyone aged 16 or above can appear for the exam.
How many attempts are allowed for the IELTS Exam?
There are no restrictions on the number of attempts, as students can appear for the IELTS exams as often as they want.
Which month is best for the IELTS exam?
The duration between January and April is best for taking the IELTS exam because this is the time when you are required to submit the IELTS score for university applications and the visa process.
How can I apply for the IELTS exam?
You can apply for the IELTS exam by visiting the official website of IDP IELTS. Alternatively, you can also visit your nearest IDP office to collect the application form, fill it out, and submit it hand-on.
