IELTS Exam 2022: Basics

AlphaEduabroad
3 min readSep 17, 2022

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International students and professionals who want to study or work in a nation where English is the official language must take the IELTS exam, which stands for the International English Language Testing System. IELTS is most often accepted for university admissions in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada. Listening, reading, speaking, and writing are the four main English language skills that the test looks at.

IELTS tests may be taken on paper or on a computer. Candidates utilise a computer to complete the hearing, writing, and reading portions of the IELTS computer-based exam. The speaking examination, however, is conducted in front of a qualified examiner. The reading, writing, and listening sections of the IELTS test on paper are completed using HB pencils or pens, and the speaking examination is conducted in front of a certified IELTS examiner.

IELTS Test Procedure

The total time of the test is 2 hours 45 minutes and is divided into 4 parts:

  • Listening (40 questions) — 30 minutes (10 minutes extra are allowed for administration purposes)
  • Reading (40 questions) — 60 minutes
  • Writing (2 tasks) — 60 minutes
  • Speaking (3 parts ) — 11 to 14 minutes

There are two types of IELTS exams: Academic and General Training

Speaking and listening sections are identical for both tests. On the other hand, the writing and reading parts change depending on which one is selected. The IELTS exam’s reading, writing, and listening sections are all performed on the same day without any gaps in between. The speaking portion of the exam may be completed either one week before to or one week after the other tests.

IELTS Academic Test: Candidates seeking international higher education or professional certification must pass the IELTS Academic test.
IELTS General Test: The IELTS General Test is taken by those who want to immigrate to major English-speaking countries such as Canada, Australia, and the UK. This exam is required for anybody who wishes to apply to colleges, secondary training programs, or get employment in a nation where English is the major language of communication.

IELTS Registration Fee

The cost to register for the IELTS exam in India is 15,500 rupees, although this amount is subject to change. As a result, while booking a test time, candidates must check the cost before paying using a digital payment option.

IELTS Score Calulation

The average of the four sectional scores (rounded to the closest whole or half band ) is the overall band score. The scores from each part are equally weighted.

Source: https://www.ielts.org/for-organisations/ielts-scoring-in-detail

Preparation For IELTS

It is advised to take multiple practice tests since these tests are the best way to identify weaknesses. This is a crucial stage in the initial preparation process since it will enable students to identify their areas of strength and weakness. In order to develop a solid foundation for the test, it is essential to build on strengths as well as correct shortcomings.

Students must understand the structure before they start preparing. By examining the previous tests as well as the questions and task formats for each segment, students should get comfortable with it.

Focusing exclusively on the IELTS test is one of the errors that students make most often. They take several IELTS practise tests, but they are unaware of the value of developing their English speaking, writing & reading skills. Students should start their test preparation at least three to six months in advance to perform well in the examination.

Important Tips For IELTS Exam

  • Candidates should make a plan before they start studying for the IELTS test
  • Candidates should avoid writing lengthy sentences, paragraphs and phrases and instead provide clear, pertinent replies.
  • Candidates should test themselves in a 2- and 45 minutes time-frame just like on the exam day.
  • Candidates should focus on vocabulary, tenses, grammar, and sentence structure equally.
  • Candidates shouldn’t linger too long on the questions they are unable to answer. They should go on to the next question and return to the unanswered questions (if time permits).

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