What Is the IELTS Exam All About?

Suri Do
Suri Do
Jul 25, 2017 · 3 min read

Students from over 50 countries join us at Scots English to achieve their language goals — for example, success in the IELTS Examination. But what is IELTS? What should you know about this exam? Let’s find out!

What is IELTS?

IELTS stands for the International English Language Testing System Examination. This exam can be taken in over 100 different countries around the world.

It is usually used to assess the English language proficiency of students who wish to study or further or higher education courses held in English at college or university. Many education providers want to see evidence that a future student has completed an IELTS examination and has achieved minimum scores before the student will be offered a place in a course. This means that the student will not have learning difficulties because of his/ her English language ability.

The Australian Department of Immigration & Border Protection (DIBP) has a minimum English language proficiency requirement to ensure that overseas workers are able to respond to occupational health and safety risks, raise any concerns about their welfare with appropriate authorities and benefit Australia by sharing their skills with other workers. Different occupations have higher minimum English requirements. The most widely accepted form of English proficiency accept by DIBP is the IELTS examination. People wishing to migrate to Australia and need to show evidence of English proficiency may choose to do an IELTS preparation course. Completion of this course can significantly improve a candidate’s chances of increasing their IELTS score in the formal examination.

How many modules in the IELTS exam?

There are two kinds or ‘modules’ to the IELTS examination;

Academic Module: This module is suitable for students wishing to complete academic study at degree level in an English-speaking country.

General Training Module: This module is more suited to people wishing to migrate to an English-speaking country like Australia. It is also suitable for students who wish to study at in courses taught through at diploma level only.

What does the IELTS exam consist of?

Both the Academic & General Training Modules consist of a four main tasks: a Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening task. The IELTS exam takes 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete and consists of four Sub-tests in the skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking.

Students sitting the Academic & the General Training Modules take the same listening and speaking modules but different reading and writing modules. Listening, reading and writing must be completed in one day.

via ielts.org

The General Training Reading and Writing tests are less demanding than the Academic Module Sub-tests, but the listening and speaking subtests are the same for both modules of the IELTS exam.

IELTS exam preparation at Scots English

Scots offers an IELTS preparation course at two levels:

IELTS preparation — Lower level: for students who wish to complete an IELTS General Training Test.

IELTS preparation — Higher level: for students who wish to complete an IELTS Academic Test.

Our experienced and well-qualified teachers will make sure you’re ready to ace the exam and achieve your biggest goals.

Please click here to know more about IELTS preparation at Scots.


Originally published at scotsenglish.edu.au.

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