Importance of IELTS examination
IELTS introduction
Started 1980
The International English Language Testing
System
What is use of IELTS?
IELTS is accepted as evidence of English language proficiency for study, work and migration in
Accepted as evidence of English proficiency by 10,000 institutions
An IELTS certificate is recognised as evidence of proficiency in English by more than 10,000 education and training providers worldwide. Some universities in non-English speaking countries require an IELTS score, where courses are taught in English.
Who owns IELTS?
IELTS is jointly managed by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English.
IELTS
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Skills/knowledge ll be tested |
Listening, reading, writing and speaking of the English language
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Purpose |
To assess the English language proficiency of non-native English speakers
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IELTS test fees
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Test locations:
The British Council India offers IELTS tests in more than 55 locations in India
Maharashtra: Mumbai, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, , Pune, , Surat and Thane. Goa,
North India:
Ambala, Amritsar, Barnala, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Delhi, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Karnal, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Moga, Noida, Patiala, Rajkot Kolkata, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi Baroda, Bhopal
South India
How IELTS is scored?
IELTS results are reported on a 9-band scale
IELTS results are designed to be simple and easy to understand. They are reported as band scores on a scale from 1 (the lowest) to 9 (the highest).
The IELTS scale
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Band score |
Skill level |
Description |
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9 |
Expert user |
The test taker has fully operational command of the language. Their use of English is appropriate, accurate and fluent, and shows complete understanding. |
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8 |
Very good user |
The test taker has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriate usage. They may misunderstand some things in unfamiliar situations. They handle complex and detailed argumentation well. |
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7 |
Good user |
The test taker has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings in some situations. They generally handle complex language well and understand detailed reasoning. |
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6 |
Competent user |
The test taker has an effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings. They can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations. |
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5 |
Modest user |
The test taker has a partial command of the language and copes with overall meaning in most situations, although they are likely to make many mistakes. They should be able to handle basic communication in their own field. |
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4 |
Limited user |
The test taker's basic competence is limited to familiar situations. They frequently show problems in understanding and expression. They are not able to use complex language. |
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3 |
Extremely limited user |
The test taker conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. There are frequent breakdowns in communication. |
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2 |
Intermittent user |
The test taker has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English. |
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1 |
Non-user |
The test taker has no ability to use the language except a few isolated words. |
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0 |
Did not attempt the test |
The test taker did not answer the questions. |
Calculating the overall band score
A score is given for each test component – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. These individual scores are then averaged and rounded to produce an overall band score.
IELTS results validity period
While it is up to each organization to set a validity period that works for their purposes, the IELTS partners recommend a
IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training
IELTS is available in:
1)
2)
Test format:
The IELTS test assesses your abilities in listening, reading, writing and speaking – in less than three hours.
There are two types of IELTS: Academic and General Training. Listening and Speaking are the same for both tests, but the subject matter of the Reading and Writing sections differs depending on which test you take.
The Listening, Reading and Writing sections of all IELTS tests are completed on the same day, with no breaks in between them.
The Speaking section, however, can be completed up to a week before or after the other tests. Your test centre will advise.
The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes.
- Listening
- Academic Reading
- General Training Reading
- Academic Writing
- General Training Writing
- Speaking
Test format – Listening
30 minutes
- Recording 1 – a conversation between two people set in an everyday social context.
- Recording 2 - a monologue set in an everyday social context, e.g. a speech about local facilities.
- Recording 3 – a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context, e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment.
- Recording 4 - a monologue on an academic subject, e.g. a university lecture.
Assessors will be looking for evidence of your ability to understand the main ideas and detailed factual information, the opinions and attitudes of speakers, the purpose of an utterance and evidence of your ability to follow the development of ideas.
IELTS listening description
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Paper format |
From 4 January 2020, some small changes were introduced to the instructions and layout of the paper-based Listening test:
There are four parts with ten questions each. The questions are designed so that the answers appear in the order they are heard in the audio. The first two parts deal with situations set in everyday social contexts. In Part 1, there is a conversation between two speakers (for example, a conversation about travel arrangements), and in Part 2, there is a monologue in (for example, a speech about local facilities). The final two parts deal with situations set in educational and training contexts. In Part 3, there is a conversation between two main speakers (for example, two university students in discussion, perhaps guided by a tutor), and in Part 4, there is a monologue on an academic subject. The recordings are heard only once. They include a range of accents, including British, Australian, New Zealand, American and Canadian. |
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Timing |
Approximately 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes transfer time). |
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No. of questions |
40 |
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Task types |
A variety of question types are used, chosen from the following: multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form/note/table/flow-chart/summary completion, sentence completion. |
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Answering |
Test takers write their answers on the question paper as they listen and at the end of the test are given 10 minutes to transfer their answers to an answer sheet. Care should be taken when writing answers on the answer sheet as poor spelling and grammar are penalised. |
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Marks |
Each question is worth 1 mark. |
IELTS Listening in detail
A detailed look at the paper with links to related resources.
Task type 1 – Multiple choice
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Task type and format |
In multiple choice tasks, there is a question followed by three possible answers, or the beginning of a sentence followed by three possible ways to complete the sentence. Test takers are required to choose the one correct answer - A, B or C. Sometimes, test takers are given a longer list of possible answers and told that they have to choose more than one. In this case, they should read the question carefully to check how many answers are required. |
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Task focus |
Multiple choice questions are used to test a wide range of skills. The test taker may be required to have a detailed understanding of specific points or an overall understanding of the main points of the listening text. |
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No. of questions |
Variable |
Task type 2 – Matching
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Task type and format |
Test takers are required to match a numbered list of items from the listening text to a set of options on the question paper. The set of options may be criteria of some kind. |
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Task focus |
Matching assesses the skill of listening for detail and whether a test taker can understand information given in a conversation on an everyday topic, such as the different types of hotel or guest house accommodation. It also assesses the ability to follow a conversation between two people. It may also be used to assess test takers’ ability to recognise relationships and connections between facts in the listening text. |
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No. of questions |
Variable |
Task type 3 – Plan, map, diagram labelling
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Task type and format |
Test takers are required to complete labels on a plan (eg of a building), map (eg of part of a town) or diagram (e.g. of a piece of equipment). The answers are usually selected from a list on the question paper. |
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Task focus |
This type of task assesses the ability to understand, for example, a description of a place, and to relate this to a visual representation. This may include being able to follow language expressing spatial relationships and directions (e.g. straight on/through the far door). |
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No. of questions |
Variable |
Task type 4 – Form, note, table, flow-chart, summary completion
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Task type and format |
Test takers are required to fill in the gaps in an outline of part or of all of the listening text. The outline will focus on the main ideas/facts in the text. It may be: Test takers may have to select their answers from a list on the question paper or identify the missing words from the recording, keeping to the word limit stated in the instructions. Test takers do not have to change the words from the recording in any way. Test takers should read the instructions very carefully as the number of words or numbers they should use to fill the gaps will vary. A word limit is given, for example, ‘NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’. Test takers are penalised for writing more than the stated number of words, and test takers should check this word limit carefully for each task. Contracted words will not be tested. Hyphenated words count as single words. |
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Task focus |
This focuses on the main points which a listener would naturally record in this type of situation. |
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No. of questions |
Variable |
Task type 5 – Sentence completion
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Task type and format |
Test takers are required to read a set of sentences summarising key information from all the listening text or from one part of it. They then fill a gap in each sentence using information from the listening text. A word limit is given, for example, ‘NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER’. Test takers are penalised for writing more than the stated number of words. (Test takers should check this word limit carefully for each task: the limit is either ONE, TWO or THREE words). Contracted words will not be tested. Hyphenated words count as single words. |
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Task focus |
Sentence completion focuses on the ability to identify the key information in a listening text. Test takers have to understand functional relationships such as cause and effect. |
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No. of questions |
Variable |
Task type 6 – Short-answer questions
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Task type and format |
Test takers are required to read a question and then write a short answer using information from the listening text. A word limit is given, for example, ‘NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’. Test takers are penalised for writing more than the stated number of words. (Test takers should check this word limit carefully for each task.) Contracted words will not be tested. Hyphenated words count as single words. Sometimes test takers are given a question which asks them to list two or three points. |
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Task focus |
Sentence completion focuses on the ability to listen for concrete facts, such as places, prices or times, within the listening text. |
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No. of questions |
Variable |
IELTS Listening – how it's marked
The Listening test is marked by certificated markers, who are regularly monitored to ensure their reliability. All answer sheets, after being marked, are further analysed by Cambridge Assessment English.
Band score conversion
A Band Score conversion table is produced for each version of the Listening test which translates scores out of 40 into the IELTS 9-band scale. Scores are reported in whole bands and half bands.
One mark is awarded for each correct answer in the 40-item test. Care should be taken when writing answers on the answer sheet as poor spelling and grammar are penalized.
Websites for more information
