Information For Candidates: Introducing IELTS To Test Takers
Information For Candidates: Introducing IELTS To Test Takers
Information For Candidates: Introducing IELTS To Test Takers
for Candidates
Introducing IELTS
to test takers
www.ielts.org
The test that Accessible and convenient
IELTS is offered up to four times a month in more than
important information used in the Listening test; and all standard varieties of English
are accepted in test takers’ written and spoken responses.
Tell your centre if you have special requirements Academic Reading General Training Reading
In order to ensure that the language ability of all test takers
is assessed fairly and objectively, IELTS provides a
comprehensive service for test takers who have special
requirements, including specific learning difficulties, hearing
difficulties and visual difficulties.
Academic Writing General Training Writing
If you require a modified version of the test, for example a Large
Print or Braille version, you must give the test centre three
months’ notice. This notice period is necessary for the modified
test version to be prepared. If your circumstances require special
administrative arrangements to be made, for example if you need Speaking
extra time or you need to use access technology such as a screen
reader, you must give the test centre six weeks’ notice. Please
contact your test centre to discuss your requirements. Any special
arrangements agreed are in accordance with the Joint Council
for Qualifications (JCQ).
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The four components of the IELTS test
Listening
Timing Section 3 is a conversation between up to four people
Approximately 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes’ transfer time). set in an educational or training context (e.g. a university
tutor and a student discussing an assignment, or a group
Questions of students planning a research project).
There are 40 questions. A variety of question types are used,
chosen from the following: multiple choice, matching, plan/ Section 4 is a monologue on an academic subject
map/diagram labelling, form completion, note completion, (e.g. a university lecture).
table completion, flow-chart completion, summary completion,
sentence completion, short-answer questions. Each section is heard once only.
Reading
Timing General Training Reading
60 minutes (no extra transfer time). Section 1 contains two or three short factual texts, one of which
may be composite (consisting of 6-8 short texts related by topic,
Questions e.g. hotel advertisements). Topics are relevant to everyday life
There are 40 questions. A variety of question types are in an English-speaking country.
used, chosen from the following: multiple choice, identifying
information (True/False/Not Given), identifying a writer’s Section 2 contains two short factual texts focusing on work-
views/claims (Yes/No/Not Given), matching information, related issues (e.g. applying for jobs, company policies, pay and
matching headings, matching features, matching sentence conditions, workplace facilities, staff development and training).
endings, sentence completion, summary completion,
note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, Section 3 contains one longer, more complex text on a topic
diagram label completion, short-answer questions. of general interest.
Test Parts Texts are authentic and are taken from notices, advertisements,
There are 3 sections. The total text length is 2,150-2,750 words. company handbooks, official documents, books, magazines
and newspapers.
Academic Reading
Each section contains one long text. Texts are authentic and Skills assessed
are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. A wide range of reading skills are assessed, including:
They have been written for a non-specialist audience and are • r eading for gist
on academic topics of general interest. Texts are appropriate • r eading for main ideas
to, and accessible to, test takers entering undergraduate or • reading for detail
postgraduate courses or seeking professional registration. •u nderstanding inferences and implied meaning
Texts range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive • r ecognising writer’s opinions, attitudes and purpose
and analytical. Texts may contain non-verbal materials such • following the development of an argument.
as diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If texts contain technical
terms, then a simple glossary is provided. Marking
Each correct answer receives 1 mark. Scores out
of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale.
For test specifications visit www.ielts.org/testtakers IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration
Find out how you can use an IELTS result for this purpose
For marking information visit www.ielts.org/criteria at www.ielts.org/uk. For more information on going to or
staying in the UK, visit www.gov.uk.
For sample questions visit www.ielts.org/samples
Writing
Timing Skills assessed
60 minutes In both tasks, you are assessed on your ability to
write a response which is appropriate in terms of:
Tasks • c ontent
There are 2 tasks. You are required to write at least • the organisation of ideas
150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2. • the accuracy and range of vocabulary and grammar.
Speaking
Timing Part 3 Two-way discussion (4-5 minutes)
11-14 minutes The examiner asks further questions which are connected
to the topic of Part 2. These questions give you an opportunity
Test Parts to discuss more abstract issues and ideas.
There are 3 parts.
Skills assessed
Part 1 Introduction and interview (4-5 minutes) A wide range of speaking skills are assessed, including:
The examiner introduces him/herself and asks you to introduce • t he ability to communicate opinions and information
yourself and confirm your identity. The examiner asks you on everyday topics and common experiences and
general questions on familiar topics, e.g. home, family, work, situations by answering a range of questions
studies and interests. • t he ability to speak at length on a given topic using
appropriate language and organising ideas coherently
Part 2 Individual long turn (3-4 minutes) • the ability to express and justify opinions and to analyse,
The examiner gives you a task card which asks you to talk about discuss and speculate about issues.
a particular topic and which includes points you can cover in your
talk. You are given 1 minute to prepare your talk, and are given Marking
a pencil and paper to make notes. You talk for 1-2 minutes on You are assessed on your performance throughout the
the topic. The examiner may then ask you one or two questions test by certificated IELTS examiners according to the IELTS
on the same topic. Speaking test assessment criteria (Fluency and Coherence,
Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy,
Pronunciation). The public version of the assessment criteria
can be found at www.ielts.org/criteria.
Test results
The Test Report Form Preview your results online
You will receive a Test Report Form which reports a score for You can preview your results online 13 calendar days after
each of the four skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking), the test. Results remain online for 28 days. Please note that
as well as an overall band score. Half band scores may be the online preview of results should not be used as an official
awarded to indicate a strong performance within a particular confirmation of your performance.
band. You can find more information on score processing
and score interpretation at www.ielts.org/criteria. Results validity period
Organisations will not usually accept a Test Report Form that
Results are available 13 calendar days after the test. At some is more than two years old unless you provide evidence that
test centres test takers may collect their results on the 13th day; you have actively maintained or tried to improve your English
at others, results are mailed on the 13th day. Test centres are since taking the test. The IELTS Test Partners cannot confirm
not permitted to give results over the phone or by fax or email. the validity of test results that are more than two years old.
Write your candidate number in the boxes Write your language code in the boxes indicated and
indicated and shade the corresponding boxes shade the corresponding boxes. (Your language
code will be written on your desk label)
Write your
candidate number
Write your
answers in
the boxes
If you want
to change an
answer, erase
or cross out the
original answer
and write in the
new answer
Do not write
anything in the
✓/✗ columns
Completing the Listening/Reading answer sheets
7
IELTS five steps to success
Your privacy
The IELTS Test Partners recognise and support the right of genuine IELTS test candidates to privacy.
For more information visit www.ielts.org/privacy.
IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment. The IELTS test is designed and set by the world’s leading experts in language assessment
to give a true picture of a test taker’s language skills. IELTS Bands 4-9 (NQF levels Entry 3 to Level 3) are accredited by Ofqual, England’s Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation.