Professional Documents
Culture Documents
org
Delivered locally,
recognised
globally
BCIE Riga, 2012
www.ielts.org www.ielts.org
Aims
To give a sound understanding of:
What IELTS is
Where and why students take it
IELTS format, content and scores
How to prepare for IELTS
www.ielts.org
IELTS
An introduction
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What is IELTS?
The International English Language Testing System
Jointly managed by 3 partners:
Experts in English language testing internationally
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What does IELTS do?
Designed to assess the English language ability of people
who intend to study or work where English is the language
of communication
Test of communicative proficiency in English
Original 4 skills test covering:
Listening
Reading
Writing
Speaking
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Academic candidates top
destinations 2012
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Why do students take
IELTS?
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Institutes of further and higher education:
Australia, Canada, European countries, Hong Kong, New
Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, the United Kingdom, United
States and many other countries worldwide
Professional bodies:
Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and USA
Immigration authorities:
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK
Global recognition one test for many countries and
many purposes recognised by 7,000 organisations
worldwide (August 2012)
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Generally:
5.0 5.5 often required for Foundation degree programmes
5.5 6.5 often required for Undergraduate programmes
6.0 7.0 often required for Masters/Postgraduate
programmes
7.0 usually required for professional studies
The score is decided by the University NOT by IELTS: this is
why scores may be different for each university.
What scores do you need for university study?
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Use the online Global Recognition
System www.ielts.org
to find out which institutions will
accept your IELTS scores
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Globally accessible and convenient
Tests administered at over 800 centres and venues
worldwide
Up to 48 test dates per year (4 per month)
Results released 13 days after test
TRF can be sent directly to receiving organisations
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Delivered locally friendly customer service
High customer standards within the centre to ensure a
stress free testing experience
Friendly testing environment & staff
Strict security and centre management
Straight forward registration procedure
Every effort made to cater a candidate with special
requirements
Test fee set in the country and payable in local currency
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Successful communication involves interaction
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Candidates and recognising institutions value the face-
to-face speaking test
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Test format and content,
band scores and test
results
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Question Paper Production
3 4 years to develop one item (question)
Item writers in Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA and now
Canada
Content sourced globally
6 stages of paper construction rigorous standards applied
Topics or language context which may introduce a bias
against any group are avoided
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Academic or General Training
IELTS?
Academic:
Entry to University / College
/ professional registration
Assesses ability to study or
train at undergraduate or
postgraduate level
General Training:
Immigration, vocational,
secondary education,
language training and work
experience
Assess survival skills in a
broad social and
educational context
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Test format
Listening
30 minutes, 4 sect ions, 40 items
General Training Reading
60 minutes, 3 sect ions, 40 items
Academic Reading
60 minutes, 3 sect ions, 40 items
General Training Writing
60 minutes, 2 tasks
Academic Writing
60 minutes, 2 tasks
Speaking
11 - 14 minutes, 3 parts
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Test Scores
9 - band scoring system:
9 expert user
8 very good user
7 good user
6 competent user
5 modest user
4 limited user
3 extremely limited user
2 intermittent user
1 non user
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Fast results
Result s available in 13 days
Valid f or t wo years
Overall and module score
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IELTS
Before the test
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How to prepare for IELTS
Courses
For courses in the UK you can see what is available at
British Council accredited English language institutions:
http://www.educationuk.org/english (Enter IELTS as your
keyword search).
For courses in Riga you can contact Baltic Council for
International Education: www.balticcouncil.org
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How to prepare for IELTS
Preparation materials on-line
You can download some free samples from www.ielts.org:
http://www.ielts.org/test_takers_information/test_sample.as
px
You can also download an order form for the IELTS Official
Practice Tests through www.ielts.org:
http://www.ielts.org/test_takers_information.aspx
The British Councils Learn English Professionals site has a
section on IELTS preparation:
http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-english-gateway.htm
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How to prepare for IELTS
Preparation materials
You can buy How to Prepare for IELTS materials or Road to
IELTS CD-Roms through your British Council office
The British Council IELTS web pages offer additional
materials specific to each local market; check
www.britishcouncil/learning-ielts.htm
There are many other publications available from
bookstores or directly from publishers which will help you
get used to the test format and style.
https://www.teachers.cambridgeesol.org/ts/teachingresourc
es
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The world speaks IELTS
do you?
IELTS@balticcouncil.org