The IELTS ExamIELTS: International English Language

The IELTS Exam
    Good morning, everyone. Language testing is an interesting and useful subject in language studying. I hope my lecture can help you gain sufficient knowledge and skills in developing your own effective exams. But before that, let’s have a look at some quite mature English language tests in the world, like IELTS, TOEFL and ESELT.
    Today, we’ll focus on IELTS. IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. It is an exam which gauges English language proficiency.(1)An IELTS score is required for a range of different purposes as a stepping stone to immigration status in certain countries, as an entry requirement for studying in an overseas secondary or tertiary institution, and as an indication of the candidates’ English level when applying for a job.
    An IELTS exam has been carefully designed to be used in a range of international contexts and for a range of purposes.
    In IELTS, there is no pass or fail grade. Instead, candidates take 4 papers—reading, writing, listening and speaking.(2)Each paper is marked out of 9 and then the candidate’s final IELTS score is an average of the four marks. So candidates end up with a score out of 9. Different end users of the exam set different requirements. For example, a candidate who is seeking entry into a secondary institution will require a lower score than a candidate who is applying for a place in a post-graduate course.
    It should be remembered, though, that an IELTS score is only valid for 2 years. After the two year period has elapsed, the score is said to be stale and candidates need to take the exam again in order to have a valid score.
    The exam consists of four papers. The reading paper will take an hour and consists of three parts.(4)The listening paper will have 40 questions and will last for 30 minutes. The writing paper has two sections and takes an hour. The speaking section, a face-to-face interview, usually lasts for 15 minutes.
    There are two versions of the IELTS exam—the Academic version and the General Training version.(5)General Training is usually taken by those who are sitting the exam for immigration purposes. The majority of IELTS candidates sit the Academic version. It should be noted that while the different versions offer different papers and at different levels, the speaking test is the same for both Academic and General Training candidates.
    As with any exam, candidates should prepare before enrolling in the exam. The reasons for preparing are twofold.(6)The first reason is to make sure they are thoroughly familiar with the format and requirements of the exam so that there will be no surprises when they are actually sitting the papers. The second reason why it is important to prepare is to give the candidates the best chance of achieving their target score. While the IELTS exam is a test of proficiency, it is generally the case that candidates will do better if they are familiar with the testing format, question style, marking scheme and the strategies of tackling the tests, including the best way to use their time during the examinations.
    Candidates may get ready for the exam through the following ways.
    1. Read the IELTS website.(7)It is a good idea to read through the IELTS website because this will ensure that they are familiar with the tests and with all of the regulations which govern the tests. Information about IELTS and sample papers can be found at its website.
    2. Read a study guide. There is a big industry in writing study guides for external international exams such as IELTS.(8)For this reason, it is useful to consult a study guide which will give advice not only on the format of the exam but will also offer them ways in which to tackle the different types of questions and also help them to build up their skills. These study guides generally do not come cheaply though. It might be possible to locate them in their local library or good bookshops will have copies for sale.
    3. Join a preparation class. By joining a preparation class they will have the chance to work with other students who are also preparing to take the test.(9)They will generally have the chance to get some feedback from the tutor, especially in the areas of writing and speaking which are more difficult to self-assess than the listening and reading papers.
    4. Get a tutor. One of the main reasons it is good to have a tutor to help them prepare for the IELTS exam is that a tutor is able to focus on specific problems that they may have and offer them strategies to strengthen areas where they are weak. This level of individualized attention is generally difficult to achieve by attending a class.
    The IELTS test is offered throughout the year but there are some times of the year when the demand for places in the testing centre is greater than others. It might depend a bit on the education environment in the country in which the candidates live. For example, in Hong Kong, July and August generally have very high demand for the test. This is often due to the fact that there are students who might have expected to return to study in Hong Kong, only to find that due to examination results or some other factor, the pathway to overseas study has suddenly become more attractive. These students are often very eager to secure an IELTS score in order to accept an offer from an overseas educational facility.
    In the past, it was not possible to take the exam again in the same three month period.(10)However, this regulation has recently been changed and it is now possible to sit the exam again within the three month period if the candidates want to.
    Well, time is almost up. What we have focused is the information about IELTS and its preparation. After class, I hope you can gather some information about TOEFL. Next time we meet, I’ll let you give the brief introduction about that test. See you.