IELTS (the International English Language Testing System) is the world’s most popular English language test for work, study, and migration. More than 10,000 organisations trust IELTS as a reliable indicator of true to life ability to communicate in English. IELTS assesses a test taker’s English language proficiency across four skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
Delivered on either a computer or paper, IELTS is the only high-stakes language test recognised for migration across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. With a focus on human conversations, IELTS was a pioneer of four-skill English language testing more than 30 years ago. IELTS continues to set the standard for English language testing today.
Understanding how IELTS testing works Be better prepared for your test, get familiar with IELTS test format to get the best testing experience with UNICOM EDUCARE PVT LTD- Format
- Test Types
- Test Sections
- Modules
Test takers opting for IELTS on paper will take the Listening, Reading and Writing sections on a paper with either pen or HB-pencils. The Speaking test is carried out face-to-face with a trained IELTS examiner. The results of the paper-based IELTS test are announced after 13 calendar days.
Test takers opting for IELTS on computer take the Listening, Reading and Writing sections on a computer. The Speaking test remains face-to-face with a trained IELTS examiner. Computer-based IELTS gives you the convenience to choose from more test dates and results are announced within 3-5 days.
Why take computer-delivered IELTSThere is more than one reason why IELTS on computer is best for you! The IELTS (The International English Language Testing System) has been a paper-based English test for almost 30 years. So, this was the time for change and the computer delivered Test got introduced for better convenience of test takers.
- Faster Result: Get your Computer-delivered IELTS test result in 3-5 days
- More test Dates: Up to 7 days a week, 3 times a day
- Free study material: Access free IELTS practice tests and tutorials
- Multiple test locations: Conveniently located test centres across India
- You can now highlight text and make notes
- Save time by copying and pasting directly from your text and notes
- You can easily browse forward and backward through your questions
- To help keep track of the word count, use the automatic word counter for the Writing test
In the computer-delivered Listening test, the timings are slightly different from the paper-based test.
- You are given some time to read your questions before you start any part of the Listening test
- You have two minutes to review your answers after finishing the Listening test
- Duration of the Listening test is approx. 30 – 36 minute
Computer-delivered IELTS test dates are available up to 7 days a week, 3 times a day –morning, afternoon and evening! Now you can opt for a date and time as per your own convenience.
Having doubt about your Speaking test?
Your Speaking test remains face-to-face with a real human examiner who can assess your language and comprehension skills in person. We think it will help you be more comfortable talking to a human than a Robot (a software program that performs automated, repetitive, pre-defined tasks. Bots typically imitate or replace human user behaviour. Because they are automated, they operate much faster than human users.)dictation, isn’t it?
- Individual Speaking test rooms, with no distractions or noise
- We can repeat and rephrase a question for you
- We can match your pace and level of English
- We won’t ‘time out’ on you
- We hear your accent
- We understand your strengths better than a computer
You take 3 modules – Listening, Reading and Writing on paper and Speaking Test face-to-face with a certified examiner.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the world’s most popular high-stakes English language proficiency test for study, work and migration, with more than 3.5 million tests taken in the past year. The IELTS results are recognised by more than 10,000 organisations, including educational institutions, employers, professional associations and governments, in 140 countries around the world.
Paper-based IELTSIn paper-based IELTS, you’ll take the test in a traditional manner – at a desk with question papers and answer sheets for Reading, Listening and Writing tests in an official IELTS test centre. You’ll have to write your answers in either pen or HB-pencils. The Speaking test will be carried out one-on-one with a certified IELTS examiner.
Your results will be available after 13 calendar days from the test date.Test availability
The test dates for paper-based IELTS in India are available four times a month or 48 times a year, and are generally held on Saturdays and Thursdays to provide flexibility and convenience to the test seekers.
IELTS offers two tests: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Not sure which one to take? Read on to find out which test will suit your needs.
There are two types of IELTS – Academic and General Training, and you can opt for the one most suitable to your taking the test. While Listening and Speaking modules are the same for both these tests, the subject matter of the Reading and Writing sections differs depending on which type of test you are attempting.
For the Speaking test, you can book a slot online on your preferred date and time. If you fail to choose a slot within the stated time period, a time slot will be automatically allocated to you. The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes.
The General and Academic Training Reading tests are usually graded to the same level. However, the texts mentioned in the Academic Reading Test can be more challenging as compared to those mentioned in the General Training Test.
Test duration: 60 minutes (for both Academic and General tests)IELTS Reading test format – Academic
These are usually around topics of general interest, and so you need not be specialist to answer them. These excerpts can range from being factual and descriptive to analytical and discursive. They may also have non-verbal elements like graphs, diagrams or illustrations.
IELTS Reading test format – General Training
In your Reading test (General Training), you will find three sections.
Section 1: Two or three factual texts (short), one of which may be composite (consisting of 6-8 short texts related by topic, e.g. hotel advertisements). Topics are relevant to everyday life in an English-speaking country.
Section 2: Two factual texts (short) that focus on work-related issues (e.g. company policies, applying for jobs, salary, workplace facilities, or staff development and training).
Section 3: Contains a slightly more complex and longer text on a generic topic. It will be passage taken from real notices, company handbooks, advertisements, books, official documents, magazines or newspapers.
The General and Academic Training Writing tests are usually graded to the same level. While IELTS Academic Writing test comprises topics suitable for undergraduate and postgraduate students, IELTS General Training module consists of excerpts on general topics from books, magazines, notices, company handbooks.
Test duration: 60 minutes (for both Academic and General tests)IELTS Writing test format – Academic
Task 1: You are presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and are asked to summarise and report the information in your own words. You may be asked to select and compare data, describe the stages of a process, describe an object or how something works.
Task 2: You are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score.
The issues raised are of general interest to, suitable for and easily understood by test takers entering undergraduate or postgraduate studies or seeking professional registration.
IELTS Writing test format – General TrainingTask 1: You are given a situation where you have to write a letter to request information from someone or explain the situation at hand. The letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style.
Task 2: You are given to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. The essay can be less formal in style with a more personal response than the Academic Writing Task 2 essay. Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score.
