24.9.07

The IELTS Routine

The IELTS test consists of four parts in the following order:

Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.

Listening takes about 30 minutes - 20 minutes to listen to a tape and to answer questions on what you hear, and 10 minutes to transfer your answers to Answer Sheet.

Reading takes 1 hour and your task is to read passages of text and answer questions according to what you have read.

Writing takes also 1 hour and is divided into 2 sub-parts: 20 minutes to write a letter and 40 minutes to write an essay.

Speaking takes up to 15 minutes and consists of 3 parts: Personal Interview, Little Speech and a Discussion.

All the parts continue one after another, and only before Speaking you get a little break.

IELTS - Special Circumstances

IELTS aims to assess the English language communication skills of all test takers fairly and objectively.
Our test centres can make arrangements to accommodate special circumstances or requirements to enable test takers to attend a test centre, and to understand questions and tasks and give their answers.
If you have a disability or another condition which might require special arrangements, you should let the test centre at which you will be doing your test know as soon as you can. Each case is considered individually, so they will need a medical certificate from you to put arrangements in place.
Test centres require three months’ notice to put special arrangements in place. They need to confirm arrangements with Cambridge ESOL, and modified versions of the test may need to be prepared (for example, in Braille).
Visual difficulties
A range of options is available, including enlarged print, and brailed question papers.
Answers may be recorded in a variety of ways, e.g. via an amanuensis, or using a Braille machine or word-processor, and extra time may be allowed for completion of Reading and Writing Modules.
A special needs version of the Listening Module is also available.
Hearing difficulties
If you have partial hearing loss and can hear with the help of headphones or special amplification equipment you may ask for permission to use this equipment when taking listening modules.
A lip-reading version of the Listening Module is available.
In the case of severe hearing difficulties, you can apply for exemption from the Speaking and/or Listening Modules.
Learning difficulties (eg: dyslexia)
You can apply for up to 30 minutes extra time to complete the Reading and Writing Modules, and can also apply to write your answers using a typewriter or word-processor, if you normally write this way.
Illness
If you are genuinely ill on the day of or during the test you should let the test supervisor know. Special consideration may be given to test takers who report their illness on the day of the test.

IELTS - Valid and Secure

Across all areas of test delivery, test administration and test results, IELTS is valid and secure.
Every aspect of the IELTS test is subject to the highest quality controls, cutting edge security and integrity management practices.
The IELTS nine (9) band score system measures and reports test scores in a consistent manner. It is secure, benchmarked and understood worldwide. The rigorous processes used to produce the test materials ensure that every version of the test is of a comparable level of difficulty, so that your results are consistent wherever and whenever the test is taken. IELTS scores are proven and valid regardless of where you take the test.
IELTS has an integrated system of recruitment, training, benchmarking, certification and monitoring of IELTS Examiners. This ensures that they are fully qualified, experienced and effective, and provide a standardised testing and assessment system around the world. IELTS has a rigorous, quality assured system for marking every IELTS test, proven by the half million IELTS tests conducted every year. The performance of each IELTS Examiner is regularly monitored and evaluated and they are tested every two years to retain their certification.
IELTS test centres are operated by the British Council, IDP:IELTS Australia or by independent organisations that meet strict standards of quality, security and customer service.
The free IELTS Test Report Form Verification Service enables universities and employers to authenticate test report forms and safeguard against fraudulent report forms using a safe and secure online database.
E Downloads is the quick and secure way to receive IELTS test results. Download IELTS test results from IELTS secure website. The electronic bulk download facility enables registered users to download IELTS results for all candidates who have applied to their organisations.

Security of IELTS

Across all areas of test delivery, test administration and test results, IELTS is valid and secure.
Every aspect of the IELTS test is subject to the highest quality controls, cutting edge security and integrity management practices.
The IELTS nine (9) band score system measures and reports test scores in a consistent manner. It is secure, benchmarked and understood worldwide. The rigorous processes used to produce the test materials ensure that every version of the test is of a comparable level of difficulty, so that your results are consistent wherever and whenever the test is taken. IELTS scores are proven and valid regardless of where you take the test.
IELTS has an integrated system of recruitment, training, benchmarking, certification and monitoring for IELTS Examiners. This ensures that they are fully qualified, experienced and effective, and provide a standardised testing and assessment system around the world. We have a rigorous, quality assured system for marking every IELTS test, proven by the half million IELTS tests conducted every year. The performance of each clerical marker is regularly monitored and evaluated. Each marker is tested every two years to retain their certification.
IELTS test centres are operated by the British Council, IDP:IELTS Australia or by independent organisations that meet strict standards of quality, security and customer service.
The free IELTS Test Report Form Verification Service enables universities and employers to authenticate test report forms and safeguard against fraudulent report forms using a safe and secure online database.

IELTS - Useful Links

Official IELTS Website
The official IELTS web site - it also contains a test centre locator function, which can find your nearest test centre.
Australian IELTS
The Australian organisation that runs IELTS. One of three organisations that run IELTS.
www.britishcouncil.org
The British organisation that runs IELTS. One of three organisations that run IELTS.
www.cambridgeesol.org
One of three organisations that run IELTS.
Middlesex University IELTS Page
Middlesex University is the biggest test centre in the UK. This is its information page.
Cambridge University Press IELTS books.
Cambridge University Press IELTS books.
Useful Info at www.ceii.org
Useful Information
www.cross-link.com
The IELTS Tutor" - Preparation video or CDROM.
www.aapress.com.au
A site selling someIELTS preparation books.
www.go-to-canada.com
Canadian immigration IELTS information.

www.infoielts.com
A helpful site and excellent list of books available.Free test available in line.
www.zelandia.ney
On line course.
www.englishoutlook.com
On line course.
www.englishjobmaze.com
Another IELTS book list.
Watch Education
Education resources list for colleges, online learning, online course, early childhood, home schooling, education subjects etc.
Hyperstudy.com
Useful guide to English courses abroad.
tefl.net
A useful site on TEFL subjects.
Dave's ESL Cafe
A useful site on lots of different subjects related to learning English.
studyIELTS Prep eGuide
This eBook has a wide collection of references to sites relevant to IELTS preparation.
www.eslcity.com
Useful site for EFL teachers
www.ieltsthailand.com
IELTS Thailand - an independent website for Thai people taking the IELTS test. The objective of this website is simple: help anyone taking the IELTS test get the score they need.