Ielts

The IELTS test assesses your abilities in listening, reading, writing and speaking – in less than three hours.

There are two types of the IELTS test:  IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Listening and Speaking are the same for both tests, but the subject matter of the Reading and Writing components differs depending on which test you take.

The Listening, Reading and Writing components of all IELTS tests are completed on the same day, with no breaks in between them.

The Speaking component, however, can be completed up to a week before or after the other tests. Your test centre will advise.

The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Test format – Listening

30 minutes

You will listen to four recordings of native English speakers and then write your answers to a series of questions.

• Recording 1 – a conversation between two people set in an everyday social context.
• Recording 2 - a monologue set in an everyday social context, e.g. a speech about local facilities.
• Recording 3 – a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context, e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment.
• Recording 4 - a monologue on an academic subject, e.g. a university lecture.

IELTS Listening description

Paper format	There are four sections with ten questions each. The questions are designed so that the answers appear in the order they are heard in the audio. The first two sections deal with situations set in everyday social contexts. In Section 1, there is a conversation between two speakers (for example, a conversation about travel arrangements), and in Section 2, there is a monologue in (for example, a speech about local facilities). The final two sections deal with situations set in educational and training contexts. In Section 3, there is a conversation between two main speakers (for example, two university students in discussion, perhaps guided by a tutor), and in Section 4, there is a monologue on an academic subject. The recordings are heard only once. They include a range of accents, including British, Australian, New Zealand, American and Canadian
Timing	Approximately 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes transfer time).
No. of questions	40
Task types	A variety of question types are used, chosen from the following: multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form/note/table/flow-chart/summary completion, sentence completion.
Answering	Test takers write their answers on the question paper as they listen and at the end of the test are given 10 minutes to transfer their answers to an answer sheet. Care should be taken when writing answers on the answer sheet as poor spelling and grammar are penalised.
Marks	Each question is worth 1 mark.

Assessors will be looking for evidence of your ability to understand the main ideas and detailed factual information, the opinions and attitudes of speakers, the purpose of an utterance and evidence of your ability to follow the development of ideas.

IELTS Listening – how it's marked

The Listening test is marked by certificated markers, who are regularly monitored to ensure their reliability. All answer sheets, after being marked, are further analysed by Cambridge English Language Assessment.

and score conversion
A Band Score conversion table is produced for each version of the Listening test which translates scores out of 40 into the IELTS 9-band scale. Scores are reported in whole bands and half bands.

One mark is awarded for each correct answer in the 40-item test. Care should be taken when writing answers on the answer sheet as poor spelling and grammar are penalised.

Test format – Reading 

60 minutes

The Reading component consists of 40 questions, designed to test a wide range of reading skills. These include reading for gist, reading for main ideas, reading for detail, skimming, understanding logical argument and recognising writers' opinions, attitudes and purpose.

IELTS Academic test - this includes three long texts which range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive and analytical. These are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers.  They have been selected for a non-specialist audience but are appropriate for people entering university courses or seeking professional registration.

IELTS Academic Reading description   

Paper format	Three reading passages with a variety of questions using a number of task types.
Timing	60 minutes
No. of questions	40
Task types	A variety of question types are used, chosen from the following; multiple choice, identifying information, identifying the writer’s views/claims, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion and short-answer questions.
Sources	Texts are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers, and have been written for a non-specialist audience. All the topics are of general interest. They deal with issues which are interesting, recognisably appropriate and accessible to test takers entering undergraduate or postgraduate courses or seeking professional registration. The passages may be written in a variety of styles, for example narrative, descriptive or discursive/argumentative. At least one text contains detailed logical argument. Texts may contain non-verbal materials such as diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If texts contain technical terms a simple glossary is provided.
Answering	Test takers are required to transfer their answers to an answer sheet during the time allowed for the test. No extra time is allowed for transfer. Care should be taken when writing answers on the answer sheet as poor spelling and grammar are penalised.
Marks	Each question is worth 1 mark.

 

IELTS General Training test - this includes extracts from books, magazines, newspapers, notices, advertisements, company handbooks and guidelines. These are materials you are likely to encounter on a daily basis in an English-speaking environment.

IELTS General Training Reading description

Paper format	There are three sections. Section 1 may contain two or three short texts or several shorter texts. Section 2 comprises two texts. In Section 3, there is one long text.
Timing	60 minutes
No. of questions	40
Task types	A variety of question types are used, chosen from the following: multiple choice, identifying information, identifying writer’s views/claims, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.
Sources	The first section, ‘social survival’, contains texts relevant to basic linguistic survival in English with tasks mainly about retrieving and providing general factual information, for example, notices, advertisements and timetables. The second section, ‘Workplace survival’, focuses on the workplace context, for example, job descriptions, contracts and staff development and training materials. The third section, ‘general reading’, involves reading more extended prose with a more complex structure. Here, the emphasis is on descriptive and instructive rather than argumentative texts, in a general context relevant to the wide range of test takers involved, for example, newspapers, magazines and fictional and non-fictional book extracts.
Answering	Test takers are required to transfer their answers to an answer sheet during the time allowed for the test. No extra time is allowed for transfer. Care should be taken when writing answers on the answer sheet as poor spelling and grammar are penalised.
Marks	Each question is worth 1 mark.

 

 

Test format – Academic Writing

60 minutes

IELTS Academic test

Topics are of general interest to, and suitable for, test takers entering undergraduate and postgraduate studies or seeking professional registration. There are two tasks:

• Task 1 - you will be presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and asked to describe, summarise or explain the information in your own words. You may be asked to describe and explain data, describe the stages of a process, how something works or describe an object or event.
• Task 2 - you will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. Responses to both tasks must be in a formal style.

         IELTS Academic Writing description

Paper format	There are two Writing tasks and BOTH must be completed.
Timing	60 minutes
No. of questions	2
Task types	In Task 1, test takers are asked to describe some visual information (graph/table/chart/diagram) in their own words. They need to write 150 words in about 20 minutes. In Task 2, they respond to a point of view or argument or problem. They need to write 250 words in about 40 minutes.
Answering	Answers must be given on the answer sheet and must be written in full. Notes or bullet points are not acceptable as answers. Test takers may write on the question paper but this cannot be taken from the examination room and will not be seen by the examiner.

 

IELTS General Training

Topics are of general interest. There are two tasks:

• Task 1 - you will be presented with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information, or explaining the situation. The letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style.
• Task 2 - you will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. The essay can be fairly personal in style.

         IELTS General Training Writing description

Paper format	There are two Writing tasks to complete.
Timing	60 minutes
No. of questions	2
Task types	In Task 1, test takers are asked to respond to a situation, for example, by writing a letter requesting information or explaining a situation. In Task 2, test takers write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.
Answering	Answers must be written in full in the answer booklet. Notes or bullet points in whole or in part are not acceptable as answers. Test takers may write on the question paper but this cannot be taken from the test room and will not be seen by the examiner.

Test format – Speaking 

11–14 minutes

The speaking component assesses your use of spoken English. Every test is recorded.

• Part 1 - the examiner will ask you general questions about yourself and a range of familiar topics, such as home, family, work, studies and interests. This part lasts between four and five minutes.
• Part 2  - you will be given a card which asks you to talk about a particular topic. You will have one minute to prepare before speaking for up to two minutes. The examiner will then ask one or two questions on the same topic.
• Part 3 - you will be asked further questions about the topic in Part 2. These will give you the opportunity to discuss more abstract ideas and issues. This part of the test lasts between four and five minutes.

 

IELTS Speaking description

Paper format	The Speaking test consists of an oral interview between the test takers' and an examiner. All Speaking tests are recorded.
Timing	11–14 minutes
Task types	There are three parts to the test and each part fulfils a specific function in terms of interaction pattern, task input and test takers output.

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world’s proven English language test.

IELTS is one of the pioneers of four skills English language testing for over 25 years ago, and continues to set the standard for English language testing today.

IELTS is accepted as evidence of English language proficiency by over 9,000 organisations worldwide. Last year, more than 2.9 million tests were taken globally. IELTS is recognised as a secure, valid and reliable indicator of true-to-life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation.

IELTS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment through more than 1,100 test centres and locations in over 140 countries.

Option A - Register online and pay the test fee by Credit Card

You must have a valid credit card with you to avail the online booking facility.

Procedure

• Log on to www.ieltsidpindia.com
• Select the option "Register for IELTS"
• Select your test date and test city (you will see the seat availability status)
• Complete the on-line application form
• Pay the test fee by credit card (Master / Visa)
• Get instant seat booking and acknowledgement

Important
You MUST courier the following to IDP head office

IDP Education India Pvt. Ltd.
6th Floor, Plot No.32, Global Business Square, Sector 44, Gurgaon-122003 (Haryana),India.
PH:+91-124-4445999

and also bring the following along with you on the day of the test (both speaking and listening, reading, writing test)

• Photocopy of your Passport (first and last page), AND any observation pages. Failing which you will NOT be allowed to sit the test.
• Once your registration is complete you will see a confirmation on your computer screen (you must print and bring this on the day of the test). A copy of the confirmation will also be sent in hard copy or on the e-mail address provided when you completed the application form.

Option B - Register in Person at IDP branch or Input Node

Procedure
Walk into any IDP branch/head offices or the nearest Input Node and use any of the following methods to register:

Method - I

• Register online using the computer at the office and make payment of test fee by Credit card, get immediate confirmation of your seat (this is identical to online registration)
• Hand over Photocopy of your Passport (first and last page) AND any observation pages.
• Hand over the Terms & Conditions document duly signed
• Take the instant acknowledgement letter confirming your seat in the test.

Method - II

• Take an application form and complete the same
• Sign the terms and conditions sheet attached to the application form.
• Attach Photocopy of your Passport (first and last page) AND any observation pages
• Pay the test fee either;
• by Credit card or Debit card / ATM card, or
• by Demand Draft (demand draft must be drawn in favour of "IDP EDUCATION INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, Payable at New Delhi") and should be made from any bank listed in the approved banks list in the Terms & Conditions document
• by depositing cash in ICICI bank branch via a customized ICICI deposit slip which can be either downloaded from IDP website or taken from IDP branch office or from any input node. The original customer copy of the customized ICICI deposit slip needs to be handed over to IDP branch office or the input node as a payment proof.
• Request the IDP branch staff or input node to enter your application form in the online registration system immediately and give you the acknowledgement of your booking and a tentative seat reservation, thereby ensuring a seat for yourself. Please note that your confirmation will be subject to the realization of the Bank draft (if you have paid the fee by bank draft)

Option C - Register by Courier and pay test fee by Demand Draft or ICICI deposit/Allahabad deposit slip

Procedure
Download the application form from , https://www.ieltsidpindia.com. Alternately, collect the application form, from the nearest IDP branch office or Input Node.

• Complete the application form
• Sign the application form and the Test terms and conditions sheet attached to the form
• Attach Photocopy of your Passport (first and last page) AND any observation pages
• Attach the Demand Draft for the test fee (demand draft must be drawn in favour of "IDP EDUCATION INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, Payable at New Delhi" and drawn on any bank listed in the approved banks list in the Terms & Conditions document) or attach the original customer copy of the ICICI deposit slip depositing cash in nearest ICICI bank branch
• Send the completed application form with all attachments and the test fee to;

IDP Education India Private
Limited, 6th Floor, Plot No.32, Global Business Square, SECTOR44, GURGAON-122003 (Haryana),India.
PH: +91-124-4445999

The application will be processed upon receipt and the seat allotment for your selected date will be subject to availability

IELTS Test Fee

• 11,800 as applicable (including Service Tax)