The IELTS test assesses English language proficiency and is accepted by over 6,000 institutions worldwide. It consists of four modules - Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking - and takes around 3 hours to complete. Requirements to take the test and achieve certain score bands vary depending on the candidate's country of destination, such as the UK, Middle East, Australia, USA or Canada.

1. IELTS International English Language Testing System

2. Why Chose the IELTS? The IELTS is a test that proves peoples English skills where ever they go, it is accepted by 6,000 institutions worldwide. It is the Test that sets the standards around the world. The IELTS is offered up to 4 times a year within more that 125 countries. There are 500 test centres worldwide.

3. IELTS Requirements Per Country For the UK - EU candidates (even if they studied in a non-English language) do not need to appear for IELTS Non-EU candidates need to appear for IELTS and get an overall score of 7 with 7 in all four bands For the Middle East - Candidates that have studied / trained from the UK, any of the EU countries, USA, Canada or Australia do not need to appear for IELTS Candidates coming from any other part of the world will have to appear for IELTS and get an overall score of 6.5 with 7 in speaking For Australia - Candidates from outside of Australia need to appear for IELTS and get an overall score of 7 with 7 in all four bands

4. IELTS Requirements Per Country For the USA - Candidates that have studied / trained from the UK, any of the EU countries, Canada or Australia do not need to appear for IELTS Candidates coming from any other part of the world will have to appear for IELTS and get an overall score of 6.5 with 7 in speaking For Canada - Candidates that have studied / trained from the UK, any of the EU countries, USA or Australia do not need to appear for IELTS For a candidate to gain maximum points for language skills in an immigration application to Canada, the required score range would be 7 – 9, 4 points per module = 16 in total. A score ranging from 5.0 – 6.9 would give the candidate 2 points per module. For licensure applications to Canadian nursing boards the required scores are 7 speaking and 6.5 overall.

5. What Does the IELTS involve? 4 Separate Modules Listening Reading Writing Speaking Total Test Time 2 hours 45 minutes The Listening, Reading, Writing tests MUST be completed in 1 day. The speaking may also be taken on the same day or up to a week before or a week after the other parts have been taken.

6. Listening The listening module involves candidates listening to a number of recorded texts which include a mixture of conversations and monologues. The recordings are only heard once. The first 2 sections of the listening module are related to social needs and involves conversations between 2 speakers and then a monologue. The final 2 sections are related to situations related to educational or training contexts. It involves a conversation with up to 4 people, followed by a further monologue. Answers are to be written on the question paper during the recordings, after the recordings have finished the candidate will then have 10 minutes to transfer their answers onto the answer sheet.

7. IELTS Test Example Listening An example of listening questions Section 2 Questions 11-20 Questions 11 – 15 Choose the correct letter A, B or C 11. The most important reason for a settlement at the rocks was: A. Fresh Water B. Flat Rock C. Sea Wall 12. The plague was brought to Sydney by: A. Rat catchers B. Convicts C. Sailors

8. Listening Example Questions Cont/d…… 13. The harbour bridge was built. A. In 10 years with 7 deaths B. In 10 years with 17 deaths C. In 17 years with 10 deaths 14. The Chinese community arrived in the rock in. A. 1825 B. 1844 C. 1870

9. Reading The reading module consists of 3 modules, 40 items and is 60 minutes long. The 3 passages in the academic reading module are texts taken from books, magazines, journals and newspapers. The reading texts will have a total of 2000 to 2750 words. 1 of the texts will contain a detailed argument.

10. IELTS Test Example Reading Text Below is the example of part of a reading text Wind Power in the US Prompted by the oil crises of the 1970s, a wind-power industry flourished briefly in the United States. But then world oil prices dropped, and funding for research into renewable energy was cut. By the mid 1980s US interest in wind energy as a large-scale source of energy had almost disappeared. The development of wind power at this time suffered not only from badly designed equipment, but also from poor long-term planning, economic projections that were too optimistic and the difficulty of finding suitable locations for the wind turbines. Only now are technological advances beginning to offer hope that wind power will come to be accepted as a reliable and important source of electricity. There have been significant successes in California, in particular, where wind farms now have a capacity of 1500 megawatts, comparable to a large nuclear or fossil-fuelled power station, and produce 1.5 per cent of the state's electricity. Nevertheless, in the U.S., the image of wind power is still distorted by early failures. One of the most persistent criticisms is that wind power is not a significant energy resource. Researchers at the Battelle Northwest Laboratory, however, estimate that today wind turbine technology could supply 20 per cent of the electrical power the country needs. As a local resource, wind power has even greater potential. Minnesota's energy commission calculates that a wind farm on one of the state's south western ridges could supply almost all that state's electricity. North Dakota alone has enough sites suitable for wind farms to supply more than a third of all electricity consumed in the continental US.

11. Reading Questions Questions 1 – 5 Complete the summary below using words from the box. Write your answers in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet. NB There are more words or phrases than you will need to fill the gaps. You may use any word or phrase more than once. The failure during the late 1970s and early 1980s of an attempt to establish a widespread wind power industry in the United States resulted largely from the ...(1)... in oil prices during this period. The industry is now experiencing a steady ...(2)... due to improvements in technology and an increased awareness of the potential in the power of wind. The wind turbines that are now being made, based in part on the ...(3)... of wide-ranging research in Europe, are easier to manufacture and maintain than their predecessors. This has led wind-turbine makers to be able to standardise and thus minimise ...(4)... . There has been growing ...(5)... of the importance of wind power as an energy source. criticism success design costs decisions stability operating costs fall effects failure growth recognition scepticism decline results production costs

12. Writing The writing module consists of 2 tasks, 150 + 250 words and is 60 minutes long. Task 1 The candidate is required to write a description of 150 words based on the information found in a chart, table, graph or diagram, For this task the candidate is required to demonstrate their ability to present and summarise the main features of the chart, table, graph or diagram. It is recommended that 20 minutes is spent completing task 1.

13. Writing Task 2 The candidate is required to write a short essay of 250 words based on their response to a statement or question. For this task the candidate is required to demonstrate their ability to construct an argument and discuss abstract issues. The candidate needs to show that they are able to respond appropriately, using the correct vocabulary and in the correct order. It is recommended that the candidate spends 40 minutes on task 2.

14. IELTS Test Example Writing An Example of a writing test Writing Task 2 You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: It is inevitable that as technology develops so traditional cultures must be lost. Technology and tradition are incompatible - you cannot have both together. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience

15. Speaking In the speaking test you will be required to have a full conversation with the examiner It will be close to a real life conversation There are 3 parts to the speaking test: Part One - Questions on yourself Part Two - A Topic discussion Part Three – A longer discussion on the topic An Example of Part two: Describe a teacher who has greatly influenced you in your education. You should say: 1. where you met them 2. what subject they taught 3. what was special about them 4. explain why this person influenced you so much.

16. IELTS Costs UK - £108 Europe – 170/180 Euros (where the Euro applies) USA - $185 Canada – CA $265 Australia - $310 AUD, some test centres maybe subject to a surcharge. New Zealand – NZD $340 South Africa – 1900,00 Rand UAE – 800 AED Philippines – 8,640 Pesos India – 7,200 Rupee’s

17. Steps for Applying to Take the IELTS Locate the nearest test centre. Check Test Dates – 2 dates suitable dates will need to be selected. Complete the IELTS application, applying to take the Academic IELTS test. The applicant will need to use the same name on the application as on their passport. 2 passport photos, signed on the back by the applicant and not more than 6 months old need to be attached to the application. An applicant can then either: Take application to selected test centre. Post the application to the test centre. The applicant will need to contact the test centre to confirm their methods of payment before posting the application. Once registered the test centre will confirm the test date. IELTS test applicants in the USA, will need to register online using the link below : https://ieltsregistration.org/ielts- candidate/candidateonlinechkavl.do?action=showOnlineChkAvailability

18. Apply to Take the IELTS Find your nearest test centre http://www.ielts.org/test_centre_search/search_results.aspx Download the IELTS application http://www.ielts.org/PDF/IELTS_Application_Form.pdf

19. The Test Day The candidate MUST arrive on Time. The candidate must take a form of I.D, in the form of their passport or national identity card (this must be the same as provided on the candidates IELTS application). I.D, pencils and erasers can be taken into the test room, anything not needed or allowed must be left outside the test room. Mobile phones and pagers MUST be switched off or this could lead to disqualification from the test. For more information on the test day please use the link below. http://www.ielts.org/test_takers_information/taking_the_test.aspx

20. The Results Results are issued 13 days after the test, up to 5 copies of the results can be sent to different institutions by post or electronically free of charge. Results are reported as band scores on a scale of 1 (the lowest) to 9 (the highest). You will receive an overall band scores as well as a band score for each module.

21. IELTS Band Scores Non User 1 Intermittent User 2 Extremely Limited User 3 Limited User 4 Modest User 5 Competent User 6 Good User 7 Very Good User 8 Expert User 9