What is IELTS? - Purpose, Test Modules, and How It Works

The International English Language Testing System or IELTS is a test conducted for all non-native English speakers. The exam is conducted mainly for individuals wanting to study abroad or in an English environment, emigrate to an English-speaking country, and acquire proficiency in the English language to work for a professional organization.

IELTS band scores are globally approved by 12,000+ organizations, which makes them worldwide acceptable and opens numerous opportunities for many individuals out there.

The test is conducted in two main ways:

1. First one is IELTS academic for individuals seeking higher education or student visas
2. Second one is IELTS general training intended to acquire English proficiency to apply for jobs

IELTS exam assesses the speaking, listening, writing, and Reading skills of an individual.

NOTE: Those who wants to appear in the exam or need a IELTS preparation coachings, can directly apply from here.

IELTS: Key Highlights

Since the IELTS exam is conducted in two different ways, there are 48 fixed dates for the academic module and 24 dates fixed for the general training module. Here are a few important highlights of the IELTS exam:

 

Why is the IELTS Exam Required?

Besides testing and improving English language proficiency, the IELTS exam holds importance for so many reasons, like immigration, professional life, Education purposes, global recognition, preparation for life overseas, and flexibility.

The IELTS exam is accepted in countries like the UK, Australia, the USA, New Zealand, and Canada. You need to convince the foreign universities and visa-granting authorities that you have good communication skills and will not face any problems in the country. The test measures your ability to survive in an environment of which you do not have any awareness. So, through IELTS you get trained for a new world and its experiences.

 

IELTS Eligibility 2024

The IELTS exam conducting body has not declared any age limit for appearing in the test. Anyone from any background can appear for the IELTS exam except for candidates under the age of 16. However, it is highly recommended to check the eligibility criteria of the institution to which a candidate is applying.

 

IELTS Registration 2024

Candidates wanting to appear for the IELTS exam 2024 will have to visit the official IDP IELTS website. You can register via online or offline. You can visit the closest IELTS center for offline registration. At the time of registration, a candidate will require the passport number, so always keep your passport ready. Also, carry the passport on the test day.

Once the registration process is done, you will receive a written confirmation with the date and time of the test mentioned on it.

 

IELTS Exam Fees 2024

The registration fee for the candidates wanting to take the IELTS exam is Rs 17,000.

The registration fee varies depending on the type of IELTS exam you want to take, like the exam fee for computer-delivered IELTS for UKVI is Rs 17,250, the exam fee for IELTS Life Skills A1 and B1 is Rs 16,050, and the fee for UK Visas and Immigration is Rs 17,250.

NOTE: To crack the IELTS exam, you will strongly need coaching for the preparation, therefore we have mentioned the list of top cities for IELTS preparation.

• IELTS Coaching in Delhi 
• IELTS Coaching in Lucknow 
• IELTS Coaching in Varanasi 
• IELTS Coaching in Kanpur 

 

IELTS Centers in India

There are many IELTS centers in all the major cities in the country. There are around 82 IELTS centers across the country.

It is highly recommended to choose the nearest exam centers to avoid last minute rush. It will be easy for you to travel to a nearby center. This way you can save a lot of your time and appear for the exam with a fresh and relaxed mind.

 

IELTS 2024 Exam Pattern

As mentioned earlier, the IELTS test assesses four different skills of an individual Reading, writing, listening, and Reading skills. So, the exam pattern also revolves around all these four skills. This exam tests your English language proficiency for so many different purposes.

 

IELTS Syllabus 2024

You will come across four different Sections in your IELTS exam. These four sections are Reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The time distribution for each section differs from one another.

All the Fours Sections	Time Duration for each section	Description of each Section
Reading Section	60 Minutes	In this test, you will be evaluated based on your reading comprehension skills. You will be given articles, texts, graphs, and essays. An individual has to comprehend the academic text.
Writing Section	60 Minutes	Comprises two tasks: Task 1 and Task 2. In Task 1 an individual has to summarize or explain the visual things like graphs, charts, and more. In Task 2 an essay will be given and you have to share your opinion on the topic.
Listening Section	30 Minutes	An individual's ability to listen and understand the English language will be checked through different kinds of recordings.
Speaking Section	11-14 Minutes	This section is to check the oral communication of an individual in the English language. A face-to-face interview is conducted with the examiner.

 

IELTS 2024 Results

The IELTS results do not take much time to be declared. You can either visit the official website and log in to your account to check the result or you will receive an email with your scores. After you appear for the test the result will be declared online in a week or 13 days after the IELTS result will be declared offline.

 

IELTS Preparation Tips 2024

Some of the things that will help you prepare better for the IELTS exam are:

• Have a good understanding of the format
• Have an understanding of the Marking scheme
• Be surrounded by an English environment
• Attend courses for preparation
• Solve sample question paper
• Work on all the four IELTS skills
• Solve practice tests

IELTS Tips for Reading Section

• One of the best ways to approach any exam is to focus on time management.
• Be consistent with the practice and locate the correct answer to the questions.
• Also, maintain grammatical accuracy with your answers.
• Set a time limit and try your best to finish the task within the time limit.

IELTS Tips for Writing Section

• The writing section comprises two tasks.
• You need 20 minutes for task 1 and 40 minutes for task 2. Try your best to maintain the set time limit for both tasks.
• Also, maintain the word limit. Try over 150 words for Task 1 for Task 2 over 250 words.
• These minimum word limits are crucial.
• Focus on the diversity of the language by avoiding the repetition of words, phrases, and sentences.
• Be more direct with answers and prefer using active voice.
• In Task 2 make sure the answers are clear and concise.

IELTS Tips for Listening Section

• One thing to keep in mind for the listening skill test is that audio will be played only once. So, you have to listen very carefully.
• Note down important points while listening to the audio. This will help you recall all the important details.
• Do not leave the response sheet blank if you are not sure about your response, you guess the answer and write the most probable answer.
• For accuracy, maintain the word limit and revise the answers.
• Since an individual is allowed to write in all caps it can help you avoid errors and ensure clear and precise answers.

IELTS Tips for Speaking Section

• You have to be extra careful with the speaking skill section. You will have to choose  the words which you can pronounce correctly and with clarity.
• Confidence is the key to approaching this section.
• Be clear and smooth with the pronunciation.
• Avoid using filter words like umm, hmm, and others. This can make you look less confident.
• Be consistent and regular with your speaking skills practice.
• Do not over-evaluate the answers as it may deviate you from the main focus of the topic. Always be concise and relevant with the answers.