The International English Language Testing System or IELTS for short is a test designed to help you work, study, or migrate to another country where English is natively spoken. If you want to move to countries such as the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Sweden, etc. you need to take the IELTS test and achieve a good score.
Your English speaking, reading, and writing skills will be tested through the exam. IELTS is graded on a scale of 1-9 where 1 is the lowest score and 9 is the highest. If you’re looking for scholarships, or if you want to study abroad, you need to take the IELTS test. The University or any educational or training institute that you’re applying to has its own IELTS requirement. In this post, today we’ll discuss what is IELTS online test, how you can take the test, IELTS test booking, IELTS online test, and much more. So let’s begin.
Content Outline
What is IELTS?
Most of us at this point know what is IELTS, but let’s go through a formal introduction. IELTS is a program that tests your ability to read, write, and speak in English. It is the most popular English language test if you’re looking to study, work, or even migrate to a country where English is the native language. You will be evaluated through a series of tests and you’ll be graded out of 9. IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge English.
If you’re looking to study abroad, you might have to prove your English efficiency. The only way to do that is through IELTS and TOEFL. Some Universities also accept Duolingo test as well but you have to check with the University first.
But among all the tests, IELTS is the most popular and recognized test that is accepted in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. IELTS was developed with a focus on improving human conversation and communication. It focused on the primary 4 skills:
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
IELTS has been the pioneer of these four skills in English language testing for over 30 years. It is still considered to be a standard for English language testing today.
IELTS Test Format
Now you know what is IELTS, let’s get to know the IELTS test format. When you’re sitting for an IELTS test, you will be tested on your reading, listening, writing, and speaking skills. The tests will be carried out on the same day one after another with no breaks in between.
The test time will be under 3 hours. For the speaking test, you can book a slot online at your preferred date and time. If you don’t pick a date or time within the given time, a slot will be automatically given to you. The following is the IELTS test format:
IELTS Listening
For the listening test, you will have to listen to four recordings. After that, you will be asked some questions based on the recordings that you’ve just listened to. The test duration is 30 minutes.
IELTS Reading
For the reading part, as you might have guessed, you will have to read different articles. This test requires you to answer 40 questions. You have to read to understand the summary, details, logical discussion, skimming, and also figure out the writer’s attitude and opinion on the subject. The duration of the IELTS reading test is 60 minutes.
IELTS Written
Based on the module you’re taking, this test will require you to complete two tasks that cover the general interest. The duration of the IELTS written test is 60 minutes.
IELTS Speaking
The IELTS speaking test assesses your speaking skills. This involves how good you’re at English speaking. You will be tested on your fluency, lexical resources (vocabulary), pronunciation, etc. If you’re comfortable speaking in English, this test won’t be that difficult for you. The duration of the IELTS speaking test is 11 to 14 minutes.
How To Book an IELTS Test
If you’re wondering about IELTS test booking, you can do it online or by visiting an official British Council IELTS test center. You can book an IELTS online test from the official website of the British Council. There are convenient test locations all over the World. Currently, there are 800+ official British Council IELTS test centers. You can also check their site.
Once on the website, select your country and you’ll find a list of available IELTS test centers. Select the test centers and follow the on-screen instructions to book your test.
You can also book an IELTS online test. Since the entire test will be carried out online, make sure you have a strong internet connection. Otherwise, it’s best to avoid the IETLS online test. Visit the official site to learn more about the IELTS Online test.
That is how the IELTS test booking works. When these tests are held varies from country to country. Generally, the paper-based IELTS tests are carried out 40-50 times a year. If you apply for the computer-delivered IELTS, you can choose multiple dates and time slots. You also get your results within a week. Although it’s not sure some get their results within 3-5 days while others take a bit longer.
Benefits of IELTS
If you’re interested in taking the IELTS test, then you might already have a clear idea of the benefits of IELTS. As we explained in the beginning, if you want to study abroad, IELTS is a requirement. Although some Universities accept TOEFL, Duolingo, and some other tests, IELTS is the international standard and the best among all the tests.
So if you’re looking to study, migrate, or work abroad, IELTS is a must. That much is clear, but let’s still take a look at some of the benefits of IELTS:
- For study: Universities and educational institutions in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and some other European countries require you to prove your English efficiency. If you have a good IELTS score, then you won’t have any trouble proving your English efficiency.
- For Work: If you want to work abroad, the company that you are applying for has some requirements before you can travel. One of the most common requirements is English skills. To prove that you have good English skills, you need to show your IELTS score.
- For Migration: If you’re simply looking to migrate to another country that has English as the native language, then your IELTS score will come in handy. As many countries require you to have a good command of English before you can move into the country.
- For improving your English skills: Even if you’re not migrating, studying, or looking to work abroad, you can still take the IELTS test to improve your English skills. If you’re in school or college, you can still take the IELTS test. This will not only improve your English skills, but it will also boost your confidence. Who knows it might come in handy later on in your career.
Conclusion
Now you know what is IELTS. IELTS is regarded as the best English evaluation test in the World. There are many other tests that you can take but IELTS is the most widely accepted. Having a good IELTS score opens up a whole new world to you with many opportunities. If you’re interested in doing IELTS, you can book a test and select your time, date, and location. You can also apply for computer-based tests as well.
However, if you’re looking to study abroad, make sure to read the requirements of the University to be clear on this concept. Some Universities don’t accept IELTS test result that is over 2 years old. If you’ve taken an IELTS test a long time ago, you might need to take it again if it is a requirement of the University.
