IELTS

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://ielts.org/
IELTS (pron.: /a.lts/), orInternational English Language Testing System,
[1]
is an
international standardised test ofEnglish language proficiency. It is jointly managed by University of
Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council and IDP Education Pty Ltd,
[1]
and was established in
1989.
There are two versions of the IELTS: the Academic Version and theGeneral Training Version:
The Academic Version is intended for those who want to enroll
inuniversities and other institutions of higher education and for
professionals such as medical doctors and nurses who want to study or
practise in an English-speaking country.
The General Training Version is intended for those planning to undertake
non-academic training or to gain work experience, or
forimmigration purposes.
IELTS is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian, Irish, New Zealand and South African academic
institutions, over 3,000 academic institutions in the United States, and various professional organisations. It
is also a requirement for immigration to Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
No minimum score is required to pass the test. An IELTS result orTest Report Form is issued to all
candidates with a score from "band 1" ("non-user") to "band 9" ("expert user") and each institution sets a
different threshold. There is also a "band 0" score for those who did not attempt the test. Institutions are
advised not to consider a report older than two years to be valid, unless the user proves that he has worked
to maintain his level.
[2]

[3]

In 2007, IELTS tested over a million candidates in a single 12-month period for the first time ever, making it
the world's most popular English language test for higher education and immigration.
[4]

In 2009, 1.4 million candidates took the IELTS test in over 130 countries, in 2011 1.7 million
candidates
[5]

Contents
[hide]
1 IELTS characteristics
2 IELTS test structure
o 2.1 Listening
o 2.2 Reading
o 2.3 Writing
o 2.4 Speaking
o 2.5 Duration
3 Band scale
4 Conversion table
5 Locations and test dates
6 Global test scores
o 6.1 Countries with highest averages
o 6.2 Results by first language of candidate
7 IELTS level required by academic institutions for admission
o 7.1 United States
o 7.2 United Kingdom
o 7.3 Argentina
o 7.4 Germany
o 7.5 Hong Kong
o 7.6 Italy
o 7.7 Kazakhstan
o 7.8 The Netherlands
o 7.9 Belgium
8 IELTS use for immigration purposes
o 8.1 Australia
o 8.2 New Zealand
o 8.3 Canada
o 8.4 United Kingdom
9 Other English proficiency tests
10 See also
11 References
12 External links
IELTS characteristics [edit]
The IELTS incorporates the following features:
A variety of accents and writing styles have been presented in test
materials in order to minimise linguistic bias.
IELTS tests the ability to listen, read, write and speak in English.
Band scores are used for each language sub-skill (Listening, Reading,
Writing, and Speaking). The Band Scale ranges from 0 ("Did not attempt
the test") to 9 ("Expert User").
The speaking module is a key component of IELTS. It is conducted in the
form of a one-to-one interview with an examiner. The examiner assesses
the candidate as he or she is speaking, but the speaking session is also
recorded for monitoring as well as re-marking in case of an appeal against
the banding given.
IELTS is developed with input from item writers from around the world.
Teams are located in the USA, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand,
Canada and other English-speaking nations.
IELTS test structure [edit]
All candidates must complete four Modules - Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking - to obtain a band
score, which is shown on the IELTS Test Report Form (TRF). All candidates take the same Listening and
Speaking Modules, while the Reading and Writing Modules differ depending on whether the candidate is
taking theAcademic or General Training Versions of the Test.
Listening [edit]
The module comprises four sections of increasing difficulty.
[6]
Each section, which can be either a
monologue or dialogue,
[6]
begins with a short introduction telling the candidates about the situation and the
speakers. Then they have some time to look through questions. The first three sections have a break in the
middle allowing candidates to look at the remaining questions. Each section is heard only once.
[7]

Reading [edit]
In the academic module the reading test comprises three sections, with 3 texts normally followed by 13 or
14 questions for a total of 40 questions overall. The General test also has 3 sections. However the texts are
shorter, so there can be up to 5 texts to read.
Writing [edit]
In the Academic module, there are two tasks: in Task 1 candidates describe a diagram, graph, process or
chart, and in Task 2 they respond to an argument. In the General Training module, there are also two
tasks: in Task 1 candidates write a letter or explain a situation, and in Task 2 they write an essay.
Speaking [edit]
The speaking test contains three sections. The first section takes the form of an interview during which
candidates may be asked about their hobbies, interests, reasons for taking IELTS exam as well as other
general topics such as clothing, free time, computers and the internet or family. In the second section
candidates are given a topic card and then have one minute to prepare after which they must speak about
the given topic. The third section involves a discussion between the examiner and the candidate, generally
on questions relating to the theme which they have already spoken about in part 2. This last section is
more abstract, and is usually considered the most difficult.
Duration [edit]
The total test duration is around 2 hours and 45 minutes for Listening, Reading and Writing modules.
Listening: 40 minutes, 30 minutes for which a recording is played
centrally and additional 10 minutes for transferring answers onto the OMR
answer sheet.
Reading: 60 minutes.
Writing: 60 minutes.
Speaking: 1114 minutes.
(Note: No additional time is given for transfer of answers in Reading and Writing modules)
The first three modules - Listening, Reading and Writing (always in that order) - are completed in one day,
and in fact are taken with no break in between. The Speaking Module may be taken, at the discretion of the
test centre, in the period seven days before or after the other Modules.
The tests are designed to cover the full range of ability from non-user to expert user.
Band scale [edit]
IELTS is scored on a nine-band scale, with each band corresponding to a specified competence in English.
Overall Band Scores are reported to the nearest half band.
The following rounding convention applies: if the average across the four skills ends in .25, it is rounded up
to the next half band, and if it ends in .75, it is rounded up to the next whole band.
The nine bands are described as follows:
9 Expert User
Has full operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete
understanding.
8 Very Good User
Has full operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies
and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex
detailed argumentation well.
7 Good User
Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies,
inappropriateness and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language
well and understands detailed reasoning.
6 Competent User
Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and
misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar
situations.
5 Modest user
Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is
likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.
4 Limited User
Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in using complex
language.
3
Extremely
Limited User
Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations.
2
Intermittent
User
No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or
short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs.
1 Non User Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.
0
Did not attempt
the test
No assessable information provided at all.
A 6.5 IELTS score lies roughly between B2 and C1 levels of theCommon European Framework of
Reference for Languages and >8 scores are C2.
[8]

Conversion table [edit]
This table can be used for the Listening tests to convert raw scores to band scores. This chart is a guide
only, because sometimes the scores adjust slightly depending on how difficult the exam is.
Band
Score
9.0 8.5 8.0 7.5 7.0 6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5
Raw score
39
40
37
38
35
36
32
34
30
31
26
29
23
25
18
22
16
17
13
15
10
12
8
9
6
7
4
5
Locations and test dates [edit]
The test is taken every year in 500 locations across 121 countries, and is one of the fastest growing
English language tests in the world. The number of candidates has grown from about 80,000 in 1999 to
over 1,200,000 in 2009.
There are up to 48 test dates available per year. Each test centre offers tests up to four times a month
depending on local demand. There used to be a minimum time limit of 90 days before which a person was
not allowed to retake the test. However this restriction has been withdrawn and currently there is no limit for
applicants to retake the test.
Global test scores [edit]
Countries with highest averages [edit]
In 2011, the top five countries of residence with the highest average scores for the Academic Strand of the
IELTS test were:
[9]

Ranking Countries Band Score
1 Malaysia 6.9
- Romania 6.9
3 France 6.8
- Germany 6.8
5 Brazil 6.7
- Kenya 6.7
- Philippines 6.7
Results by first language of candidate [edit]
The top 5 language-speaking (or nationality) groups that achieved the best results in 2011 for the
Academic Strand of the IELTS test were:
[10]

Ranking Languages Band Score
1 German 7.2
2 English 7.1
3 Romanian 6.9
4 Bulgarian 6.8
- Polish 6.8
5 Kannada 6.7
- Portuguese 6.7
- Tagalog 6.7
IELTS level required by academic institutions for admission [edit]
Just over half (51%) of candidates take the test to enter higher education in a foreign country.
[4]
The IELTS
minimum scores required by academic institutions vary. As a general rule, institutions from English-
speaking countries require a higher IELTS band.
United States [edit]
The highest IELTS Band required by a university is 8.5,
[11]
by the Graduate School of Journalism
at Columbia University; the only US institution to require this band.
While Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law is listed as requiring an 8.5 on the IELTS website, the
school lists an 8.0.
[12]

At Saint Louis University, the minimum score is 6.
United Kingdom [edit]
The highest IELTS Band required is 8,
[11]
by the Master of Science degree in Marketing at the University of
Warwick .
Most IELTS requirements by universities fall between 5.5 and 7.0. For example:
University Minimum IELTS score
Oxford University 7.0
[13]

London School of
Economics
7.0/7.5 (depends on LSE's individual department requirement)
University of Edinburgh
7.0 (All programs in Business, Management, Finance, Law, English Literature and
Celtic/Scottish Studies)
[14]

Cambridge University 7.0/7.5
[15]

Glasgow University 6.5 (General)/ 7.0 (Faculty of Arts & Humanities)
[16]

University College
London
6.5/7.0/7.5 (depends on UCL's individual faculty/department requirement)
Imperial College London 6.5 (7.0 for the Life Sciences Department and the Imperial Business School)
Exeter University 7.0
Liverpool University 6.0
[17]

Birmingham University 6.5
Essex University 5.5
Cranfield University 6.5/7.0 (depends on MSc)
Argentina [edit]
The University of Buenos Aires requires an IELTS minimum of 7.5 for entry into the faculty of English as a
foreign language.
Germany [edit]
University of Bamberg requires an IELTS (academic or general test) minimum of 7.0 (program in European
Joint Masters Degree in English and American Studies). Most German universities require an IELTS
minimum of 6.0 or 6.5 for their master's students.
Hong Kong [edit]
The Law Society of Hong Kong requires applicants to achieve a minimum score of 7.0 for entry into
the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws course, taught at University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of
Hong Kong and City University of Hong Kong. Chinese University of Hong Kong requires an overall band
score of 7.0 for entry via Early Admission Scheme into 2 of its business subjects, "Global Business
Studies" and "International Business and Chinese Enterprise".
Italy [edit]
Polytechnic University of Turin requires an IELTS minimum of 5.0. Most Italian universities generally
require an IELTS minimum of 4.5 for their undergraduate students and 6.5 for their master's students.
Kazakhstan [edit]
Nazarbayev University requires an IELTS minimum of 6.0 for entry into The Schools of Medicine,
Engineering and Science & Technology and 6.5 for entry to The School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The Netherlands [edit]
TU Delft requires an IELTS minimum of 5.5 for all BSc courses except Aerospace
Engineering and Nanobiology, for which a 6.5 overall band score is required. The Graduate School of
Social Sciences, part of the University of Amsterdam, requires a minimum band score of 6.5 with a
minimum of 6.0 for each test component for all it's international master programmes.
[18]
This criterium also
applies to local students who want to participate in the international master programmes.
Belgium [edit]
KU Leuven requires an IELTS minimum of 6.5-7.5 for most master programmes.
[19]
Ghent
University requires an IELTS minimum of 5.5-6.5 for most master programmes. Doctoral programmes may
require 7.0.
[20]

IELTS use for immigration purposes [edit]
A number of Commonwealth countries use IELTS scores as a proof of prospective immigrants' competence
in English.
[21]

Australia [edit]
Australia's immigration authorities have used IELTS to assess English proficiency of prospective
migrants since May 1998, when this test replaced the access: test that had been previously used.
[22]

As of July 2012, applicants for Australia's Independent Migrant visa (permanent residence) must either
score at least 6 on each of the modules of IELTS, or score at least "A" on Australia's Occupational English
Test.
[23]

One can receive a "partial credit" (fewer points on the point test that determines one's eligibility for the
migrant's visa) for having merely a "competent" level of English, which requires scoring at least 6 on each
of the modules of IELTS. Prospective migrants who are citizens of the majority-English-speaking countries
(United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, the USA, or Republic of Ireland) may choose to automatically
receive the credit for the "competent" level of English merely by virtue of their citizenship, without taking
tests; however, if they desire to show the "proficient" level (e.g. in order to obtain a sufficiently high overall
score on the migration point test) they still must take the IELTS or OET.
[23]

New Zealand [edit]
New Zealand has used the IELTS test since 1995. Initially, level 5 scores in each of the four modules were
required of the prospective applicants; those who could not achieve required scores could pay a
NZ$20,000 fee instead, which would be fully or partially refunded later if the migrant were able to
successfully take the test within a certain period (3 to 12 months) after his or her arrival to the country. A
few years later, the policy was changed: the fee was reduced, and, instead of being potentially refundable,
it became treated as a "pre-purchase" of post-arrival ESL tuition.
[24]

Presently, applicants desiring to achieve permanent residence in New Zealand via the "Entrepreneur
Category" migration programme must prove a "reasonable" level of competence in English. Unless the
applicant has studied and/or worked for a sufficiently long period in New Zealand or other English-speaking
countries, this normally should be demonstrated by achieving the overall band of 6.5 on the IELTS.
[25]

Canada [edit]
Citizenship and Immigration Canada uses the results of IELTS and/orTEF as a conclusive evidence of
one's ability to communicate in English and/or French.
[26]
For the purposes of the skill-based immigration
points test, one receives separate points based on his or her performance on each of the four modules
(reading, writing, speaking, and listening) or IELTS; the score of 6.5 on a particular IELTS module is
sufficient to earn the maximum points for this particular capacity, except for the listening module, which
requires the score of 7.5 to earn the maximum points.
[27]

The CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) test scores are mentioned by the
Canadian immigration application forms as an alternative to IELTS.
[27]

Submitting one's IELTS scores is also one of the several ways to evidence one's proficiency in an official
language when applying forCanadian citizenship.
[28]

United Kingdom [edit]
Under the UK's "Points Based System Tier 1" (General Migrant) programme, applicants can receive 10
points for their English language qualification if it is deemed "equivalent to the Council of Europe's
Common European Framework for Language Learning level C1", which is said to approximately equivalent
to IELTS level 6.5, orGCSE Grade C. Having gained a university degree from an English-medium
institution is an acceptable alternative proof of one's English level.
[29]

Other English proficiency tests [edit]
TOEIC, Test of English for International Communication
TOEFL, Test of English as a Foreign Language
TSE, Test of Spoken English
ITEP, International Test of English Proficiency.
UBELT University of Bath English Language Test.
University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations
Trinity College London ESOL
STEP Eiken, Test of English
ECPE, the Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English
MUET, Malaysian University English Test
TELC, The European Language Certificates
See also [edit]
English as a Foreign or Second Language
International Student Admission Test (ISAT)
List of admissions tests
National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters(NAATI)
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) Academic
Standardised test
Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL)
Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
[hide]
V

T

E
Language tests


English
TOEFL

TOEIC

University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations

IELTS
Trinity College London ESOL

STEP Eiken


Korean
TOPIK

Korean Language Proficiency Test


Chinese
Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK)

Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language


Japanese
JLPT

J-Test

Kanji kentei

Business Japanese Proficiency Test


French
Test d'valuation du franais

Test de franais international
Test de connaissance du franais

Diplme d'tudes en langue franaise (DELF)
Diplme approfondi de langue franaise (DALF)


German Deutsches Sprachdiplom Stufe I and II


Spanish
Diplomas de Espaol como Lengua Extranjera (DELE)
Certificado de Espaol : Lengua y Uso (CELU)


Portuguese
Certificado de Proficincia em Lngua Portuguesa para Estrangeiros (CELPE-Bras)
Centro de Avaliao de Portugus Lngua Estrangeira (CAPLE)


Russian Test of Russian as a Foreign Language (TORFL)


Multilingual The European Language Certificates (TELC)
References [edit]
1. ^
a

b
"www.ielts.org". Retrieved 2012-11-04.
2. ^ FAQS - Institutions - Test scores "IELTS FAQS - Institutions - Test scores".
Retrieved 9 December 2011.
3. ^ "IELTS Information_for_Candidates_booklet". Retrieved 26 February 2011.
4. ^
a

b
English language certifications break through one million mark in year -
Tagalog speakers and Germans score best
5. ^ Over 1.7 million tests were taken last year
6. ^
a

b
"IELTS Exam Preparation - IELTS Listening Preparation". Retrieved
2012-11-04.
7. ^ IELTS Practice Tests Plus 2, p8, Morgan Terry and Judith Wilson, Pearson
and Longman, ISBN 1-4058-3312-2
8. ^ "Common European Framework comparison". Retrieved 6 February 2011.
9. ^ "IELTS Test taker performance 2011". Retrieved 4 November 2012.
10. ^ "www.ielts.org". Retrieved 2012-11-04.
11. ^
a

b
"Institutions". Retrieved 2012-11-04.
12. ^ OSU.edu
13. ^ Oxford University, English language requirements
14. ^ ED.ac.uk
15. ^ Cambridge University, Undergraduate Admissions: Entrance requirements
for international students
16. ^ Glasgow University, English as a foreign language
17. ^ Liverpool University English language entry requirements
18. ^ http://gsss.uva.nl/programmes/english-masters/content7/application-and-
admission/entry-requirements/english.html
19. ^ Proficiency tests in English, KU Leuven. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
20. ^ Specific Language Requirements 2012-2013, Ghent University. Retrieved
2013-05-17.
21. ^ Who accept IELTS? Government Agencies
22. ^ O'Loughlin, -=Kieran J. (2001), The equivalence of direct and semi-direct
speaking tests, Cambridge University Press, p. ix
23. ^
a

b
Skilled Independent (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 175): English language
ability (Australia's Department of Immigration; checked 2010-07-08)
24. ^ Hinkel, Eli (2005), Hinkel, Eli, ed., Handbook of research in second
language teaching and learning, Routledge, p. 784, ISBN 0-8058-4180-6
25. ^ Applying for residence under the Entrepreneur Category: English language
requirements (Immigration New Zealand; checked 2010-07-08)
26. ^ Language Testing Date Modified: 2010-07-07. (CIC, checked 2010-07-17)
27. ^
a

b
Application for permanent residence: Federal skilled worker class (IMM
7000), Date Modified: 2010-06-24. (CIC, checked 2010-07-17)
28. ^ Determine your eligibility Citizenship (Date Modified: 2013-02-06)
29. ^ Guidance - Points Based System Tier 1, General Migrant (INF 21). Last
updated 06 April 2010
External links [edit]
Official IELTS website
IELTS Essentials - IDP: IELTS Australia's official site for IELTS test takers
Take IELTS - The British Council's official site for IELTS test takers
IELTS - International English Language test - British Council
Categories:
English language tests
British Council
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