Edited collaboratively by Cambridge Assessment English and by the British Council, IELTS is the most used English test in Europe and in the United Kingdom
The vast majority of International Universities recognise this English test and the most selective among them require the candidates for the Bachelor’s or the Master’s, to obtain a relatively high IELTS score.
But what is the IELTS ? What should you expect when you take this English test ? What are the grading criteria for the IELTS ? Where do you take the IELTS ?
Focus on this very particular exam.
What is the IELTS ?
IELTS is an acronym of International English Language Testing System. It is a standardized test lasting 2hours 45 minutes meant to evaluate the level of English for academic purposes (IELTS Academic) or practicaland professional (IELTS General Training).
The candidates for the IELTS are submitted to two different types of evaluation aiming to evaluate their expression and their comprehension of the language. Each of these skills is tested via a double written and spoken evaluation.
The students are graded on a scale from 1 to 9. The higher the score, the better the level.
Taking the IELTS has a price: 230 euros. In France, the number of expected IELTS sessions varies from city to city. So, in Paris, tthree exam dates are offered every month, in comparison with only one monthly session in Nice.
The British Council offers a registration for the IELTS via its website. This must be done at least two months before the date of the examination.
The structure of the IELTS exam is composed of 4 tests which aim to evaluate specific skills.
- Listening: listening comprehension (40 min)
- Reading: written comprehension (1h)
- Writing: written expression (1h)
- Speaking: oral expression (between 10 and 15 min)
For the uninitiated, The IELTS examination can be very nerve-wracking. The workload to tackle can seem colossal in comparison to the given time. The first two tests of oral and written comprehension are presented in the form of QCM.
It is strongly recommended to respond to all the questions posed, even in cases of doubt, because wrong answers are not penalised.
It is essential to follow a good IELTS preparation plan to familiarise yourself with the collection of tests that you will have to take on the day. Understanding the way the English test works and knowing your progress will allow you to address the tests more calmly and maximize your chances of success.
How do you prepare for the IELTS ?
Before starting to prepare for the IELTS, it is imperative to judge your level of English. Thenit will be simpler to evaluate the route that you should follow to attain your goal. Remember that a good number of universities of international renown require a minimum l’IELTS score, otherwise they will refuse your application. for example, a score of 7.0 is required for Oxford, 7.5 for Harvard, 6.5 for McGill ….
Once this first step is reached, you will have to navigate the language of Shakespeare. All methods are good to carry out this task: private tuition, lectures on all genres, watching films in English, writing essays … It is important to familiarise your ear with the language as well as the accent relating to the English test , your capacity of comprehension will be put to the test.
Your level of English is therefore determining for the success of the IELTS examination. Always remember that the English test has a rather special configuration and it is important to understand the structure of the exam and to be informed of the IELTS grading criteria in order to not be taken by surprise on the day of the exam.
Finally, after having boosted your English skills and gotten to know how the test goes, do not hesitate to submit yourself to IELTS practice tests (oral, written comprehension …) in order to be sure that you are finally ready to take the exam.
Preparation for the IELTS: the unique method of Your Dream School
The Your Dream School Team has devised an unprecedented and proven method to best prepare and support the students looking to take the IELTS exam.
Firstly, we will evaluate your level of English in order to best identify the aspect we need to work on. Then, we will develop a made-to-measure preparation plan, perfectly tailored to your profile to allow you to achieve your target score.
Over the course of your program, you will benefit from remote private tuition with excellent teachers, who have many years of experience in IELTS preparation. Attentive and available, these IELTS experts will help you to familiarize yourself with the English test and give you valuable and informed advice.
We will also give you access to a IELTS preparation platform online to let you work where you want and when you want.
In order to best respond to the needs of each student,we offer numerous IELTS preparation plans which differ in the number of hours of support.
Do not hesitate to contact us for any questions or supplementary information.
