IELTS - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.

org/wiki/IELTS

IELTS
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

IELTS /ˈaɪ.ɛlts/, or International English Language Testing System,[1] is an

international standardised test of English 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.
http://ielts.org/
There are two versions of the IELTS: the Academic Version and the General
Training Version:

The Academic Version is intended for those who want to enroll in universities 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 for immigration 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 or Test 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 there were 1.7 million
candidates.[5]

Contents
1 IELTS characteristics
2 IELTS test structure
2.1 Listening
2.2 Reading
2.3 Writing
2.4 Speaking
2.5 Duration
3 Band scale
4 Conversion table
5 Locations and test dates
6 Global test scores

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6.1 Countries with highest averages

6.2 Results by first language of candidate
7 IELTS level required by academic institutions for admission
7.1 United States
7.2 United Kingdom
7.3 Argentina
7.4 Germany
7.5 Hong Kong
7.6 Italy
7.7 Kazakhstan
7.8 The Netherlands
7.9 Belgium
8 IELTS use for immigration purposes
8.1 Australia
8.2 New Zealand
8.3 Canada
8.4 United Kingdom
9 Other English proficiency tests
10 See also
11 References
12 External links

IELTS characteristics
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

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
the Academic or General Training Versions of the Test.

Listening

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The module comprises four sections of increasing difficulty.[6] It takes 40 minutes: 30 - for testing, plus 10 for
transferring the answers to an answer sheet. 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 the 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. At the end of this section students are given 10
minutes to transfer their answers to an answer sheet.[7]

Reading

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

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

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

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: 11–14 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

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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:

Has full operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with
9 Expert User
complete understanding.
Has full operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic
8 Very Good User inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations.
Handles complex detailed argumentation well.
Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies,
7 Good User inappropriateness and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex
language well and understands detailed reasoning.
Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies,
Competent
6 inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language,
User
particularly in familiar situations.
Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations,
5 Modest user though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in
own field.
Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in using complex
4 Limited User
language.
Extremely
3 Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations.
Limited User
Intermittent No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated
2
User 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.
Did not attempt
0 No assessable information provided at all.
the test

A 6.5 IELTS score lies roughly between B2 and C1 levels of the Common European Framework of Reference
for Languages and >8 scores are C2.[8] A score of 5~6 in IELTS lies in B2 of Common European Framework
and less than that of 4 lies roughly between A1 and A2.

Conversion table
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.

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Band
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
Score
Raw 39 – 37 – 35 – 32 – 30 – 26 – 23 – 18 – 16 – 13 – 10 – 8– 6– 4–
score 40 38 36 34 31 29 25 22 17 15 12 9 7 5

Locations and test dates

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

Countries with highest averages

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

The top 5 language-speaking (or nationality) groups that achieved the best results in 2011 for the Academic
Strand of the IELTS test were:[1]

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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

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

The highest IELTS Band required by a university is 8.5,[10] 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.[11]

At Saint Louis University, the minimum score is 6.

United Kingdom

The highest IELTS Band required is 8,[10] 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:

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University Minimum IELTS score

Oxford University 7.0[12]
London School of
7.0/7.5 (depends on LSE's individual department requirement)
Economics
7.0 (All programs in Business, Management, Finance, Law, English Literature and
University of Edinburgh
Celtic/Scottish Studies)[13]
Cambridge University 7.0/7.5[14]
Glasgow University 6.5 (General)/ 7.0 (Faculty of Arts & Humanities)[15]
University College
6.5/7.0/7.5 (depends on UCL's individual faculty/department requirement)
London
Imperial College
6.5 (7.0 for the Life Sciences Department and the Imperial Business School)
London
Exeter University 7.0
Liverpool University 6.0[16]
Birmingham University 6.5
Essex University 5.5
Cranfield University 6.5/7.0 (depends on MSc)

Argentina

The University of Buenos Aires requires an IELTS minimum of 7.5 for entry into the faculty of English as a
foreign language.

Germany

University of Bamberg requires an IELTS (academic or general test) minimum of 7.0 (program in European
Joint Master’s 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

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

Polytechnic University of Turin requires an IELTS minimum of 6.0. Most Italian universities generally require
an IELTS minimum of 4.5 for their undergraduate students and 6.5 for their master's students.

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Kazakhstan

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

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 its international master programmes.[17] This criterium also applies to local students who
want to participate in the international master programmes.

Belgium

KU Leuven requires an IELTS minimum of 6.5-7.5 for most master programmes.[18] Ghent University requires
an IELTS minimum of 5.5-6.5 for most master programmes. Doctoral programmes may require 7.0.[19]

IELTS use for immigration purposes

A number of Commonwealth countries use IELTS scores as a proof of prospective immigrants' competence in
English.[20]

Australia

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.[21]

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.[22]

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.[22]

New Zealand

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.[23]

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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.[24]

Canada

Citizenship and Immigration Canada uses the results of IELTS and/or TEF as a conclusive evidence of one's
ability to communicate in English and/or French.[25] 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 4 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 8 to
earn the maximum points.[26]

The CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) test scores are mentioned by the
Canadian immigration application forms as an alternative to IELTS.[26]

Submitting one's IELTS scores is also one of the several ways to evidence one's proficiency in an official
language when applying for Canadian citizenship.[27]

United Kingdom

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, or GCSE Grade C. Having gained a university degree from an English-medium institution is an
acceptable alternative proof of one's English level.[28]

Other English proficiency tests

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
English as a Foreign or Second Language
International Student Admission Test (ISAT)
List of admissions tests

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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)

References
1. ^ a b c "www.ielts.org" (http://www.ielts.org/about_us.aspx). Retrieved 2012-11-04.
2. ^ FAQS - Institutions - Test scores "IELTS FAQS - Institutions - Test scores" (http://www.ielts.org/institutions
/institutions_faqs/test_scores.aspx). Retrieved 9 December 2011.
3. ^ "IELTS Information_for_Candidates_booklet" (http://www.ielts.org/pdf/Information_for_Candidates_booklet.pdf).
Retrieved 26 February 2011.
4. ^ a b English language certifications break through one million mark in year - Tagalog speakers and Germans score
best (http://www.unitec.ac.nz/app_templates/toolbox
/act_toolbox_stats.cfm?LINK=%2Ftoolbox%5Fitems%2FIELTS%2Epdf&
STAT=IELTS%20reaches%201%20million)
5. ^ Over 1.7 million tests were taken last year (http://ielts.org/media_centre.aspx)
6. ^ a b "IELTS Exam Preparation - IELTS Listening Preparation" (http://www.ielts-exam.net
/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=335&Itemid=57). Retrieved 2012-11-04.
7. ^ IELTS Practice Tests Plus 2, Morgan Terry and Judith Wilson, Pearson and Longman, ISBN 1-4058-3312-2
8. ^ "Common European Framework comparison" (http://www.ielts.org/researchers
/common_european_framework.aspx). Retrieved 6 February 2011.
9. ^ "IELTS Test taker performance 2011" (http://www.ielts.org/researchers/analysis_of_test_data
/test_taker_performance_2011.aspx). Retrieved 4 November 2012.
10. ^ a b "Institutions" (http://bandscore.ielts.org/search.aspx). Retrieved 2012-11-04.
11. ^ OSU.edu (http://professional.osu.edu/law.asp#eng)
12. ^ Oxford University, English language requirements (http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/courses
/courses_and_entrance_requirements/english_language.html)
13. ^ ED.ac.uk (http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/postgraduate/international/language)
14. ^ Cambridge University, Undergraduate Admissions: Entrance requirements for international students
(http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/international/requirements.html)
15. ^ Glasgow University, English as a foreign language (http://www.gla.ac.uk/international/inyourregion
/englishasaforeignlanguage/)
16. ^ Liverpool University English language entry requirements (http://www.liv.ac.uk/international/countries/english-
language.htm)
17. ^ http://gsss.uva.nl/programmes/english-masters/content7/application-and-admission/entry-requirements/english.html
18. ^ Proficiency tests in English (http://www.kuleuven.be/admissions/language/lang_test.html), KU Leuven. Retrieved
2013-05-17.
19. ^ Specific Language Requirements 2012-2013 (http://www.ugent.be/en/teaching/studying/languageofinstruction
/proficiency/specificllanguage.pdf/view), Ghent University. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
20. ^ Who accept IELTS? Government Agencies (http://bandscore.ielts.org/government.aspx)
21. ^ O'Loughlin, -=Kieran J. (2001), The equivalence of direct and semi-direct speaking tests
(http://books.google.com.au/books?id=_KdbrTu6J-EC&pg=PR9), Cambridge University Press, p. ix
22. ^ a b Skilled – Independent (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 175): English language ability (http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled
/general-skilled-migration/175/eligibility-english.htm) (Australia's Department of Immigration; checked 2010-07-08)
23. ^ Hinkel, Eli (2005), Hinkel, Eli, ed., Handbook of research in second language teaching and learning
(http://books.google.com.au/books?id=h9vsX4E2rJoC), Routledge, p. 784, ISBN 0-8058-4180-6
24. ^ Applying for residence under the Entrepreneur Category: English language requirements
(http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/alreadyinnz/business/englishlanguagerequirements/) (Immigration
New Zealand; checked 2010-07-08)
25. ^ Language Testing (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/cec/language-testing.asp) Date Modified: 2010-07-07.

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(CIC, checked 2010-07-17)

26. ^ a b Application for permanent residence: Federal skilled worker class (IMM 7000) (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english
/information/applications/guides/EG72.asp#results), Date Modified: 2010-06-24. (CIC, checked 2010-07-17)
27. ^ Determine your eligibility – Citizenship (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/become-eligibility.asp) (Date
Modified: 2013-02-06)
28. ^ Guidance - Points Based System Tier 1, General Migrant (INF 21). Last updated 6 April 2010
(http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs/inf21pbsgeneralmigrant#21980509)

External links
Official IELTS website (http://www.ielts.org/)
IELTS Essentials - IDP: IELTS Australia's official site for IELTS test takers
(http://www.ieltsessentials.com/home.aspx)
Take IELTS - The British Council's official site for IELTS test takers (http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org)
IELTS - International English Language test - British Council (http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-
ielts)

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