The IELTS examination is a must for all Indians who want to pursue academic opportunities abroad. Students in India have to sit for this exam if they want to be placed in major countries abroad. The exam itself requires a lot of practice and preparation to score well. It is then important to understand the entire exam process and prepare oneself beforehand.
What is the IELTS exam?
IELTS exam is the International English Language Testing System that aims to grade individuals on their English skills. English is a popular language in many countries which is why it is necessary to have proper skills in this language to pursue an opportunity outside of India. The examination will provide candidates with an opportunity to prove their skills and mark themselves prepared to settle in a foreign country. In major countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the US, and the United Kingdom the grading of IELTS is compulsory for immigration and academic purposes.
IELTS Exam Types and Paper Pattern
The IELTS exam is not a single test that is used for all purposes. There are two types of tests that can be taken depending on the nature of migration or the motive of moving to another country. However, the IELTS syllabus for both remains more or less the same. The two IELTS exams that can be applied for are:
● IELTS Academic
The IELTS Academic exam is taken by candidates who want to move abroad for education purposes. It is generally taken by candidates who want to pursue higher education like high school, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and so on. People pursuing an academic career can also opt for this exam.
● IELTS General Training
The IELTS General Training exam is for candidates who want to migrate to other countries like Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. It is mostly for people pursuing a job opportunity or applying for various training programs for the same.
Interested candidates who have registered for an IELTS exam will need to sit for a test that has four parts. Each part will have a fixed mark and has to be attempted compulsorily. The exam seeks to test candidates on their all-around knowledge of the subject as well as their interactive skills to see if they are fit to survive in other countries. Here are the four parts of the IELTS exam:
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
IELTS Syllabus In Detail
The IELTS syllabus covers a variety of topics that need time to be mastered. Candidates will be tested on their general understanding and knowledge of the English language as well as their practical skills like speaking and interacting in the language. The detailed information on the four sections of the IELTS exams are given below:
1. Listening
The listening part of the test consists of 40 questions with each carrying 1 mark. Candidates will be provided with 4 pre-recorded conversations and the questions will be based on all the recordings. Each recording will be played once. The topic of the recordings will be as follows:
- Dialogue on various social contexts
- A monologue on primary social issues
- A brief conversation on the topic of education\
- Monologue discussing an academic subject
2. Reading
The reading part will have passages related to different themes. The section has 40 questions mostly MCQs which carry 1 mark each. Some popular topics or texts for the IELTS syllabus are:
- Brochures
- Company policies
- Advertisement
- News articles
- Journal sections
- Book sections
3. Writing
The writing section of the exam assesses writing skills. This part is particularly important as it grades your writing and creative skills. Candidates will be given two questions here:
- A diagram/table that needs to be written down in one’s own words.
- A problem or issue that needs to be solved. This will require candidates to write about their judgments, opinions, and the like.
4. Speaking
The last part of the IELTS exam has no proper syllabus as such. This section has three parts and is done as an interview. The exam process for this section is:
- Self-introduction as an interview
- Talking about a topic that is given on a flashcard. Candidates may take some time to form their answers. A general outline of the topic in 2-3 minutes can be covered.
- A conversation with the interviewer about the topic spoken about and candidates have to explain some things in detail and expand on their viewpoints.
IELTS is a pretty challenging exam with different modes of answering questions. Given that it’s an international exam, the test will require candidates to present themselves as able and well-informed individuals. All parts of the exam need to be attempted with utmost care and it is important to remember that confidence is the key to success here.
