INTRODUCTION TO THE IELTS EXAMINATION

To start off, the International English Language Testing System known by its acronym "IELTS" basically measures the language proficiency of people who wish to study or work in a setting where English is used as the main language of communication. It applies a nine-band scale of an overall score in order to clearly identify a user’s levels of English language acquisition from non-user (band score 1) to expert (band score 9). Judging from its multifaceted purposes, the IELTS test has got two different categories: the Academic and the General Training module. Such a module that you plan to take will depend on your reasons that you are having in mind.

For example, the Academic module is specifically tailored to those people who are trying to gain entry into undergraduate and postgraduate studies, whereas the General Training on the other hand is designed for those people who are keen to pursue and join some kind of vocational training courses, career purposes, or even for immigration procedures.

Regardless of its distinctive classifications, both the Academic as well as the General Training module aim to demonstrate and reflect various real life situations with respect to the overall assessment of whether a candidate will be able to survive in the English speaking society and across its academic environment. Bottom line, the IELTS test both the Academic and the General Training module are accordingly segmented into four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.

Note: As for the listening and speaking parts, they are exactly the same within the Academic and the General Training module. However, the other two sections which cover Reading and Writing tests are the different parts. Thus, the format or the general structure of IELTS test itself can be summarized by the picture given below.