IELTS is the abbreviated form of the International English Language Testing System. It is an internationally recognised English Language proficiency test that is designed to assess whether or not a candidate has the required language skills to cope while studying or working in an English language environment. The test is offered in over 130 countries, including Singapore
What Is the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Exam?
The test is jointly owned by three organisations, Cambridge ESOL, IDP Education Australia, and the British Council
It is by far the most widely accepted and trusted English language test. IELTS is accepted by more than 10.000 organizations worldwide in over 140 countries. These include universities, schools, immigration authorities, government agencies, professional bodies and multinational companies.
It is accepted by the key immigration authorities in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK for migration purposes and visa applications. In short, the IELTS exam can help you move around the world, get the job you’ve always wanted or just demonstrate that you have improved your English.
The History of the IELTS Exam
The IELTS Exam is a relatively new international standardized test of English language proficiency. It was first known as The English Language Testing Service (ELTS) and was designed by Cambridge English Language Assessment and British Council in 1980.
The current name IELTS was given after these two organizations formed a partnership with The International Development Program of Australian Universities and Colleges (IDP). These three organizations developed the current IELTS test in 1989, and it is now known as the world’s most internationally recognised English language tests.
The Different Types of IELTS Tests
There are different types of IELTS tests you can take. The test you should choose depends on what you want to do. It’s important to have a clear idea about which test you need to take before booking your test.
Here are some of the common forms of the IELTS test:
UKVI IELTS:
‘IELTS for UKVI’ is a UK government-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT). This means that your IELTS test scores can be used to prove a test taker’s English language abilities in support of a UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) application.
If you are not an EU citizen or EFTA citizen (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), and you are applying for a visa to move to or remain in the UK, then you should apply for the UKVI IELTS Test
Academic Module
The IELTS Academic test is for people applying for higher education or professional registration in an English – speaking environment.
It reflects some of the features of academic language and assesses whether you are ready to begin studying or training.
General Training Module
The IELTS General Training test is for those who are going to English speaking countries for secondary education, work experience or training programs.
The test focuses on basic survival skills in broad social and workplace contexts.
The IELTS Test Format
The format of the exam is as follows:
Listening Section: 30 minutes – 40 questions.
Reading Section: 60 minutes – 40 questions.
Writing Section: 60 minutes – 2 tasks.
Speaking Section: 11 to 14 minutes – a three-part conversation with an examiner.
It is important to consider enrolling in a good IELTS preparation course to help identify your weak areas and help you to familiarize yourself with the skills needed to ace the IELTS test. It’s the fastest way to identify the areas of your English Language skills that might hold you back from the result you need