IELTS Guide for professionals and students

Professional forum has created a special IELTS guide for students who want to continue their education in International Colleges and Univresities all over the world. This online resource is to the pointand created only for students. - 

IELTS Introduction

IELTS is generally recognized as a reliable means of assessing whether candidates are ready to study or training in the medium of English. IELTS is a test of English language proficiency. -International English Language testing system which is commonly known as IELTS is usually recognized like a trustworthy means of considering whether the aspirants are ready to study or for getting training in English Medium. IELTS is basically a test of English language proficiency. This test is utilized like a testimony of the candidate’s aptitude for immigration as well as for study purposes. Almost 1.4 million candidates take the test every year to begin their journeys internationally for education and for job as well.
IELTS is mainly held by the three partners who are the British Council, IDP Education Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examination, and it was founded in year 1989 as well as acknowledged by more than 6000 educational institutes; comprising of the two thousand US universities recognized IELTS in round about 135 states of the world. Generally, the IELTS result or Test Report Form (TRF) is valid for only two years.
IELTS test consist of two versions, one is known as academic version and the other is known as General Training version.

Academic Version:

The Academic Version is planned mainly for those aspirants wants to get register in universities and other educational institutes of higher education as well as for professionals like medical doctors and nurses who have a desire to study or practice in European Nation.

General Training Version

While the General training version is planned for those aspirants who are planning for chasing non-academic training or for getting the working experience and for immigration issues. This test is deliberated as satisfying English language requirements for entrance in academic courses by the majority of educational institutes of Higher Education in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa and in UK and USA as well. This test is also utilized by a number of professional bodies internationally that involves the Ministry of Defense, as well as the General Medical Council in United Kingdom, the Australian Medical Council and Department of Immigration plus Multicultural Affairs, the Medical Council of Ireland, the New Zealand Immigration Service as well as the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools in United States.

IELTS Format

To succeed in the IELTS exam, a candidate has to know the test pattern and the particular techniques for answering questions. Make sure you are fully prepared with this knowledge. - to get success in IELTS exam, the candidate must well aware with the test pattern and the specific techniques for answering the questions as ked in exams. The aspirant must be sure that he or she has prepared completely with this knowledge. Moreover, don't believe those people who tell you that no good preparation is required in IELTS if your English is good. Even if your English is good, you still require learning the accurate capabilities for the test. Usually the experts recommend a time period of almost two weeks for preparation, however this time would depend on your level of awareness with English. The test fees are so high and if you don't get the good band score that you require, and then you have to take the IELTS test again. Similarly in all other examinations, good preparation is the strategy to doing well in the IELTS. You must be sure that you have done it before you appear for the test. You must be well aware with the format of test also.
All aspirants are required to complete the four Modules that include:
1. Listening
2. Reading
3. Writing
4. Speaking

Listening

This module comprises of total four sections and each section carries ten questions. The aspirants will be given question paper which consists of multiple questions including: multiple choice questions (MCQs), short questions, as well as sentence completion, summary, labeling a map or diagram or plan, matching etc. the aspirants will hear the recording just once and answer the questions like they listen. Ten minutes will be given to candidates at the end of recordings.

Reading

There are two sorts of reading modules one for Academic Version while the other for General Training Version, every module contains three sections having forty questions in them. The aspirants will be given three readings which might be taken from advertisements, brochures, newspapers, books and from the magazines as well. Though, the first section consists of texts related to the basic linguistic survival in English whereas the other sections are bit difficult. The aspirants will be provided with twenty minutes for completing each section.

Writing

There are two sorts of writing modules one for Academic Version and the other for General Training Version. In every module aspirants have 20 minutes for the task 1 as well as for writing approximately one hundred and fifty words and 40 minutes for completing task 2 which require round about 250 words.
The aspirants will be specified a diagram or some other data (like graphs, table or chart) in assignment number 1 and they have to present that data in their own words.
While in task 2 there is a point of view, argument or the problem and aspirants have to give their opinion through arguments and diagrams.

Speaking

The speaking module of IELTS test comprises of an oral interview between the applicant and the examiner. This module might take almost 11 to 15 minutes. It consist of three parts, in the first part candidate will familiarize himself to the superintendent and will answer the general questions asked by the examiner. It takes almost 4 to 5 minutes.
Whereas in the second part candidates have to talk on a specific topic for round about 2 to 3 minutes and he has one minute to prepare him or make notes about the particular topic given by the examiner. Examiner can ask questions about the discussion. Though, in third part examiner as well as applicants engages in a dialogue on an abstract issue which is linked to the topic of second part for approximately 5 minutes.
This module will consider whether the applicants can communicate effectively in English. The assessment takes on confidence, stability as well as well-formed precision.
The first three modules which are the Listening, Reading and Writing (always in the same order) are completed on the same day, and obvious these modules are taken without any in between. The Speaking Module might be taken, at the choice of the test center, after or before the seven days of other modules.

IELTS Instructions

Resource for the Latest Material of Instructions for IELTS Test. It contains a large free material of Instructions for IELTS Test along with free preparation material of IELTS Tests. - 

IELTS Test fee

Test Fee is PKR 20,000.

IELTS Test Result

The IELTS test band result is valid for almost two (2) years.

IELTS examination Bodies

There are two examination bodies for IELTS:

1.British Council

2.AEO

IELTS test centers for British Council

Test Centers of British council in Pakistan are:

1.Lahore

2.Karachi

3.Islamabad

4.Multan

5.Faisalabad

6.Hyderabad

Test centers of AEO are

1.Islamabad

2.Karachi

3.Lahore

The things you must know

•    The candidate must try to register himself for IELTS test no less than 2 months before he or she select test date because after that he / she might find some difficulty in searching for a seat.
•    The candidate can check for IELTS results after 13 days of test.
•    The candidates can again re-appear in the test as often as he like to improve his score.
•    Try to answer all the questions as there are no negative marks for incorrect answers.
•    The total time duration for IELTS test is 2 hours and 45 minutes.
•    The candidate must be sure that he has visited the spot of the test some days before the test date. The candidate must reach at least half an hour earlier than the given time. Reaching late could send your tension levels rising and the exam needs the candidate to be completely relaxed and ready to give of your best.
•    The British Council provides the preparatory courses for IELTS. A four day exhaustive course is held before the date of the IELTS test. The course might be a good idea as the course provides the candidate’s an insight into IELTS accompanied by lots of practice.
•    There is no break among the modules of the test which means that for almost 3 to 3.5 hours, candidates cannot eat, drink as well as go to the washroom. That’s why the candidate must be ready for this situation.
•    Take your original and valid passport with you as it is compulsory. Similarly takes the letter which gave you the spot of the test as well as your roll number. The acceptance for the IELTS fee is another important document that might be at times asked for. Take it also with you.
•    Take a few sharpened pencils, a pencil sharpener, an eraser as well as pens with you. Do all the constituents of the test with pencil. For listening as well as for reading, the use of pencil is a compulsion.
•    Time is a critical factor and hence takes a watch along with you and provides appropriate time to every section of the test.

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