IELTS at A Glance-2
IELTS is not a very difficult test if you have a good flair for English Communication or if you come from schools or colleges with English as the medium of instruction like most students from the CBSE, the ICSE, the NEB, etc. can handle the IELTS matter very well; no big deal for the IB and A-Levels students.
Oftentimes, we hear that students from our colleges and universities fail to score even the minimum required band (6.5) to qualify for their studies abroad even if they took fifteen days to three months long course. Well, to tell you the truth, it is not like passing any other English written examinations administered by a national or local board. IELTS is all about the ways of accurate verbal and written communication. It is about how you organize your ideas and how skillfully you present them incorporating valid reasons and relevant examples while attempting both the productive skills and how accurately and precisely you answer the questions in the receptive skills tests.
Let us go further to illustrate how many, what type, and what strength topics are placed in each of these IELTS language skill tests in the table below.
Writing | |||
General Training Test | Academic Test | ||
Task-1
Minimum Words=150
Time: 20 mins
|
Task-2
Minimum Words=250
Time: 40 mins
|
Task -1
Minimum Words=150
Time: 20 mins
|
Task-2
Minimum Words=250
Time: 40
|
Letter Writing (Anyone but no choice)
1. Formal
2. Semi-formal
3. Informal
Complaint
Request
Inform/Ask
Congratulate
Promote
Invite
Info-sharing
Stating problems/situations
Recommend, etc.
|
Short Essay Writing
Agree-disagree (Opinion)
Discussion
Comparative
Pros and Cons
Problem-solution
Situational
Hypothetical
|
Writing a summary
(non-verbal material)
1. Charts
2. Tables
3. Forms
4. Picture
5. Graph
6. Map(s)
7. Diagram, etc. (only one or two)
|
Essay Writing Argumentative
Agree-disagree (Opinion)
Comparative Contrastive
Discussion (it’s tough)
Pros and Cons
Cause-Effect
Problem-solution
Situational
|
IELTS Listening Test Procedures
1. You have 30 minutes’ time for the audio to complete and you will be provided with 10 additional minutes to completely transfer all your answers to the answer booklet.
2. There are four sections each carrying 10 questions for 1 mark each
3. The objective of this skill test is to check how you—
a) Understand the main idea discussed in the audio
b) Understand the theme and factual information
c) Recognize opinions, attitudes, and purpose of the speech
d) Follow the development of an argument
Section-1
The audio in this section includes a conversation between two people set in an everyday situation. For instance, A is making an inquiry to B about a library, accommodation, admission to a new college, etc.
Section-2
Here you will find an audio of a monologue (one person speaking) set in an everyday context. For instance, Mr. X is delivering a speech at a social gathering on the importance of value education, the environment or a talk about the arrangement of a meal for a gathering or occasion.
Section-3
In this section, you will come across a little longer conversation involving up to 4 people set to discuss the issues like education, a training program, research projects, assignments in two or a group.
Section-4
This is the final section of your listening test which comprises a long monologue by an expert (but in a simplified version) on an academic subject; somewhat like a college/university lecture on a certain topic.
Question Pattern for listening Test
a) Multiple choice type
b) Labelling a map, diagram, or a plan
c) Table completion
d) Flowchart completion
e) Furnishing a form
f) Short answer type (one sentence answer)
