The International English Language Testing System,or IELTS /ˈaɪ.ɛlts/, is an international standardised test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. It is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment,and was established in 1989. IELTS is one of the major English-language tests in the world, others being the TOEFL, TOEIC, PTE:A and OPI/OPIc.
IELTS is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian and New Zealand academic institutions, by over 3,000 academic institutions in the United States, and by various professional organisations across the world.
IELTS is the only Secure English Language Test approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for visa customers applying both outside and inside the UK. It is also a requirement for immigration to Australia and New Zealand. In Canada, IELTS, TEF, or CELPIP are accepted by the immigration authority.
No minimum score is required to pass the test. An IELTS result or Test Report Form is issued to all test takers with a score from "band 1" ("non-user") to "band 9" ("expert user") and each institution sets a different threshold. There is also a "band 0" score for those who did not attempt the test. Institutions are advised not to consider a report older than two years to be valid, unless the user proves that they have worked to maintain their level.
In 2014, 2.5 million tests were taken in more than 140 countries, up from 2 million tests in 2012, 1.7 million tests in 2011 and 1.4 million tests in 2009. In 2007, IELTS administered more than one million tests in a single 12-month period for the first time ever, making it the world's most popular English language test for higher education and immigration.
আইইএলটিএস (ইংরেজি: IELTS) বা আন্তর্জাতিক ইংরেজি ভাষা পরীক্ষার ব্যবস্থা হচ্ছে ইংরাজি ভাষা দক্ষতা যাচাইয়ের জন্য আন্তর্জাতিকভাবে স্বীকৃত একটি পরীক্ষা। যাদের মাতৃভাষা ইংরাজী এই পরীক্ষা মূলত তাদের জন্য ব্রিটিশ কাউন্সিল, আইডিপি আইইএলটিএস অস্ট্রেলিয়া এবং কেমব্রিজ ইংরেজি ল্যাঙ্গুয়েজ অ্যাসিসমেন্ট দ্বারা যৌথভাবে পরিচালিত হয় এবং এটি 1989 প্রতিষ্ঠিত হয়। মূলত যুক্তরাজ্য এবং অস্ট্রেলিয়ায় উচ্চশিক্ষা জন্য আইইএলটিএস অপরিহার্য সেখানে। কিন্তু সাম্প্রতিক সময়ে উত্তর আমেরিকা অর্থাৎ আমেরিকা ও কানাডার বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলোতে এ পরীক্ষার স্কোর গ্রহণ করা হয় এবং ইউরোপের বেশিরভাগ দেশই আইইএলটিএস গ্রহণ করে। এই পরীক্ষায় সবাই অংশগ্রহণ করতে পারে, কোন শিক্ষাগত যোগ্যতা প্রয়োজন হয়। এ বয়সের কোন বাধ্যবাধকতা নেই। ব্রিটিশ কাউন্সিল এ আইএলএলটিএস পরীক্ষার পরিচালনাকারী সংস্থা
IELTS test structure
Modules
There are two modules of the IELTS:
Academic Module and
General Training Module
There is also a separate test offered by the IELTS test partners, called IELTS Life Skills:
IELTS Academic is intended for those who want to enroll in universities and other institutions of higher education and for professionals such as medical doctors and nurses who want to study or practise in an English-speaking country.
IELTS General Training is intended for those planning to undertake non-academic training or to gain work experience, or for immigration purposes.
IELTS Life Skills is intended for those who need to prove their English speaking and listening skills at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels A1 or B1 and can be used to apply for a ‘family of a settled person’ visa, indefinite leave to remain or citizenship in the UK.
The IELTS test has four parts
Listening: 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes' transfer time)
Reading: 60 minutes
Writing: 60 minutes
Speaking: 11–14 minutes
The test total time is: 2 hours and 55 minutes.
Listening, Reading and Writing are completed in one sitting. The Speaking test may be taken on the same day or up to seven days before or after the other tests.
All test takers take the same Listening and Speaking tests, while the Reading and Writing tests differ depending on whether the test taker is taking the Academic or General Training versions of the test.
Listening
The module comprises four sections, with ten questions in each section. It takes 40 minutes: 30 - for testing, plus 10 for transferring the answers to an answer sheet.
Sections 1 and 2 are about everyday, social situations.
Section 1 has a conversation between two speakers (for example, a conversation about travel arrangements)
Section 2 has one person speaking (for example, a speech about local facilities).
Sections 3 and 4 are about educational and training situations
Section 3 is a conversation between two main speakers (for example, a discussion between two university students, perhaps guided by a tutor)
Section 4 has one person speaking about an academic subject.
Each section begins with a short introduction telling the test taker about the situation and the speakers. Then they have some time to look through the questions. The questions are in the same order as the information in the recording, so the answer to the first question will be before the answer to the second question, and so on.The first three sections have a break in the middle allowing test takers to look at the remaining questions. Each section is heard only once.
At the end of the test students are given 10 minutes to transfer their answers to an answer sheet. Test takers will lose marks for incorrect spelling and grammar.
Reading
The Reading paper has three sections and texts totaling 2,150-2,750 words. There will be a variety of question types, such as multiple choice, short-answer questions, identifying information, identifying writer’s views, labeling diagrams, completing a summary using words taken from the text and matching information/headings/features in the text/sentence endings. Test takers should be careful when writing down their answers as they will lose marks for incorrect spelling and grammar.
Texts in IELTS Academic
Three reading texts, which come from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online resources written for non-specialist audiences. All the topics are of general interest to students at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
Texts in IELTS General Training
Section 1 contains two or three short texts or several shorter texts, which deal with everyday topics. For example, timetables or notices – things a person would need to understand when living in an English-speaking country.
Section 2 contains two texts, which deal with work. For example, job descriptions, contracts, training materials.
Section 3 contains one long text about a topic of general interest. The text is generally descriptive, longer and more complex than the texts in Sections 1 and 2. The text will be taken from a newspaper, magazine, book or online resource.
Writing
The Writing paper has two tasks which must both be completed. In task 1 test takers write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. In task 2 test takers write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes. Test takers will be penalised if their answer is too short or does not relate to the topic. Answers should be written in full sentences (test takers must not use notes or bullet points).
IELTS Academic
Task 1: test takers describe a graph, table, chart or diagram in their own words.
Task 2: test takers discuss a point of view, argument or problem. Depending on the task, test takers may be required to present a solution to a problem, present and justify an opinion, compare and contrast evidence, opinions and implications, and evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an argument.
IELTS General Training
Task 1: test takers write a letter in response to a given everyday situation. For example, writing to an accommodation officer about problems with your accommodation, writing to a new employer about problems managing your time, writing to a local newspaper about a plan to develop a local airport.
Task 2: test takers write an essay about a topic of general interests. For example, whether smoking should be banned in public places, whether children’s leisure activities should be educational, how environmental problems can be solved.
Speaking
The speaking test is a face-to-face interview between the test taker and an examiner.
The speaking test contains three sections.
Section 1: introduction and interview (4–5 minutes). Test takers may be asked about their home, family, work, studies, hobbies, interests, reasons for taking IELTS exam as well as other general topics such as clothing, free time, computers and the internet.
Section 2: long turn (3–4 minutes). Test takers are given a task card about a particular topic. Test takers have one minute to prepare to talk about this topic. The task card states the points that should be included in the talk and one aspect of the topic which must be explained during the talk. Test takers are then expected to talk about the topic for 2 minutes, after which the examiner may ask one or two questions.
Section 3: discussions (4–5 minutes). The third section involves a discussion between the examiner and the test taker, generally on questions relating to the theme which they have already spoken about in Section 2.
Scoring
Test takers receive a score for each test component – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The individual scores are then averaged and rounded to produce an Overall Band Score.
Band scale
There is no pass or fail. IELTS is scored on a nine-band scale, with each band corresponding to a specified competence in English. Overall Band Scores are reported to the nearest half band.
The following rounding convention applies: if the average across the four skills ends in .25, it is rounded up to the next half band, and if it ends in 5.75, it is rounded up to the next whole band.
The nine bands are described as follows:
Results
A Test Report Form is posted to test takers 13 days after their test. It shows:
An Overall Band Score (from 1-9)
A band score (from 1-9) for each section of the test (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking)
Whether IELTS Academic or General Training was completed
The test taker’s photo, nationality, first language and date of birth.
Test takers receive one copy of their Test Report Form, apart from test takers who are applying to the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) or UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) who receive two copies.
Test Report Forms are valid for two years.
পরীক্ষাপদ্ধতি:
আইইএলটিএস পরীক্ষা দেয়া যায় দুই ধরনের মডিউলে: একাডেমিক ও জেনারেল ট্রেনিং। স্নাতক, স্নাতকোত্তর অথবা পিএইচডি পর্যায়ে পড়াশোনার জন্য পরীক্ষা দিতে হয় একাডেমিক মডিউলে। যদি কোনো শিক্ষার্থী কারিগরি বিষয় বা প্রশিক্ষণে ভর্তি হতে চান, তবে তাঁকে জেনারেল ট্রেনিং মডিউলে পরীক্ষা দিতে হয়। এ ছাড়া যারা ইমিগ্রেশনের জন্য যেতে চান, তাদেরকেও জেনারেল ট্রেনিং মডিউলে পরীক্ষা দিতে হয়। আইইএলটিএস পরীক্ষায় দুই ধরনের মডিউলেই লিসেনিং (Listening), রিডিং (Reading), রাইটিং (Writing) ও স্পিকিং (Speaking) এই চারটি অংশ থাকে।
লিসেনিং:
এ অংশে কথোপকথন শুনলে বোঝা শক্তি যাচাই করা হয়। সিডি থেকে কথোপকথন শুনলে এই অংশে প্রশ্নের উত্তর করতে হয় পরীক্ষার্থীরা। 40 টি প্রশ্ন আছে। 30 মিনিট চারটি অংশে পরীক্ষা করা হয়। একটি বিষয় কেবল একবার বজায় শোনে।
রাইটিং:
ইংরেজি লেখা দক্ষতা যাচাই করা হয় এ অংশে। এখানে এক ঘণ্টা দুটি প্রশ্ন উত্তর লিখতে হবে দ্বিতীয় প্রশ্নে প্রথম প্রশ্নের চেয়ে বেশি নম্বর থাকে।
রিডিং:
পরীক্ষার এ অংশে এক ঘণ্টা তিনটি বিভাগে 40 টি প্রশ্ন উত্তর আছে। এখানে বিভিন্ন জার্নাল, বই, সংবাদপত্র, ম্যাগাজিন থেকে কিছু অংশ তুলে দেওয়া হয়। সেখান থেকে বাক্য পূরণ, সংক্ষিপ্ত উত্তর, সঠিক উত্তর খুঁজে বের করা ইত্যাদি।
স্পিকিং:
এখানে পরীক্ষার্থীরা প্রায় 11 থেকে 14 মিনিট পরীক্ষা করা হয়। প্রথম অংশে পরীক্ষার্থী কিছু সাধারণ প্রশ্ন করা হয়, যেমন: পরিবার, পড়াশোনা, কাজ, পাখা ইত্যাদি। দ্বিতীয় অংশ একটি নির্দিষ্ট বিষয়ে এবং দুই মিনিট কথা বলা হয়। আগে প্রস্তুতির জন্য এক মিনিট সময় দেওয়া হয়। তৃতীয় অংশে একটি নির্দিষ্ট বিষয়ে পরীক্ষক সঙ্গে চার-পাঁচ মিনিট কথোপকথন।
স্কোরিং:
এক থেকে নয় এর স্কেলে আইইএলটিএস এর স্কোরিং হয়। চারটি অংশে আলাদাভাবে প্রাপ্ত স্কোর যোগ করা হয়েছে গড় দ্বারা চূড়ান্ত স্কোর দেওয়া হয়। এ পরীক্ষায় পাস বা ফলের কোন বিষয় নেই। আইইএলটিএস স্কোর মেয়াদ শেষ দুই বছর।
Locations and test dates:
Test takers can take IELTS in more than 140 countries and in over 1,000 locations.
There are up to 48 test dates available per year. Each test centre offers tests up to four times a month depending on local demand. The Academic version is available on all 48 dates per year and the General Training version is available on 24 dates.
There used to be a minimum time limit of 90 days before which a person was not allowed to retake the test. However this restriction has been withdrawn and currently there is no limit for applicants to retake the test.
Global test scores:
In 2013, approximately 80% of test takers took the Academic version and 20% of test takers took the General Training version.
The average Overall Band Score in the Academic version was 6.0 for female test takers and 5.8 for male test takers. The average overall band score in the General Training version was 6.1 for female test takers and 6.2 for male test takers.
Level required by academic institutions for admission:
Just over half (51%) of test takers take IELTS to enter higher education in a foreign country. The IELTS minimum scores required by academic institutions and by course vary. As a general rule, the top ranked universities in the United States tend to require a higher IELTS band (typically 7.0). Most universities accept scores between 6-7 as being suitable for undergraduate study in English.
IELTS is used by over 9,000 educational institutions worldwide. This section provides just a few examples of IELTS requirements in different countries. Full details about the organizations which accept IELTS and the scores they require can be found on the IELTS Global Recognition System.
United States:
IELTS is accepted by over 3,000 U.S. institutions. The highest IELTS Band required by a university is 8.5,by the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University.
Most top ranked U.S. universities, as listed by the TES 2015 World University Rankings, require a minimum score of around 7.0. For example:
United Kingdom:
Most top ranked UK universities, as listed by the TES 2015 World University Rankings, require a minimum score of 6.5-7.0. For example:
Canada:
Most top ranked Canadian universities, as listed by the TES 2015 World University Rankings, require a minimum score of 6.5. For example:
IELTS use for immigration purposes:
A number of Commonwealth countries use IELTS scores as a proof of prospective immigrants' competence in English.
Australia:
Australia's immigration authorities have used IELTS to assess English proficiency of prospective migrants since May 1998, when this test replaced the access: test that had been previously used.
There are different IELTS score requirements for different types of visa.
New Zealand:
New Zealand has used the IELTS test since 1995. There are different IELTS score requirements for different types of visa and type of applicant.
Originally, applicants who could not achieve the required score could pay a NZ$20,000 fee instead, which would be fully or partially refunded later if the migrant were able to successfully take the test within a certain period (3 to 12 months) after his or her arrival to the country. A few years later, the policy was changed: the fee was reduced, and, instead of being potentially refundable, it became treated as a "pre-purchase" of post-arrival ESL tuition.
Canada:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) uses IELTS and/or TEF as evidence of one's ability to communicate in English and/or French. The CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) test scores are an alternative to IELTS.
The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) are the national standards used in Canada for describing, measuring and recognizing the English language proficiency of prospective immigrants.The following table shows the IELTS scores needed for each CLB level.
Submitting one's IELTS scores is also one of the several ways to prove one's proficiency in an official language when applying for Canadian citizenship (minimum of CLB level 4 required).
United Kingdom:
On 6 April 2015, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) changed its English language requirements for UK visa and immigration applications. IELTS tests are now one of only two exams included on the UK government list of Secure English Language Tests (SELTs).
IELTS assesses all four language skills and is accepted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) at levels B1 to C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
A new test, IELTS Life Skills, assesses Speaking and Listening at CEFR level A1 and at CEFR Level B1. IELTS Life Skills can be used to meet the English language requirements for some classes of visa application, including 'family of a settled person' visas and indefinite leave and citizenship.
To be used for visa and immigration purposes, IELTS and IELTS Life Skills must be taken in test centres approved by the UKVI.
IELTS is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian and New Zealand academic institutions, by over 3,000 academic institutions in the United States, and by various professional organisations across the world.
IELTS is the only Secure English Language Test approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for visa customers applying both outside and inside the UK. It is also a requirement for immigration to Australia and New Zealand. In Canada, IELTS, TEF, or CELPIP are accepted by the immigration authority.
No minimum score is required to pass the test. An IELTS result or Test Report Form is issued to all test takers with a score from "band 1" ("non-user") to "band 9" ("expert user") and each institution sets a different threshold. There is also a "band 0" score for those who did not attempt the test. Institutions are advised not to consider a report older than two years to be valid, unless the user proves that they have worked to maintain their level.
In 2014, 2.5 million tests were taken in more than 140 countries, up from 2 million tests in 2012, 1.7 million tests in 2011 and 1.4 million tests in 2009. In 2007, IELTS administered more than one million tests in a single 12-month period for the first time ever, making it the world's most popular English language test for higher education and immigration.
আইইএলটিএস (ইংরেজি: IELTS) বা আন্তর্জাতিক ইংরেজি ভাষা পরীক্ষার ব্যবস্থা হচ্ছে ইংরাজি ভাষা দক্ষতা যাচাইয়ের জন্য আন্তর্জাতিকভাবে স্বীকৃত একটি পরীক্ষা। যাদের মাতৃভাষা ইংরাজী এই পরীক্ষা মূলত তাদের জন্য ব্রিটিশ কাউন্সিল, আইডিপি আইইএলটিএস অস্ট্রেলিয়া এবং কেমব্রিজ ইংরেজি ল্যাঙ্গুয়েজ অ্যাসিসমেন্ট দ্বারা যৌথভাবে পরিচালিত হয় এবং এটি 1989 প্রতিষ্ঠিত হয়। মূলত যুক্তরাজ্য এবং অস্ট্রেলিয়ায় উচ্চশিক্ষা জন্য আইইএলটিএস অপরিহার্য সেখানে। কিন্তু সাম্প্রতিক সময়ে উত্তর আমেরিকা অর্থাৎ আমেরিকা ও কানাডার বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলোতে এ পরীক্ষার স্কোর গ্রহণ করা হয় এবং ইউরোপের বেশিরভাগ দেশই আইইএলটিএস গ্রহণ করে। এই পরীক্ষায় সবাই অংশগ্রহণ করতে পারে, কোন শিক্ষাগত যোগ্যতা প্রয়োজন হয়। এ বয়সের কোন বাধ্যবাধকতা নেই। ব্রিটিশ কাউন্সিল এ আইএলএলটিএস পরীক্ষার পরিচালনাকারী সংস্থা
IELTS test structure
Modules
There are two modules of the IELTS:
Academic Module and
General Training Module
There is also a separate test offered by the IELTS test partners, called IELTS Life Skills:
IELTS Academic is intended for those who want to enroll in universities and other institutions of higher education and for professionals such as medical doctors and nurses who want to study or practise in an English-speaking country.
IELTS General Training is intended for those planning to undertake non-academic training or to gain work experience, or for immigration purposes.
IELTS Life Skills is intended for those who need to prove their English speaking and listening skills at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels A1 or B1 and can be used to apply for a ‘family of a settled person’ visa, indefinite leave to remain or citizenship in the UK.
The IELTS test has four parts
Listening: 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes' transfer time)
Reading: 60 minutes
Writing: 60 minutes
Speaking: 11–14 minutes
The test total time is: 2 hours and 55 minutes.
Listening, Reading and Writing are completed in one sitting. The Speaking test may be taken on the same day or up to seven days before or after the other tests.
All test takers take the same Listening and Speaking tests, while the Reading and Writing tests differ depending on whether the test taker is taking the Academic or General Training versions of the test.
Listening
The module comprises four sections, with ten questions in each section. It takes 40 minutes: 30 - for testing, plus 10 for transferring the answers to an answer sheet.
Sections 1 and 2 are about everyday, social situations.
Section 1 has a conversation between two speakers (for example, a conversation about travel arrangements)
Section 2 has one person speaking (for example, a speech about local facilities).
Sections 3 and 4 are about educational and training situations
Section 3 is a conversation between two main speakers (for example, a discussion between two university students, perhaps guided by a tutor)
Section 4 has one person speaking about an academic subject.
Each section begins with a short introduction telling the test taker about the situation and the speakers. Then they have some time to look through the questions. The questions are in the same order as the information in the recording, so the answer to the first question will be before the answer to the second question, and so on.The first three sections have a break in the middle allowing test takers to look at the remaining questions. Each section is heard only once.
At the end of the test students are given 10 minutes to transfer their answers to an answer sheet. Test takers will lose marks for incorrect spelling and grammar.
Reading
The Reading paper has three sections and texts totaling 2,150-2,750 words. There will be a variety of question types, such as multiple choice, short-answer questions, identifying information, identifying writer’s views, labeling diagrams, completing a summary using words taken from the text and matching information/headings/features in the text/sentence endings. Test takers should be careful when writing down their answers as they will lose marks for incorrect spelling and grammar.
Texts in IELTS Academic
Three reading texts, which come from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online resources written for non-specialist audiences. All the topics are of general interest to students at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
Texts in IELTS General Training
Section 1 contains two or three short texts or several shorter texts, which deal with everyday topics. For example, timetables or notices – things a person would need to understand when living in an English-speaking country.
Section 2 contains two texts, which deal with work. For example, job descriptions, contracts, training materials.
Section 3 contains one long text about a topic of general interest. The text is generally descriptive, longer and more complex than the texts in Sections 1 and 2. The text will be taken from a newspaper, magazine, book or online resource.
Writing
The Writing paper has two tasks which must both be completed. In task 1 test takers write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. In task 2 test takers write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes. Test takers will be penalised if their answer is too short or does not relate to the topic. Answers should be written in full sentences (test takers must not use notes or bullet points).
IELTS Academic
Task 1: test takers describe a graph, table, chart or diagram in their own words.
Task 2: test takers discuss a point of view, argument or problem. Depending on the task, test takers may be required to present a solution to a problem, present and justify an opinion, compare and contrast evidence, opinions and implications, and evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an argument.
IELTS General Training
Task 1: test takers write a letter in response to a given everyday situation. For example, writing to an accommodation officer about problems with your accommodation, writing to a new employer about problems managing your time, writing to a local newspaper about a plan to develop a local airport.
Task 2: test takers write an essay about a topic of general interests. For example, whether smoking should be banned in public places, whether children’s leisure activities should be educational, how environmental problems can be solved.
Speaking
The speaking test is a face-to-face interview between the test taker and an examiner.
The speaking test contains three sections.
Section 1: introduction and interview (4–5 minutes). Test takers may be asked about their home, family, work, studies, hobbies, interests, reasons for taking IELTS exam as well as other general topics such as clothing, free time, computers and the internet.
Section 2: long turn (3–4 minutes). Test takers are given a task card about a particular topic. Test takers have one minute to prepare to talk about this topic. The task card states the points that should be included in the talk and one aspect of the topic which must be explained during the talk. Test takers are then expected to talk about the topic for 2 minutes, after which the examiner may ask one or two questions.
Section 3: discussions (4–5 minutes). The third section involves a discussion between the examiner and the test taker, generally on questions relating to the theme which they have already spoken about in Section 2.
Scoring
Test takers receive a score for each test component – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The individual scores are then averaged and rounded to produce an Overall Band Score.
Band scale
There is no pass or fail. IELTS is scored on a nine-band scale, with each band corresponding to a specified competence in English. Overall Band Scores are reported to the nearest half band.
The following rounding convention applies: if the average across the four skills ends in .25, it is rounded up to the next half band, and if it ends in 5.75, it is rounded up to the next whole band.
The nine bands are described as follows:
A Test Report Form is posted to test takers 13 days after their test. It shows:
An Overall Band Score (from 1-9)
A band score (from 1-9) for each section of the test (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking)
Whether IELTS Academic or General Training was completed
The test taker’s photo, nationality, first language and date of birth.
Test takers receive one copy of their Test Report Form, apart from test takers who are applying to the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) or UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) who receive two copies.
Test Report Forms are valid for two years.
পরীক্ষাপদ্ধতি:
আইইএলটিএস পরীক্ষা দেয়া যায় দুই ধরনের মডিউলে: একাডেমিক ও জেনারেল ট্রেনিং। স্নাতক, স্নাতকোত্তর অথবা পিএইচডি পর্যায়ে পড়াশোনার জন্য পরীক্ষা দিতে হয় একাডেমিক মডিউলে। যদি কোনো শিক্ষার্থী কারিগরি বিষয় বা প্রশিক্ষণে ভর্তি হতে চান, তবে তাঁকে জেনারেল ট্রেনিং মডিউলে পরীক্ষা দিতে হয়। এ ছাড়া যারা ইমিগ্রেশনের জন্য যেতে চান, তাদেরকেও জেনারেল ট্রেনিং মডিউলে পরীক্ষা দিতে হয়। আইইএলটিএস পরীক্ষায় দুই ধরনের মডিউলেই লিসেনিং (Listening), রিডিং (Reading), রাইটিং (Writing) ও স্পিকিং (Speaking) এই চারটি অংশ থাকে।
লিসেনিং:
এ অংশে কথোপকথন শুনলে বোঝা শক্তি যাচাই করা হয়। সিডি থেকে কথোপকথন শুনলে এই অংশে প্রশ্নের উত্তর করতে হয় পরীক্ষার্থীরা। 40 টি প্রশ্ন আছে। 30 মিনিট চারটি অংশে পরীক্ষা করা হয়। একটি বিষয় কেবল একবার বজায় শোনে।
রাইটিং:
ইংরেজি লেখা দক্ষতা যাচাই করা হয় এ অংশে। এখানে এক ঘণ্টা দুটি প্রশ্ন উত্তর লিখতে হবে দ্বিতীয় প্রশ্নে প্রথম প্রশ্নের চেয়ে বেশি নম্বর থাকে।
রিডিং:
পরীক্ষার এ অংশে এক ঘণ্টা তিনটি বিভাগে 40 টি প্রশ্ন উত্তর আছে। এখানে বিভিন্ন জার্নাল, বই, সংবাদপত্র, ম্যাগাজিন থেকে কিছু অংশ তুলে দেওয়া হয়। সেখান থেকে বাক্য পূরণ, সংক্ষিপ্ত উত্তর, সঠিক উত্তর খুঁজে বের করা ইত্যাদি।
স্পিকিং:
এখানে পরীক্ষার্থীরা প্রায় 11 থেকে 14 মিনিট পরীক্ষা করা হয়। প্রথম অংশে পরীক্ষার্থী কিছু সাধারণ প্রশ্ন করা হয়, যেমন: পরিবার, পড়াশোনা, কাজ, পাখা ইত্যাদি। দ্বিতীয় অংশ একটি নির্দিষ্ট বিষয়ে এবং দুই মিনিট কথা বলা হয়। আগে প্রস্তুতির জন্য এক মিনিট সময় দেওয়া হয়। তৃতীয় অংশে একটি নির্দিষ্ট বিষয়ে পরীক্ষক সঙ্গে চার-পাঁচ মিনিট কথোপকথন।
স্কোরিং:
এক থেকে নয় এর স্কেলে আইইএলটিএস এর স্কোরিং হয়। চারটি অংশে আলাদাভাবে প্রাপ্ত স্কোর যোগ করা হয়েছে গড় দ্বারা চূড়ান্ত স্কোর দেওয়া হয়। এ পরীক্ষায় পাস বা ফলের কোন বিষয় নেই। আইইএলটিএস স্কোর মেয়াদ শেষ দুই বছর।
Locations and test dates:
Test takers can take IELTS in more than 140 countries and in over 1,000 locations.
There are up to 48 test dates available per year. Each test centre offers tests up to four times a month depending on local demand. The Academic version is available on all 48 dates per year and the General Training version is available on 24 dates.
There used to be a minimum time limit of 90 days before which a person was not allowed to retake the test. However this restriction has been withdrawn and currently there is no limit for applicants to retake the test.
In 2013, approximately 80% of test takers took the Academic version and 20% of test takers took the General Training version.
The average Overall Band Score in the Academic version was 6.0 for female test takers and 5.8 for male test takers. The average overall band score in the General Training version was 6.1 for female test takers and 6.2 for male test takers.
Level required by academic institutions for admission:
Just over half (51%) of test takers take IELTS to enter higher education in a foreign country. The IELTS minimum scores required by academic institutions and by course vary. As a general rule, the top ranked universities in the United States tend to require a higher IELTS band (typically 7.0). Most universities accept scores between 6-7 as being suitable for undergraduate study in English.
IELTS is used by over 9,000 educational institutions worldwide. This section provides just a few examples of IELTS requirements in different countries. Full details about the organizations which accept IELTS and the scores they require can be found on the IELTS Global Recognition System.
United States:
IELTS is accepted by over 3,000 U.S. institutions. The highest IELTS Band required by a university is 8.5,by the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University.
Most top ranked U.S. universities, as listed by the TES 2015 World University Rankings, require a minimum score of around 7.0. For example:
United Kingdom:
Most top ranked UK universities, as listed by the TES 2015 World University Rankings, require a minimum score of 6.5-7.0. For example:
Canada:
Most top ranked Canadian universities, as listed by the TES 2015 World University Rankings, require a minimum score of 6.5. For example:
Australia:
Most top ranked Australian universities, as listed by the TES 2015 World University Rankings, require a minimum score of approximately 6.5. For example:
IELTS use for immigration purposes:
A number of Commonwealth countries use IELTS scores as a proof of prospective immigrants' competence in English.
Australia:
Australia's immigration authorities have used IELTS to assess English proficiency of prospective migrants since May 1998, when this test replaced the access: test that had been previously used.
There are different IELTS score requirements for different types of visa.
New Zealand:
New Zealand has used the IELTS test since 1995. There are different IELTS score requirements for different types of visa and type of applicant.
Originally, applicants who could not achieve the required score could pay a NZ$20,000 fee instead, which would be fully or partially refunded later if the migrant were able to successfully take the test within a certain period (3 to 12 months) after his or her arrival to the country. A few years later, the policy was changed: the fee was reduced, and, instead of being potentially refundable, it became treated as a "pre-purchase" of post-arrival ESL tuition.
Canada:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) uses IELTS and/or TEF as evidence of one's ability to communicate in English and/or French. The CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) test scores are an alternative to IELTS.
The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) are the national standards used in Canada for describing, measuring and recognizing the English language proficiency of prospective immigrants.The following table shows the IELTS scores needed for each CLB level.
United Kingdom:
On 6 April 2015, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) changed its English language requirements for UK visa and immigration applications. IELTS tests are now one of only two exams included on the UK government list of Secure English Language Tests (SELTs).
IELTS assesses all four language skills and is accepted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) at levels B1 to C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
A new test, IELTS Life Skills, assesses Speaking and Listening at CEFR level A1 and at CEFR Level B1. IELTS Life Skills can be used to meet the English language requirements for some classes of visa application, including 'family of a settled person' visas and indefinite leave and citizenship.
To be used for visa and immigration purposes, IELTS and IELTS Life Skills must be taken in test centres approved by the UKVI.
For UK visa purposes the test is designed to meet certain administrative requirements specified by UKVI. These Test Report Forms are slightly different, to show that the test taker has taken the test at an IELTS UKVI session. The actual test taken is the same – same content, examiners, format, level of difficulty, scoring and so on.
Criticism:
IELTS is a handwritten test and as such the candidate's handwriting is critical and may result in poor grading if the examiner is unable to read a particular handwriting style. Examiners are required to make every effort to read handwriting. Marks are not awarded for good handwriting, and marks are not subtracted for poor handwriting. However, if handwriting is completely illegible, then examiners will need to consider the word as a misspelling.
Careful attention must be paid to the type of English used to demonstrate either British English or American English spellings. British or American spelling can be used and they can be used together (in the way that Australian and New Zealanders will use American spellings for some words and British spellings for other words). However, once a test taker spells a word one way, they must continue to spell the word that way.
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