INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTING SYSTEM

1. IELTS
INTERNATIONAL ENGLISHLANGUAGE TESTING
SYSTEM

2. Workshop Format
 Overview
- Structure
- Scoring
- Help
- Q & A
 Speaking and Listening
 Writing
 Reading

3. The Test
 All Candidates are tested in listening, reading,
writing and speaking.
 Listening 30 mins
 Reading 60 mins
 Writing 60 mins
 Speaking 11 – 14 mins
 Total test time 2 hours 45 minutes excluding
breaks.

4. Listening
 Time: 30 minutes 4 sections, 40 questions
 Real-world listening situations
 Difficulty
 Range of topics and tasks
- listening for specific information e.g.dates,
place names
- understanding gist
- understanding speaker attitude/opinion

5. Listening Test Format
 Section 1: conversation – 2 speakers
 Section 2: monologue
 Section 3: conversation – 4 speakers
 Section 4: lecture

6. General listening strategies
 Recording is played once
 Read question CAREFULLY BEFORE listening
 Familiarise yourself with question types
- completing a chart
- selecting pictures
- note-taking exercises

7. Reading

Time: 60 minutes 3 reading passages, totally
40 questions
 Texts are taken from books, magazines,
journals and newspapers
 Question types
- find detailed information
- identify attitudes and views
- complete a diagram

8. General Reading Strategies
 Identify reading skills being tested
 Practise these skills

9. Writing
 Time: 60 minutes 2 tasks
 Task 1(20mins): descriptive report of a table or
diagram, 150 words
 Task 2(40 mins):250 word essay in response
to an opinion or a problem.
 Discuss issues, construct an argument and
use the appropriate tone and register.

10. General Writing Strategies
 Read the question carefully
 Familiarise yourself with descriptions of data –
in newspapers, textbooks
 Practise formulating your own ideas on topics

11. Speaking
 Time: 10 – 15 minutes
 Face to face interview between one candidate
and one examiner.
 Part 1(4-5mins): Introduction and interview
 Part 2(1-3 mins incl. prep): Individual talk
 Part 3(4-5 mins): Discussion topics

12. Speaking
 Speak fluently and link ideas coherently
 Demonstrate a range of appropriate
vocabulary
 Use accurate grammar and appropriate
register
 Speak so that a listener can understand

13. Speaking strategies
 Part 1
 Take the initiative if possible
 Always say more than yes or no
 Try to overcome nerves

14. Speaking Strategies
 Part 2
- Take the 1 min preparation time
- write down some main ideas
- Sound interested in the talk

15. Speaking Strategies
 Part 3
- Give informed responses
- Demonstrate your control of the language
- Attempt to express abstract ideas
- Support your opinions
- Show that you are willing to provide extended
replies

16. Scoring
 IELTS provides a profile of a candidate’s
ability to use English
 Candidates receive a score on a Band Scale
from 1-9

17. Scores on the IELTS test are graded into nine
bands as follows:
 Band 0-Did not attempt the test
 Band 1-Non User
 Band 2-Intermittent User
 Band 3-Extremely Limited User
 Band 4-Limited User
 Band 5-Modest User

18.  Band 6-Competent User
 Has generally effective command of the
language despite some inaccuracies,
inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can
use and understand fairly complex language,
particularly in familiar situations.

19.  Band 7-Good User
 Band 8-Very Good User

Band 9 -Expert User

20. General Strategies
 Familiarise yourself with the test.
 Practise
 Time Management

21. Useful websites
 UGC Introductory site
http://www.ugccepa.com
 IELTS homepage
http://www.ielts.org/index.htm
 ELC homepage http://elc.polyu.edu.hk