International English Language Testing System abbreviated as IELTS is typically defines as an international standardized test of English language proficiency. The examination is jointly controlled by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council and IDP Education Pty Ltd, after it was established in 1989.

Typically, the IELTS can be categorized as the Academic Version and the General Training Version.

IELTS 1. The Academic Version is especially for those who want to take admission in the universities and other institutions of higher education. The professionals like medical doctors and nurses, who seek to pursue a professional career in abroad, have to sit for this exam also.

2. The General training version is for those, who are looking for pursing non-academic training or gaining work experience, or for immigration purposes.

The exam of IELTS is accepted in the institutions like Australian, British, Canadian, Irish, New Zealand and South Africa and over 3,000 academic institutions and professional organizations in the United States,. It is also the primary for immigration to Australia and Canada.

The result or the Test Report Form (TRF) of the IELTS Examination is valid for two years.

Structure of IELTS

The paper of IELTs consists of four Modules – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Although the modules of Listening and Speaking are same, the Reading and Writing Modules varies according to the candidate’s willingness to take the Academic or General Training Versions of the Test.

Listening

The listening module comes with four sections. At the beginning of each sections, there is a short introduction, which informs the candidates about the situation and the speakers. They then have some time look through the questions. The first three sections of the question have a break in the middle. You cannot hear each section more than once.

Reading

The reading test follows the academic module has three sections. It comprises of 13 or 14 questions. There is a General test, which also contains 3 sections. However, the texts are shorter than the previous ones, but the number of texts to be read can be 5.

Writing

The writing part of IELTS comprises of two sections and the second section us an decriptive essay.

Speaking

The speaking test us one of the most important parts and consists of three sections. The first section involves a comprehensive round of interview during which candidates may be asked about their hobbies, interests and obviously the reasons for taking IELTS exam. Apart from these, you may be asked about general topics like clothing, your free time, computers and the internet or about your family. In the second section, candidates have to speak about an topic for a certain limit of time. Topic card will be given to the students and he will get a minute to prepare for that. The third section is a discussion round between the examiner and the candidate. The question in this part, mainly involves the questions relating to the theme, on which the candidates have already spoken in the second round of the interview.