IELTS

IELTS, or 'International English Language Testing System', is an

international standardised test of English language proficiency. It is jointly
managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British
Council and IDP Education Australia, and was established in 1989.
There are two versions of the IELTS: the Academic Version and the General
Training Version:

The Academic Version 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 practice in an English-speaking country.

The General Training Version is intended for those planning to undertake

non-academic training or to gain work experience, or for immigration
purposes.

It is generally acknowledged that the reading and writing tests for the
Academic Version are more difficult than those for the General Training
Version, due to the differences in the level of intellectual and academic
rigour between the two versions.

IELTS is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian, Irish, New Zealand

and South African academic institutions, over 2,000 academic institutions
in the United States, and various professional organisations. It is also a
requirement for immigration to Australia and Canada. This has been
criticised in Canada, because the English accents employed in the
Listening section of the IELTS are far removed from typical Canadian
accents.

An IELTS result or Test Report Form (TRF - see below) is valid for two
years.
In 2007, IELTS tested over a million candidates 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. [1]

IELTS characteristics
The IELTS incorporates the following features:
A variety of accents and writing styles presented in text materials in order
to minimise linguistic bias.
IELTS tests the ability to listen, read, write and speak in English.
Band scores used for each language sub-skill (Listening, Reading, Writing,
and Speaking). The Band Scale ranges from 0 ("Did not attempt the
test") to 9 ("Expert User").
The speaking module - a key component of IELTS. This is conducted in the
form of a one-to-one interview with an examiner. The examiner
assesses the candidate as he or she is speaking, but the speaking
session is also recorded for monitoring as well as re-marking in case
of an appeal against the banding given.
IELTS is developed with input from item writers from around the world.
Teams are located in the USA, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand,
Canada and other English speaking nations.

IELTS Test Structure

All candidates must complete four Modules - Listening, Reading, Writing
and Speaking - to obtain a Band, which is shown on an IELTS Test Report
Form (TRF). All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Modules,
while the Reading and Writing Modules differ depending on whether the
candidate is taking the Academic or General Training Versions of the Test.
The total test duration is around 2 hours and 45 minutes for Listening,
Reading and Writing modules.
Listening: 40 minutes, 30 minutes for which a recording is played centrally
and additional 10 minutes for transferring answers onto the OMR answer
sheet.
Reading: 60 minutes.
Writing: 60 minutes. (No additional time is given for transfer of answers in
Reading and Writing modules)
The first three modules - Listening, Reading and Writing (always in that
order) - are completed in one day, and in fact are taken with no break in
between. The Speaking Module may be taken, at the discretion of the test
centre, in the period seven days before or after the other Modules.
The tests are designed to cover the full range of ability from non-user to
expert user.

Band Scale
IELTS is scored on a nine band scale, with each band corresponding to a
specified competence in English. The Band Scores are in either whole or
half Bands. The nine bands are described as follows:

9 Expert User
Has full command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with
complete understanding. It is very hard to attain this score.

8 Very Good User

Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional
unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Handles complex detailed
argumentation well.

7 Good User
Has operational command of the language, though with occasional
inaccuracies, inappropriateness and misunderstandings in some situations.
Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed
reasoning.
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.

5 Modest User
Has a partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in
most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. The candidate
should be able to handle communication in his or her own field.

4 Limited User
Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems
in using complex language.

3 Extremely Limited User

Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations.
Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.

2 Intermittent User
No real communication is possible except for the most basic information
using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet
immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written
English.

1 Non User
Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few
isolated words.
0 Did not attempt the test
No assessable information provided.

Locations and test dates

The test is taken every year in 500 locations across 121 countries, and is
one of the fastest growing English language tests in the world. The number
of candidates has grown from about 80,000 in 1999 to over 1,000,000 in
2007.[1]
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.

IELTS level required by academic institutions for

admission
Just over half (51%) of candidates take the test to enter higher education
in a foreign country.[1] The IELTS minimum scores required by academic
institutions vary. As a general rule, institutions from English-speaking
countries require a higher IELTS band.

United States
The highest IELTS Band required by a university is 8.5[2], by the Graduate
School of Journalism at Columbia University; the only US institution to do
so.
It should be noted that while Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law
is listed as requiring an 8.5 on the IELTS website [1], the school lists an 8.0
[2].
For MIT the minimum score required is 7
United Kingdom
The highest IELTS Band required is 7.5[2], by the Research Centre for
English and Applied Linguistics at the University of Cambridge .
Most IELTS requirements by universities fall between 5.5 and 7.0. For
example:

Minimum IELTS
University
score
Cambridge
7.5
University
Exeter University 6.5
Liverpool
6.0[3]
University
Birmingham
6.0
University
Essex University 5.5