Ielts Handbook Essay

IntroductionThis Handbook gives an oerview of IELTS for teachers, administrators and otherwise drug ab engrossrs, including staff in receiving organisations such as universities, professional registration boards and employers. It outlines the key features and administrative procedures for IELTS. The Handbook does non implicate complete samples of the adjudicate components these be given in the plantalized IELTS Practice Materials pack, which can be bought from IELTS ravel centres, or from Cambridge ESOL or integrated data processing IELTS Australia (see page 20). Additional information is given on the IELTS website www.ielts.org faculty memberian and full general TrainingIELTS is available in deuce formats Academic and world-wide Training. The Academic Reading and musical composition runs assess whether a candidate is ready to flying field or train in the medium of English at an undergrad or postgraduate level. Admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses is found on the results of these screens. The frequent Training Reading and Writing tests atomic number 18 not knowing to test the full range of formal run-in skills required for academic purposes, but emphasise canonical survival skills in a wide of the mark social and educational context.General Training is suitable for candidates who are handout to English- speaking countries to complete their secondary education, to under absorb work experience or training programmes not at degree level, or for immigration purposes to Australia, Canada and young Zealand. It is the responsibility of the candidate to inform the test centre whether they wish to pretend the Academic or General Training Modules. Centres are not creditworthy for providing this information. The General Training Module is not offered at all(prenominal) test administrations.What is IELTS?IELTS, the International English Language seeking System, is designed to assess the row tycoon of candidates who need to s tudy or work where English is the language of communication. IELTS is jointly managed by the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL), British Council and IDP IELTS Australia. IELTS conforms to the highest international standards of language assessment. It covers the cardinal language skills listening, reading, writing and speaking. IELTS is recognised byuniversities and employers in m whatsoever countries, including Australia, Canada, untried Zealand, the UK and the USA. It is likewise recognised by professional bodies, immigration authorities and other government agencies. IELTS is not recommended for candidates under the age of 16. seek AdministrationIELTS tests are administered at centres throughout the world there are currently over 300 centres operating in more than 100 countries. Centres supervise the local anaesthetic administration of the test and ensure the provision of qualified and trained examiners. A full list of centres is available on the IELT S website. Test centres run rhythmical test administrations, according to local need and results are available at heart two weeks. Candidates receive wholly one copy of their results but special copies may be sent by the test centre forthwith to receiving organisations at the request of the candidate. in that location are no restrictions on candidates re-taking the test.Test FormatCandidates are tested in listening, reading, writing and speaking. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking tests. There is a picking among Academic and General Training in the Reading and Writing tests. The tests are designed to cover the full range of susceptibility from non-user to expert user. The showtime three tests Listening, Reading and Writing must be established in one day. There is no break between the tests. The Speaking test may be taken, at the discretion of the test centre, in the period of time seven days before or after the other tests. A computerised version of I ELTS Listening, Reading and Writing tests (CB IELTS) is available at selected centres, but all centres will continue to offer paper-based IELTS and candidates will be given the choice of the medium in which they wish to take the test.Listening time just about 30 minutes Candidates listen to a number of recorded texts. These include a mixture of monologues and conversations and feature a variety of English accents. The enter is heard only once, and candidates are given time to read the questions and economise down their answers.Academic ReadingTime 60 minutes There are three reading passages with assigns. Texts are taken from books, magazines, journals and newspapers, all create verbally for a non-specialist audience. At least one of the texts contains a detailed argument.General Training ReadingTime 60 minutes The texts are based on the type of worldly candidates would be expected to encounter on a daily basis in an English-speaking country. They are taken from sources such as newspapers, advertisements, instruction manuals and books, and test the candidates great power to understand and use information. The test includes one longer text, which is descriptive quite than argumentative.Preparing for the TestIt is not necessary to attend an IELTS preparation course though it is, of course, a good idea to prepare thoroughly for the test. An order form is given at the end of this Handbook for an Official IELTS Practice Materials pack. This includes a full practice test with an answer key and a CD of the Listening test and sample Speaking tests, so that candidates can hold some idea of their level and well-known(prenominal)ise themselves with the format of the test. There is also a wide range of published preparation materials.Academic WritingTime 60 minutes The first task requires candidates to write a description of at least 150 dustup. This is based on material found in a chart, table, graph or diagram and demonstrates their capacity to present inform ation and to summarise the main features of the input. For the second task, candidates write a short essay of at least 250 words in solvent to a statement or question. They are expected to demonstrate an ability to present a position,construct an argument and discuss abstract issues.General Training WritingTime 60 minutes The first task requires candidates to write a letter of at least 150 words either asking for information, or explaining a situation. For the second task, candidates write a short essay of at least 250 words in resolution to a statement or question. They are expected to demonstrate an ability to present a position, construct an argument and discuss issues.SpeakingTime 1114 minutes The test is a face-to-face interview. Candidates are assessed on their use of spoken English to answer short questions, to speak at length on a familiar topic, and also to interact with the examiner.IELTS Test ResultsMarking is carried out at the test centre by trained examiners whose wo rk is closely monitored. This ensures that test results are available without any administrative delay. Results are standardised and usually available within two weeks of the test, and Test Report Forms are sent to the candidates and to the sponsor(s)/receiving institution(s). Test centres are not permitted to give results over the phone, or by fax or email. The completed Test Report Form bears a centre stamp, a verification stamp, the candidates photograph and the authorised centre representatives signature. The authenticity of any Test Report Form can be verified by means of the Test Report Form bank check Service located at https//ielts.ucles.org.uk British Council, IDP IELTS Australia and Cambridge ESOL reserve the just to cancel any Test Report Form in the resolution of any attempt to tamper with or misuse the information contained in it.Test ScoresIELTS provides a profile of a candidates ability to use English. Candidatesreceive scores on a forget me drug Scale from 1 to 9. A score is reported for each test component. The individual test scores are then averaged and rounded to train an Overall striation Score according to a confidential dance band Score conversion table. Overall Band Scores and individual test scores are reported in whole and half bands.Test Report FormAn example of the Test Report Form is shown on the right. Each test is reported separately as a Band Score, together with an Overall Band Score. A descriptive statement adult a summary of the English of a candidate classified at each band level is provided below and is included on the set aside of the Test Report Form.Has fully operational command of the language appropriate, veracious and fluent with complete understanding. Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles composite detailed argumentation well. Has operational command of the language, t hough with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles intricate language well and understands detailed reasoning. Has chiefly effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field. Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language. Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. habitual breakdowns in communication occur. No real communication is possible invite out for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meetimmediate needs. Has great b ar understanding spoken and written English. Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words. No assessable information provided.