IELTS remains by far the most acceptable test of proficiency in English in the world. It is accepted by at least 10,000 institutions across the globe. Thus, it’s importance can’t be overstated. However, there’s an alarming rate of failure amongst the test takers especially due to either misinformation or misconception, so this writeup is to bring you up to speed with genuine information on important things that you need to know especially before sitting the test. So, like I always say, sit back, relax and let’s enjoy this one. Let’s dive in!
- IELTS IS OF DIFFERENT TYPES:
IELTS is available in Academic-for individuals applying for higher education or professional registration, and General Training for those migrating to Australia, Canada and the UK, or applying for secondary education, training programmes and work experience in an English-speaking environment. Both versions provide a valid and accurate assessment of the four language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking
IELTS ACADEMIC: The IELTS Academic test is suitable for entry to study at undergraduate or postgraduate levels, and also for professional registration purposes. It assesses whether you are ready to begin studying or training in an environment where English language is used and reflects some of the features of language used in academic study.
IELTS GENERAL TRAINING: This IELTS test is suitable for those applying to train or study at below degree level, as well as those wishing to migrate to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. The test focuses on basic survival skills in broad social and workplace contexts.
IELTS UKVI (The United Kingdom Visa Immigration): This is strictly for candidates applying to the UK and can serve both purposes: general training and academic. It is set in the same format as IELTS Academic.
IELTS INDICATOR: This is a kind of palliative measure introduced to mitigate the hardships of the Covid19 pandemic. It is an online test that can be taken at home or anywhere else because the candidates cannot take tests in test centres as they have to maintain social distancing. This test is held once in a week at a scheduled time, and it is for students only–IELTS Academic test takers. Candidates are however warned that, once testing resumes, their universities or education providers may ask them to take the in-person IELTS, even if they have taken IELTS Indicator.
- HOW THE TEST IS ADMINISTERED:
IELTS can be either paper-based or computer-based, so, whichever works best for you, you go for it. The duration and questions are the same except for listening wherein, you will be given 10 minutes (to review your work and transfer your answers to your answer sheet) at the end of the in the test in paper-based but only 2 minutes in computer-based to review your answers. Also, the result of computer-based test is released within 3 – 5 days after the test but paper-based comes out after 13 days. Hence, if you urgently need your result, you already know the one to go for.
- IELTS IS NOT JUST ENGLISH:
It is often wrongly said that “IELTS is just English”. While I agree that IELTS is a test of proficiency in English, I will never agree that learning English means learning IELTS. It involves a practical application of English mostly based on residual knowledge. Thus, you must not be led into believing in that misconception that IELTS is just English as it has its own precepts.
- IELTS HAS ITS OWN PRECEPTS:
Just like any other examination or test, IELTS has its own precepts, style or structure. You must make out time and strategically plan to understand those before either booking or sitting the test. It is not an exam or test that you just dabble into, without for instance, looking through how the questions are structured from genuine past questions.
- ANYONE WHO CAN SPEAK, READ OR WRITE ENGLISH CAN PASS IELTS:
YES! Provided you can understand, speak, read and write English language, you can pass IELTS. The fact remains that IELTS is not a difficult test, however, as mentioned elsewhere in this writeup, you do not dabble into it without understanding its precepts. Once you’ve understood the precepts and deployed other information relayed here, you are good to go. Thus, all it takes is being able to understand, speak, read and write English, and understanding the precepts.
- IS A TUTOR COMPULSORY?
The answer is an emphatic NO! You must be wondering why as an IELTS tutor, I am boldly telling you that a tutor isn’t compulsory to ace the test at a sitting. I cannot tell you lies, you don’t necessarily need a tutor if you can cope without one. All you really need is to ensure that you’re ready for the test, so for example, if you can get a very good text that contains all you need to pass and it is self-explanatory like “IELTS Nitty-gritty: Easy and Practical Formulas to Ace IELTS” which you can get here (please help me to put the link), you definitely don’t need a tutor. However, if you won’t have the time to read or prefer someone explaining things to you to reading, then you may consider getting a tutor. Consequently, getting a tutor is a matter of preference, it depends on what works best for you.
- YOU MUST PRACTICE BEFORE YOUR TEST:
As already stated elsewhere, do not believe the misconception that IELTS is just English and there is nothing in it. Yes, it is just a test of proficiency in English but just like any other exam it has its own peculiarities and precepts which you must understand before taking the test.
- NOT EVERY TUTOR IS A GOOD TUTOR:
Exactly, it is not every tutor out there that is qualified to tutor you. The mistake lots of candidates make is to look for the cheapest tutors or even free ones, the fact is that most of these either free or very cheap tutors aren’t good enough. Of course, because they’re either free or very cheap, you don’t even bother asking for their records to know how their most recent candidates or tutees faired, you just engage them to tutor you and when you fail, you claim not to know why as you did everything that you were told. The question is not whether you did everything that you were told but were you told the right things? I’ve experienced this a few times, a candidate will come to me and after getting my bills, he/she will disappear and go to one free or very cheap tutor mostly online and then come back later after he/she must have tried and failed. At this stage, the first test registration fee has been wasted. Thus, you must be sure what you want, do not because of a few bucks waste more money. It is better not to have a tutor at all than to have a bad one.
- NOT EVERY PRACTICE MATERIAL IS GENUINE:
Just like I explained about tutors above, it’s better not to get any material at all than to get a bad one, a bad tutor and a bad study material both has the same effect. Some candidates will get the wrong study packs and then on the test day they would see questions that are completely different either in style or level of difficulty from what they are sued to and they would be thrown off-balance. Again, there are lots of either free or very cheap IELTS study packs all over the internet but most of them aren’t genuine. Thus, you must be careful to get genuine study packs. I would recommend “IELTS Nitty-gritty: Easy and Practical Formulas to Ace IELTS” you can get a copy here (you can please help me put the link) or take this IELTS course (you can please put the link). They are the only comprehensive text and course in the world I know that directly/practically teach IELTS.
- YOU CAN APPLY FOR A REMARK IF YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH YOUR RESULT:
If you are not happy with your result, you can always apply for your test to be remarked at a fee that would be refunded only if there’s an upward review of the scores. However, the scores in reading and listening do not ever change as they’re computer marked but you can always apply to have your writing and speaking remarked, those usually change. Thus, if your compliant is on either reading or listening, you may just accept your fate and move.
- HOW IELTS IS SCORED:
IELTS results are reported on a 9-band scale
IELTS results are designed to be simple and easy to understand. They are reported as band scores on a scale from 1 (the lowest) to 9 (the highest).
THE IELTS SCALE
| Band Score | Skill Level | Description |
| 9 | Expert user | The test taker has fully operational command of the language. Their use of English is appropriate, accurate and fluent, and shows complete understanding. |
| 8 | Very good user | The test taker has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriate usage. They may misunderstand some things in unfamiliar situations. They handle complex and detailed argumentation well. |
| 7 | Good user | The test taker has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings in some situations. They generally handle complex language well and understand detailed reasoning. |
| 6 | Competent user | The test taker has an effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings. They can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations. |
| 5 | Modest user | The test taker has a partial command of the language and copes with overall meaning in most situations, although they are likely to make many mistakes. They should be able to handle basic communication in their own field. |
| 4 | Limited user | The test taker’s basic competence is limited to familiar situations. They frequently show problems in understanding and expression. They are not able to use complex language. |
| 3 | Extremely limited user | The test taker conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. There are frequent breakdowns in communication. |
| 2 | Intermittent user | The test taker has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English. |
| 1 | Non-user | The test taker has no ability to use the language except a few isolated words. |
| 0 | Did not attempt the test | The test taker did not answer the questions. |
- DURATION OF RESULT:
Whether you have taken paper-based or computer-delivered IELTS, organisations will usually not accept your results if they are more than two years old, unless you provide evidence that you have actively maintained or tried to improve your English since taking the test. The IELTS Partners cannot confirm the validity of test results that are more than two years old.
You can look forward to more writeups from me. Trust you enjoyed this one. Kindly leave me your feedback in the comment section below. You can also suggest what you want me or any other person to write on next. Stay blessed! Chris Ozo Agbata.
