Origin and Growth of IELTS

Test to prove proficiency in using English

There are several standardized tests that provide English proficiency assessment and IELTS is the most popular and commonly used testing method which certifies English communication proficiency of non-native English users. IELTS is jointly managed by IDP, British Council Division and Cambridge Assessment English. Thousands of Students around the world take the IELTS exam to secure admission in universities and colleges in English speaking countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England and Unites states of America. Similarly thousands of people from countries where English is not the mother tongue take IELTS to prove their aptness in using English so that they can immigrate to the developed English speaking countries.

Cambridge assessment English

Cambridge assessment English is one of the functions of the prestigious University of Cambridge. This function of the Cambridge University produces a wide variety of qualifications for English language learners and IELTS is the most important of them all.

History of IELTS

The origin of IELTS dates back to 1980. It started as a joint venture of Cambridge English Language Assessment and the British Council. In 1980 this venture was called UCLES or University of Cambridge Local Examination Syndicate. The number of test takers rose from 4,000 to 10,000 in 5 years but there were a lot challenges in managing and conducting the test. The ELTS or English Language Testing Standard project was started to counter the test administration challenges. There was a pressing need of international participation for redesigning the test and IDP the International Development program of Australian colleges and Universities joined hands with Cambridge English Language Assessment and the British Council. This international joint venture became IELTS and went live in 1989. Since then IELTS has gone through 3 major design revisions in 1995, 2001 and 2005 to become what it is today.

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Listening

The IELTS Listening test consists of four recordings (four parts) from native English speakers with ten (10) questions in each recording (part).

Recording 1: an everyday social conversation between two people

Recording 2: a monologue set in an everyday social context

Recording 3: an educational conversation with upto four people

Recording 4: a monologue on an academic subject

Listening test scores will be based on your ability to understand the main ideas,
factual information, opinions, attitude and purpose of the speaker and your ability
to follow the development of ideas.

No. of questions: 40 Marks:

each question is worth one (1) mark

Total time: 30 minutes (+ 2 minutes review time )

Speaking

The IELTS Speaking test assesses your pronunciation, grammar, accuracy, fluency and lexical resources while speaking English. There are three (3) parts to this test, with each part fulfilling a specific function in terms of task input, interaction pattern and the test taker’s output.

Part 1: Introduction & Interview This part includes general questions about the test taker like residence, work,family, interests, etc.

Part 2: Long Run Cue cards are shared on a particular topic and one (1) minute will be given to prepare to speak for upto two (2) minutes on the topic.

Part 3: Discussion This part gives you the opportunity to discuss the topic from the cue card in further detail, in a more general and abstract way

Total time: 11-14 minutes

Reading

The IELTS Reading test is designed to test a wide range of reading skills including reading for skimming, details, gist, understanding arguments and writer’s opinions,attitude and purpose

IELTS Academic Reading – It includes three (3) reading passages (with a variety of questions) ranging from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical. These passages are of general interest dealing with interesting and recognizably appropriate issues, with at least one passage containing a detailed logical argument

Note: The reading texts may contain non-verbal materials as well like graphs, diagrams or illustrations.

IELTS General Reading – It includes three (3) daily passages (with 2-3 short texts in the first passage, 2 texts in the second passage and 1 long text in the third passage), based on an English-speaking environment, from notices, newspapers, magazines or advertisements.

Reading passage 1: texts based on social survival, like advertisements, notices and timetables

Reading passage 2: texts based on workplace survival, like contracts, job descriptions, staff development & training material

Reading passage 3: texts based on general reading, involving more extended prose and a complex structure.

No. of questions: 40

Marks: each question is worth one (1) mark

Total time: 60 minutes (no additional transfer time)

Note: Please note that the question types in the Listening & Reading sections can include multiple choice answers, true or false answers, matching information/headings or sentence, table & flow-chart completion.

Listening

The IELTS Listening test consists of four recordings (four parts) from native English speakers with ten (10) questions in each recording (part).

Recording 1: an everyday social conversation between two people

Recording 2: a monologue set in an everyday social context

Recording 3: an educational conversation with upto four people

Recording 4: a monologue on an academic subject

Listening test scores will be based on your ability to understand the main ideas,
factual information, opinions, attitude and purpose of the speaker and your ability
to follow the development of ideas.

No. of questions: 40 Marks:

each question is worth one (1) mark

Total time: 30 minutes (+10 minutes transfer time)