Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is IELTS ?
IELTS is an International English Language Testing System, it is an exam that tests your English proficiency in case you want to study abroad or work in a foreign country.
How many modules does IELTS have ?
There are four modules for an IELTS exam, namely: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
Are all four modules tested on same day ?
LRW (Listening, Reading, and Writing) is a continuous exam that lasts for about three hours on the same day. However, the Speaking test can be within a week before or after the written exam.
For how long is IELTS score valid ?
IELTS Test Report Form (TRF) is valid for two years.
When can a candidate reappear for an IELTS exam ?
The candidate may re-sit for the exam anytime he/she wishes. There is no limit to the number of times a candidate can appear for the exam.
What are the two types of IELTS exams ?
The two versions of an IELTS exam are Academic IELTS (For studying abroad) and General IELTS (For working abroad).
Is there an age limit for appearing in IELTS exam ?
In order to take the IELTS exam, participants must be 16 years or older. Maximum age is not stipulated.
What documents are essential to fill for an IELTS exam ?
The only document required to apply for an IELTS exam is a valid passport.
Is a candidate allowed to wear a watch or carry a cell phone for the exam ?
No watches or cell phones / Electronic gadgets are allowed in the examination hall. However, there are wall clocks in the examination halls for candidates to check the time.
Can an IELTS exam be re-evaluated ?
A re-evaluation request has to be put in within six weeks of the candidate’s exam date. The results usually take 2 to 21 days after the request has been submitted.
Listening
Can we pause recording during Listening ?
Once the recording starts playing, it cannot be paused or played again.
Are questions repeated in the Listening Test ?
No, a question cannot be repeated during the Test. You have to answer in the first instance only.
What type of questions are there in Listening Test ?
There are 6 types of questions for the Listening Exam: 1) Note / Table / Form / Flow Chart 2) Plan / Map / Diagram 3) Matching 4) MCQs 5) Sentence Completion / Summary 6) Short Answer Question.
Is spelling important in Listening exam ?
Yes! Spellings are of utmost most importance in Listening. Even a minor mistake can get your answer marked wrong.
What is the duration of the Listening test ?
The recordings usually play for 25 to 30 minutes, during which you should write your answers on the question paper itself. However, you get 10 minutes after the recording stops to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.
Reading
What is the difference between General and Academic Reading modules ?
General Reading consists of 5 passages, out of which the first four are very short and have very objective-type questions. The fifth passage is the same as the Academic passage three. However, a General student needs to score at least 7 Bands in Reading as opposed to 6 Bands for an Academic student.
Can I make notes for Reading exam ?
Yes, you can but you are advised to keep them short as you will be wasting time if you write longer notes.
What should I read first: The passage or the Questions ?
Skimming the passage before attempting the questions is strongly recommended so that you have an overview of the content of the text, but it is also advised to have a glance at the questions so that you have a basic idea of what you have to look out for.
How much time should I spend on skimming each passage ?
The time spent on going through each passage should be about 5 to 7 minutes because you should have at least 1 minute to look for each answer.
Is there additional time for transferring Reading answers ?
No, you have to transfer your answers within the stipulated time frame of 60 minutes. There is no extra time!
Writing
What are the typrs of Task 1 ?
- Map
- Bar Graph
- Line Graph
- Pie Chart
- Table
- Diagram
- Combination of any of the above
What is the difference between Writing Task 1 for Academic and General Exams ?
For the Academic exam, you have to explain the given Diagramatical representation in your own words, but candidates of the General exam have to write a letter on a given topic.
Do I need to compare and contrast data in each body paragraph in Task 1 ?
Yes! The main element of Task 1 is to illustrate the comparison of provided data where ever possible.
Out of how many bands are Task 1 and Task 2 evaluated ?
Collectively Task 1 and Task 2 carry 9 bands, Task 1 carries 2.5 bands whereas Task 2 is out of 6.5 bands.
Is there negative marking for exceeding the word limit ?
Task 1 and 2 should have a minimum of 150 and 250 words respectively. There is no negative marking for exceeding the word limit, however, if you write fewer words than suggested then you might be marked negatively.
What does "Planning the essay " mean ?
It means that before commencing to write the essay you should always take 5 minutes to jot down your points on the question paper so that you have clarity of thought and information.
How much time should we spend on each Writing task ?
Task 1 should be completed in a maximum of 20 minutes and since task 2 requires more planning and carries almost three times the marks, it should be attempted in 35 to 40 minutes.
Speaking
Is eye contact mandatory during Speaking exam?
Yes, it is mandatory to maintain eye contact during Speaking so that the examiner feels connected to you.
Are we allowed to gesticulate during Speaking exam ?
Yes, the speaking exam is more like a conversation between you and the examiner. Hence, you are advised to keep the Speaking as natural as possible and use gestures that you usually use while Speaking to anyone.
What should be the ideal length of an introduction answer ?
The introductory questions carry only 2 Bands as a whole so they should be answered in a maximum of 1 to 2 sentences referring only to the addressed question.
Should we prepare a conclusion to the cue card ?
As you have to end your cue card as soon as the examiner instructs you to do so, you don’t need to have a conclusion ready because you can be asked to stop anytime.
Do we get time to prepare for the cue card ?
All candidates get 45 seconds to 1 minute to jot down the points of the cue card and you can refer to the points while Speaking.
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