• What is IELTS?
  • ELIGIBILITY
  • IELTS SYLLABUS
  • EXAM PATTERN
  • PREPARATION
  • EXAM DATE
  • REGISTRATION
  • TEST RESULT

IELTS full form stands for the International English Language Testing System. It is an English language ability exam, which evaluates a candidate’s ability to converse in the English language across all four essential modules: speaking, writing, reading, and listening.

It is managed by three essential organizations: the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL), the British Council IELTS, and IDP IELTS Australia.

Here is all you need to know about IELTS Exam

IELTS EligibilityIELTS Exam Pattern
IELTS RegistrationIELTS Preparation
IELTS Exam DatesIELTS Syllabus
IELTS ResultsIELTS Exam Fees

Numerous students who have prepared for or appeared for the TOEFL are surprised when they confront difficulties understanding accents and expressions used by British speakers in the IELTS. This is why a thorough IELTS Exam preparation, via self-study or a language school that covers the IELTS course, is required to succeed in the IELTS test.

There are Two Types of the IELTS Exam

1. Academic

2. General Training

Test-takers must know beforehand, which module is required for their purposes, as the scores are not interchangeable. Each test has a duration of two hours and forty-five minutes. Test-takers are required to pay IELTS fees for the administration of the exam.

Broadly speaking, IELTS is taken by individuals who wish to study, live, or work in a country where English is the primary language of communication. In particular, the test is taken by three fundamental classifications of individuals:

  • The individuals who need to study in an English-medium school, university, or college in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, or New Zealand
  • The individuals who wish to apply for immigration to nations, for example, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand
  • The individuals who need to prove their English capability to meet the prerequisites of professional associations or regulatory bodies in various countries

The IELTS has existed since 1989. Today, more than 3 million tests are taken in more than 140 countries every year.

Computer-Based IELTS

The Computer-based IELTS, as the name suggests, is IELTS taken on the computer instead of the pen and paper test, which is traditionally associated with the IELTS. The structure, patterns, and questions remain the same as the pen and paper version. Even how you book for the IELTS test is unchanged.

IELTS used to conduct computer-based tests in 2016 for students willing to study in the UK. However, both the British Council and IDP have introduced Computer-based tests for all students. The most beneficial part of the Computer Delivered IELTS is, that the results are declared in 5 to 7 days. The students can choose the time that is convenient, and there are more test dates for the Computer Based IELTS tests.

IELTS Eligibility

There are no strict eligibility criteria for the IELTS exam as such. Candidates who are willing to prove their English language proficiency for any cause can appear for IELTS. However, it is not recommended for children under the age of 16.

IELTS Syllabus

There are four modules of the IELTS exam, as with many language tests. The test consists of Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. The test seeks to assess the proficiency of test-takers in these various aspects of the language including sentence structures, grammar, vocabulary, and the general usage of the language.

IELTS Exam Pattern

For IELTS, unlike the rivalling TOEFL, the Speaking module has a separate day of the exam than the other three modules. That translates to three modules in one day, readingwriting, and listening. There is a separate appointment for the speaking module. The three modules that fall on a single day have a time duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes in total. The speaking module has different time duration for everyone, ranging from 10 to 20 minutes.

IELTS Preparation

To prepare for IELTS, one needs to work on vocabulary and grammar the most. However, there are many aspects of a language that one needs to understand before even reaching the intermediate level. There is a number of IELTS materials available on various websites, or you can check out the IELTS test centers Get here the lists of materials for your preparation: List of Best IELTS Preparation Books and Materials.

IELTS Preparation Books

There are several choices when it comes to buying a good IELTS guide. We have mentioned the list of books that are the best IELTS guide:

  1. The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS

It is the definitive guide to IELTS from the organization that presents the test – Cambridge Assessment English. This guide includes all 4 IELTS sections (writing, speaking, reading, listening) to provide you with the ul instructions, hints and tips for attempting IELTS. It concentrates on the development of language skills and strategies for tests which hethatu to achieve a good band score. It also has 10 practice tests for both Academic and General Training. This guide can bring you success in  IELTS.

  1. Cambridge IELTS 13

Cambridge IELTS 13 is the latest edition in Cambridge Practice Tests for the IELTS series. In this book, you can get an introduction to the different sections of IELTS, together with an explanation of the scoring system used by Cambridge Assessment English along with reliable examination papers. A comprehensive section of answers makes this perfect preparation material for candidates you are preparing partly or entirely on their own.

  1. English Collocations in Use

You should get this book if you want to sound like a native speaker. The main feature of this book is that it contains Collocations which means the combinations of words which frequently appear together, using them in the test will make your English sound more natural. It includes 60 lessons that contain several different types of topics, every ccontaining2 pages for the theory as well as practice exercises with more than 1,500 collocations. This book is useful for IELTS candidates who are at the intermediate level and above.

  1. English Vocabulary in Use

The book named English Vocabulary in Use is known as the best-selling vocabulary reference and practice book. It includes everything from basic to advanced level and is an excellent choice for IELTS candidates wanting to build their vocabulary skills. The highlights of this book are:

  • It contains 100 units, covering around 3,000 new vocabulary items.
  • Vocabulary is presented and explained on the pages which are on the left, with a wealth of innovative follow-up activities.
  • It offers the opportunity to consolidate and expand existing vocabulary.

5. New Insight into IELTS
‘New Insight into IELTS’ is an extensive preparation and practice book for IELTS. By attempting the test and learning each section in detail, the course gradually improves the skills, language and test strategies that students need to approach IELTS with confidence. The course contains a detailed introduction to the test and a full answer key. This book is equally suitable for use in the classroom or for self-study.

  1. Barron’s IELTS Practice Exams

Barron’s IELTS Practice Exams is the topmost choice of the IELTS test taker. This newly updated edition with two audio CDs prepares IELTS candidates to achieve a good score on the test.  One of the best things about it is that it has 6 IELTS practice exams in which all questions are answered with explanations. It is meant for those who want to achieve 7 bands or higher in this prestigious exam.

  1. Official IELTS Practice Materials Volume 1 & 2

This book is a comprehensive resource pack with the intention to help prepare candidates for the IELTS test. It is written by Cambridge ESOL examiners which means materials are written with many years of experience according, this pack shows candidates how each of the tests is assessed and provides excellent strategies and tips. ‘These Official IELTS Practice Materials Volume 1 & 2’ gives samples of the Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing and tests with sample answers and comments of the examiner.

  1. Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS

The advanced version of ‘Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS’ includes the vocabulary needed by IELTS candidates who are aiming for 6.5 bands and above. It also contains practice exam tasks from each paper. It also helps the student by providing useful tips on how to approach different sections of the IELTS test and covers especially tricky areas such as collocation and paraphrasing.

  1. IELTS Advantage Series

‘IELTS Advantage: Reading Skills’ is for those IELTS candidates who want to pass the Reading module with high bands. This book provides in-depth preparation to achieve success in the IELTS reading section, with a focus on the development of vocabulary, paraphrase training and strategies for reading effectively and understanding them easily, such as scanning, skimming, and other such strategies.

‘IELTS Advantage: Writing Skills’ is an extensive material that guides students through each steps in the writing section. By using this material, developed by authors having many years of experience which helped hundreds of IELTS candidates through the exam, you can also achieve a high IELTS score.

‘IELTS Advantage: Speaking & Listening Skills’ is a comprehensive resource for all IELTS candidates. IELTS candidates can learn the different stages of the speaking and listening sections, by using lively material covering a wide range of topics that have chances to appear in the IELTS test.

  1. Improve your IELTS Skills Series

Improve your IELTS Skills series has three courses for preparation. They are Academic Writing, Academic Reading, and Listening and Speaking. These courses improve your language, skills and test techniques to help you achieve a higher IELTS band. The three books in the series may be used together as a complete course or may be used to target any specific skills as per your needs.

Some other popular books for IELTS preparation are:

§  Cambridge IELTS Trainer with Answers

§  Cambridge Grammar for IELTS

§  Target Band 7: IELTS Academic Module – How to Maximize Your Score

§  English Grammar in Use

§  Step Up to IELTS Personal Study Book with Answers

We hope you found the list of material that we have listed above to be useful for you in IELTS. Wishing you good luck with your IELTS with a good score.

IELTS Exam Fees

The IELTS fees vary with the location and country one resides in. The fees may vary from $170 - $180. There are also fees for rescheduling or cancellation, that one needs to be aware of.

IELTS Exam Dates

There is no fixed exam for the IELTS test. The candidate has to choose his or her nearest test center and book from the dates that are available on these days. The test centers and TOEFL Exam Dates may vary with localities, countries, and the test provider you are going with (British Council, IDP, or Cambridge). Here is all you need to know about test centers and TOEFL Exam Dates: TOEFL Exam Dates.

 

IELTS Registration

The registration of TOEFL can be done both online and offline, however, most of the students opt for the online as it is a convenient and secure method. There is a step-by-step process to be followed to book an IELTS exam that candidates will have to follow. The registration will also help you later with your scores, appointments, and refunds if there are any. Here is all you need to know: IELTS Registration

 

IELTS Results

As you might already be aware, the results/scores are scored on the scales of bands. The range of these bands is from 0 to 9, where 9 denotes the utmost fluency in the language. The scores have a validity of two years, after which the scores expire and one cannot access them. Also, the institutes will not accept the scores either. Here is all you need to know about IELTS bands.  

International English Language Testing System abbreviated as IELTS is the major popular test to know proficient in the language. One can check their ability to communicate in the English language by appearing for IELTS. It evaluates a candidate’s skill to converse in the English language the world, who are non-native speakers. IELTS is undertaken by most British, Australian, Irish, New Zealand, and Canadian universities and colleges, by over 3,000 academic institutions in the United States of America, and by various other professional organizations worldwide. This test improves the candidate’s academic excellence and cultural understanding – the ideal provider of international English testing.

IELTS Eligibility

Many people have many questions linked with IELTS eligibility & IELTS Qualification Level, maybe this article will help you to clear all your doubts related to it. The following content will guide you from IELTS eligibility until you appear in the IELTS test. Specifically, there are no minimum IELTS eligibility criteria set by the operating bodies of IELTS. Anyone who wishes to pursue higher studies abroad or wants to work abroad can attempt the IELTS exam (both Academic and General Training)

Who sets the IELTS eligibility criteria?

The British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English, cooperatively set the basic standard for IELTS eligibility.

Who needs to check their  IELTS eligibility?

You will  need to check the IELTS eligibility if you fall into one of the following  categories:

 Planning to study in the UK (United Kingdom), Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the USA (United States of America).

 Being a Medical specialist, planning to work or for further study in the UK, Australia, or the USA

 People planning to migrate to Canada, Australia, or New Zealand.

What is IELTS eligibility regarding the candidate’s qualification?

Generally, a person who has passed in 10+2 level of education from any recognized Institution is an acceptable qualification for IELTS (International English Language Testing System).

Is there any IELTS eligibility regarding the age limit of the candidate?

IELTS eligibility is set and not recommended for people who are below the age of 16. The IELTS exam can be given by anyone around the globe irrespective of race, age, nationality, gender, or religion.

What is the IELTS eligibility regarding the availability of the documents?

The applicant must hold a valid passport, which is non-expired. Driving licenses, student IDs, and other documents are not accepted as valid proof of identification for IELTS eligibility.

These IELTS eligibility criteria make sure that the candidate is prepared to face an environment where English is the language of communication

Every university has a different set of requirements and its own set of guidelines for giving admissions. Also, all the universities have set different IELTS Eligibility Criteria that candidates need to fulfil for getting admitted. In addition to this, candidates should also match the other eligibility requirements set by the university or the educational institute where they are planning to enroll.

The medium of teaching in a majority of the colleges, universities, and educational institutions in the major English-speaking countries is the English language only. So, the candidates should have a basic understanding of the language in order to pursue their higher studies successfully.

How do get enrol for IELTS?

You can register for the IELTS test by following the steps given below by keeping in your mind the above mentioned IELTS eligibility:

 Visit the official British Council IELTS website.

 Click on the option “Register for IELTS now”.

 Fill in the required details like preferred test city, Test Type, and available Test Date in the city.

 After you read the Terms and Conditions statement carefully, check the box saying you have read and agreed to the T&C, and fill in your personal information on the next page.

 Upload your valid and non-expired passport pages one by one carefully.

 On the next page, you can mention any universities where you need to send IELTS results.

 Once review all your input details before making payment.

 Make the mentioned payment for appearing in the IELTS test.

 Take the printout of the acknowledgment receipt.

The IELTS Syllabus is determined by its administrators namely British Council, IDP, and Cambridge ESOL Examinations for both versions (IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training). The IELTS Syllabus contains four Components namely  Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening. In the Listening and Speaking sections, there is the same IELTS syllabus for all applicants while the parts of reading and writing IELTS syllabus differs depending upon the General and Academic Test. From the following information, you can get more details of different sections in the IELTS syllabus.

IELTS syllabus for the Listening section

The IELTS syllabus for the Listening part includes four units of increasing difficulty. Each unit includes either a speech or a dialogue that starts with a short introduction telling the applicant about the condition and the speakers. Then they have some time to look over questions. IELTS Syllabus is the same for both,  Academic and General Training. It includes 4 sections of  40 items. They are as follows :

1. One is a conversation between two individuals

2. Second is a monologue/speech

3. The third section is a conversation among a maximum of four candidates arranged in an academic setting

4. The final one is a speech on an academic subject

IELTS syllabus for the reading section

The IELTS syllabus for the reading part includes 3 sections and 40 items. In this, you need to read the text passages and answer questions in multiple-choice, sentence completion, summary writing, matching information, short answers. Each passage contains 13-14 questions. The reading module has in total of 40 questions. The IELTS syllabus for the reading section is different for both the versions

Reading- IELTS syllabus for General Training

IELTS syllabus for the writing sectionThe IELTS syllabus for the writing section is different for both versions:

  • In the Academic part for writing part, the IELTS syllabus has two tasks: in Task 1 applicants define a diagram, graph, procedure, or chart, and in Task 2 they explain the information in your own words
  • In the General Training section, there are also two tasks: in Task 1 applicants write a letter or explain a condition, and in Task 2 they are asked to write an essay in response.

IELTS syllabus for the speaking section
 

 Reading-IELTS syllabus for Academic training:

 The syllabus consists of 3 long texts

 The content includes a range from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical.

 The texts are of undisputed origin and are taken from journals, books, newspapers, and magazines.

 These are selected for a non-expert audience.

 Suitable for candidates entering into university courses or looking for professional registration in an international environment.

 Applicants are required to read topics from books newspapers, advertisements, magazines, company handbooks, guidelines, and notices

 These are materials one is likely to come across on a daily basis in English-speaking surroundings.

 The test will be recorded for the purpose of evaluation and will include  3 parts that simulate a face-to-face oral interview with an examiner. It takes generally 11 to 14 minutes to complete. The IELTS syllabus for the speaking test comprises three segments. They are as follows :

 The first part is taken in the form of an interview throughout which applicants may be enquired about their preferences, interests, hobbies, explanation for taking IELTS test as well as other general IELTS speaking topics such as family, clothing computers, free time, fashion, computers, etc

 In the second part, applicants are given a specific topic card on which they have to talk. They will just have one minute to prepare.

 The third part includes a conversation between the examiner and the applicant, questions are asked related to the topic which they have already spoken about in part 2. This last segment is more immaterial and is regularly measured as the most difficult.

The IELTS  syllabus is designed in such a way to tests your ability on the basis of four skill sets which we have explained above. One must be aware of the admission process related to the IELTS of the particular institute where he or she has applied because it varies from institution to institution. However, it is suggested that keep yourself updated on the selection procedure of the college/university you are applying to. All the section is important and difficult in their way. However, as per the survey worldwide, the toughest part of IELTS is the writing part. So,  now that you have known the IELTS syllabus start preparing for your test as soon as possible.

There are two versions of the IELTS exam pattern:

 Academic Training- For applicants taking the test for entry to undergraduate or postgraduate studies for proficient reasons.

 General Training- For applicants entering into training or professional programs and not for any educational degree, or for admission in secondary schools and for immigration purposes.

The two major bodies responsible for formulating and designing the IELTS exam pattern are the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and the British Council. British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment conduct the IELTS test to measure a candidate’s proficiency level in the English language. The IELTS exam Pattern is designed to reflect the daily life use of English in different walks of life; at study, at work, at play, and at a social gathering.

Candidates have to start the preparation by understanding the IELTS exam pattern, in such a manner as to achieve the desired result. Plenty of students faces difficulties while understanding accents and expressions used by British speakers when they appear for the TOEFL.  So it is better to interpret the IELTS exam pattern properly to gain a good score.

According to the IELTS exam pattern, the total time for the IELTS exam is 2 hours and 45 minutes. IELTS exam pattern contains  4 sections, Listening, Writing, Reading, and Speaking. Details about these sections are given below :

  • Listening:The total duration of this section is 30 minutes and it is divided into 4 sections. Candidates are expected to answer 40 questions of different types.
  • Writing:The length of this section is 60 minutes and it includes 2 questions where candidates are asked to write a short essay of a minimum of 250 words. Furthermore, students are given diagrams, data, or table, for which the appearing person have to explain it in their own words.
  • Reading:The reading section contains 3 sections of general interest that are related to the issues regarding candidates pursuing programs like the post-graduate or undergraduate program. The total time allotted for this section is 60 minutes and it includes almost 40 questions.
  • Speaking:The total time allotted for this section varies from 11 to 14 minutes and here candidates also have to give a face-to-face interview.

The following table of the IELTS exam pattern can give you a bird's-eye view of all the sections:

IELTS Test ModuleTime DurationBrief Description
Listening30 minutes4 sections, 40 items
Writing60 minutes2 Writing tasks
Reading60 minutes3 sections, 40 questions
Speaking11-14 minutes3 part one-on-one conversation

 

How to prepare for IELTS? IELTS Preparation Tips

  • Any exam needs 80% of the preparation to pass, and 20% of that preparation to clear it. Once you have understood the format for the kind of test you would want to take, start skimming through
  • IELTS Exam practice tests papers and IELTS sample tests. Here we have 2 sample papers.
  1. IELTS Reading sample questions and answers

IELTS Academic Reading Task 1 - Question

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1–13, which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.

Aphantasia: A life without mental images.

Close your eyes and imagine walking along a sandy beach and then gazing over the horizon as the Sun rises. How clear is the image that springs to mind?

Most people can readily conjure images inside their head - known as their mind's eye. But this year scientists have described a condition, aphantasia, in which some people are unable to visualise mental images.

Niel Kenmuir, from Lancaster, has always had a blind mind's eye. He knew he was different even in childhood. "My stepfather, when I couldn't sleep, told me to count sheep, and he explained what he meant, I tried to do it and I couldn't," he says. "I couldn't see any sheep jumping over fences, there was nothing to count."

Our memories are often tied up in images, think back to a wedding or first day at school. As a result, Niel admits, some aspects of his memory are "terrible", but he is very good at remembering facts. And, like others with aphantasia, he struggles to recognise faces. Yet he does not see aphantasia as a disability, but simply a different way of experiencing life.

Mind's eye blind

Ironically, Niel now works in a bookshop, although he largely sticks to the non-fiction aisles. His condition begs the question of what is going on inside his picture-less mind. I asked him what happens when he tries to picture his fiancee. "This is the hardest thing to describe, what happens in my head when I think about things," he says. "When I think about my fiance there is no image, but I am definitely thinking about her, I know today she has her hair up at the back, she's brunette. But I'm not describing an image I am looking at, I'm remembering features about her, that's the strangest thing and maybe that is a source of some regret."

The response from his mates is very sympathetic: "You're weird." But while Niel is very relaxed about his inability to picture things, it is often a cause of distress for others. One person who took part in a study into aphantasia said he had started to feel "isolated" and "alone" after discovering that other people could see images in their heads. Being unable to reminisce about his mother years after her death led to him being "extremely distraught".

The super-visualiser

At the other end of the spectrum is children's book illustrator, Lauren Beard, whose work on the Fairytale Hairdresser series will be familiar to many six-year-olds. Her career relies on the vivid images that leap into her mind's eye when she reads text from her author. When I met her in her box-room studio in Manchester, she was working on a dramatic scene in the next book. The text describes a baby perilously climbing onto a chandelier.

"Straightaway I can visualise this grand glass chandelier in some sort of French kind of ballroom, and the little baby just swinging off it and really heavy thick curtains," she says. "I think I have a strong imagination, so I can create the world and then keep adding to it so it gets sort of bigger and bigger in my mind and the characters too they sort of evolve. I couldn't really imagine what it's like to not imagine, I think it must be a bit of a shame really."

Not many people have mental imagery as vibrant as Lauren or as blank as Niel. They are the two extremes of visualisation. Adam Zeman, a professor of cognitive and behavioural neurology, wants to compare the lives and experiences of people with aphantasia and its polar-opposite hyperphantasia. His team, based at the University of Exeter, coined the term aphantasia this year in a study in the journal Cortex.

Prof Zeman tells the BBC: "People who have contacted us say they are really delighted that this has been recognised and has been given a name because they have been trying to explain to people for years that there is this oddity that they find hard to convey to others." How we imagine is clearly very subjective - one person's vivid scene could be another's grainy picture. But Prof Zeman is certain that aphantasia is real. People often report being able to dream in pictures, and there have been reported cases of people losing the ability to think in images after a brain injury.

He is adamant that aphantasia is "not a disorder" and says it may affect up to one in 50 people. But he adds: "I think it makes quite an important difference to their experience of life because many of us spend our lives with imagery hovering somewhere in the mind's eye which we inspect from time to time, it's the variability of human experience."

Questions 1–5

Do the following statements agree with the information in the IELTS reading text?

In boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE: if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE: if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN: if there is no information on this

  1. Aphantasia is a condition, which describes people, for whom it is hard to visualise mental images.

TRUE           FALSE           NOT GIVEN         

  1. Niel Kenmuir was unable to count sheep in his head.

 TRUE           FALSE           NOT GIVEN         

  1. People with aphantasia struggle to remember personal traits and clothes of different people.

 TRUE           FALSE           NOT GIVEN         

  1. Niel regrets that he cannot portray an image of his fiancee in his mind.

TRUE           FALSE           NOT GIVEN         

  1. Inability to picture things in someone's head is often a cause of distress for a person.

 TRUE           FALSE           NOT GIVEN         

  1. All people with aphantasia start to feel 'isolated' or 'alone' at some point in their lives.

TRUE           FALSE           NOT GIVEN         

  1. Lauren Beard's career depends on her imagination.

TRUE           FALSE           NOT GIVEN         

  1. The author met Lauren Beard when she was working on a comedy scene in her next book.

TRUE           FALSE           NOT GIVEN         

Questions 9–13

Complete the sentences below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet.

  1. Only a small fraction of people have imagination as Lauren does.
  2. Hyperphantasia is to aphantasia.
  3. There is a lot of subjectivity in comparing people's imagination - somebody's vivid scene could be another person's.
  4. Prof Zeman is that aphantasia is not an illness.
  5. Many people spend their lives somewhere in the mind's eye.

IELTS Academic Reading Task 1- Answers

Each question correctly answered with a score of 1 mark. Correct spelling is needed in all answers.

Question number Answers
1False
2True
3Not Given
4True
5True
6Not Given
7True
8False
9Vibrant
10Polar-opposite
11Grainy picture
12Adamant
13 Imagery hovering

IELTS Academic Reading Task 2 -Question

This is the second section of the IELTS Reading test. Read the text below and answer the questions online. After that, press 'check' and move on to the next section.

READING PASSAGE 2

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14–26, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.

Life lessons from villains, crooks and gangsters

(A) A notorious Mexican drug baron’s audacious escape from prison in July doesn’t, at first, appear to have much to teach corporate boards. But some in the business world suggest otherwise. Beyond the morally reprehensible side of criminals' work, some business gurus say organised crime syndicates, computer hackers, pirates and others operating outside the law could teach legitimate corporations a thing or two about how to hustle and respond to rapid change.

(B) Far from encouraging illegality, these gurus argue that – in the same way big corporations sometimes emulate start-ups – business leaders could learn from the underworld about flexibility, innovation and the ability to pivot quickly. “There is a nimbleness to criminal organisations that legacy corporations [with large, complex layers of management] don’t have,” said Marc Goodman, head of the Future Crimes Institute and global cyber-crime advisor. While traditional businesses focus on rules they have to follow, criminals look to circumvent them. “For criminals, the sky's the limit and that creates the opportunity to think much, much bigger.”

(C) Joaquin Guzman, the head of the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel, for instance, slipped out of his prison cell through a tiny hole in his shower that led to a mile-long tunnel fitted with lights and ventilation. Making a break for it required creative thinking, long-term planning and perseverance – essential skills similar to those needed to achieve success in big business.

(D) While Devin Liddell, who heads brand strategy for Seattle-based design consultancy, Teague, condemns the violence and other illegal activities he became curious as to how criminal groups endure. Some cartels stay in business despite multiple efforts by law enforcement on both sides of the US border and millions of dollars from international agencies to shut them down. Liddell genuinely believes there’s a lesson in longevity here. One strategy he underlined was how the bad guys respond to change. In order to bypass the border between Mexico and the US, for example, the Sinaloa cartel went to great lengths. It built a vast underground tunnel, hired family members as border agents and even used a catapult to circumvent a high-tech fence.

(E) By contrast, many legitimate businesses fail because they hesitate to adapt quickly to changing market winds. One high-profile example is movie and game rental company Blockbuster, which didn’t keep up with the market and lost business to mail order video rentals and streaming technologies. The brand has all but faded from view. Liddell argues the difference between the two groups is that criminal organisations often have improvisation encoded into their daily behaviour, while larger companies think of innovation as a set process. “This is a leadership challenge,” said Liddell. “How well companies innovate and organise is a reflection of leadership.”

Left-field thinking

(F) Cash-strapped start-ups also use unorthodox strategies to problem solve and build their businesses up from scratch. This creativity and innovation is often borne out of necessity, such as tight budgets. Both criminals and start-up founders “question authority, act outside the system and see new and clever ways of doing things,” said Goodman. “Either they become Elon Musk or El Chapo.” And, some entrepreneurs aren’t even afraid to operate in legal grey areas in their effort to disrupt the marketplace. The co-founders of music streaming service Napster, for example, knowingly broke music copyright rules with their first online file sharing service, but their technology paved the way for legal innovation as regulators caught up.

(G) Goodman and others believe thinking hard about problem solving before worrying about restrictions could prevent established companies falling victim to rivals less constrained by tradition. In their book The Misfit Economy, Alexa Clay and Kyra Maya Phillips examine how individuals can apply that mindset to become more innovative and entrepreneurial within corporate structures. They studied not just violent criminals like Somali pirates, but others who break the rules in order to find creative solutions to their business problems, such as people living in the slums of Mumbai or computer hackers. They picked out five common traits among this group: the ability to hustle, pivot, provoke, hack and copycat.

(H) Clay gives a Saudi entrepreneur named Walid Abdul-Wahab as a prime example. Abdul-Wahab worked with Amish farmers to bring camel milk to American consumers even before US regulators approved it. Through perseverance, he eventually found a network of Amish camel milk farmers and started selling the product via social media. Now his company, Desert Farms, sells to giant mainstream retailers like Whole Foods Market. Those on the fringe don’t always have the option of traditional, corporate jobs and that forces them to think more creatively about how to make a living, Clay said. They must develop grit and resilience in order to last outside the cushy confines of cubicle life. “In many cases scarcity is the mother of invention,” Clay said.

Questions 14-21

 

Reading Passage 2 has eight paragraphs A-H. Match the headings below with the paragraphs. Write the correct letter, A-H, in boxes 14-21 on your answer sheet.

  1. Jailbreak with creative thinking
  2. Five common traits among rule-breakers
  3. Comparison between criminals and traditional businessmen
  4. Can a drug baron's escape teach legitimate corporations?
  5. Great entrepreneur
  6. How criminal groups deceive the law
  7. The difference between legal and illegal organisations
  8. Similarity between criminals and start-up founders

Questions 22–25

 

Complete the sentences below.

 

Write ONLY ONE WORD from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 22–25 on your answer sheet.

  1. To escape from prison, Joaquin Guzman had to use such traits as creative thinking, long-term planning and.
  2. The Sinaloa cartel built a grand underground tunnel and even used a  to avoid the fence.
  3. The main difference between the two groups is that criminals, unlike large corporations, often have encoded into their daily life.
  4. Due to being persuasive, Walid Abdul-Wahab found an of Amish camel milk farmers.

Question 26

 

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

  1. The main goal of this article is to:

A  Show different ways of illegal activity

B  Give an overview of various criminals and their gangs

C  Draw a comparison between legal and illegal business, providing examples

D  Justify criminals with creative thinking


IELTS Academic Reading Task 2 - Answer

Each question correctly answered with a score of 1 mark. Correct spelling is needed in all answers.

14C
15G
16B
17A
18H
19D
20E
21F
22Perseverance
23Catapult
24Improvisation
25Network
26C

IELTS Academic Reading task 3 - Question

This is the final section of IELTS Reading practises test #1. After you complete it, press 'check' and 'get result' and you will see your result for this Reading test.

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27–40, which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.

Britain needs a strong TV industry

Comedy writer Armando Iannucci has called for an industry-wide defence of the BBC and British programme-makers. "The Thick of It" creator made his remarks in the annual MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival.

"It's more important than ever that we have more strong, popular channels... that act as beacons, drawing audiences to the best content," he said. Speaking earlier, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale rejected suggestions that he wanted to dismantle the BBC.

'Champion supporters'

Iannucci co-wrote "I'm Alan Partridge", wrote the movie "In the Loop" and created and wrote the hit "HBO" and "Sky Atlantic show Veep". He delivered the 40th annual MacTaggart Lecture, which has previously been given by Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, former BBC director-general Greg Dyke, Jeremy Paxman and Rupert Murdoch. Iannucci said: "Faced with a global audience, British television needs its champion supporters."

He continued his praise for British programming by saying the global success of American TV shows had come about because they were emulating British television. "The best US shows are modelling themselves on what used to make British TV so world-beating," he said. "US prime-time schedules are now littered with those quirky formats from the UK - the "Who Do You Think You Are"'s and the variants on "Strictly Come Dancing" - as well as the single-camera non-audience sitcom, which we brought into the mainstream first. We have changed international viewing for the better."

With the renewal of the BBC's royal charter approaching, Iannucci also praised the corporation. He said: "If public service broadcasting - one of the best things we've ever done creatively as a country - if it was a car industry, our ministers would be out championing it overseas, trying to win contracts, boasting of the British jobs that would bring." In July, the government issued a green paper setting out issues that will be explored during negotiations over the future of the BBC, including the broadcaster's size, its funding and governance.

Primarily Mr Whittingdale wanted to appoint a panel of five people, but finally, he invited two more people to advise on the channel renewal, namely former Channel 4 boss Dawn Airey and journalism professor Stewart Purvis, former editor-in-chief of ITN. Iannucci bemoaned the lack of "creatives" involved in the discussions.

"When the media, communications and information industries make up nearly 8% our GDP, larger than the car and oil and gas industries put together, we need to be heard, as those industries are heard. But when I see the panel of experts who've been asked by the culture secretary to take a root and branch look at the BBC, I don't see anyone who is a part of that cast and crew list. I see executives, media owners, industry gurus, all talented people - but not a single person who's made a classic and enduring television show."

'Don't be modest'

Iannucci suggested one way of easing the strain on the licence fee was "by pushing ourselves more commercially abroad".

"Use the BBC's name, one of the most recognised brands in the world," he said. "And use the reputation of British television across all networks, to capitalise financially overseas. Be more aggressive in selling our shows, through advertising, through proper international subscription channels, freeing up BBC Worldwide to be fully commercial, whatever it takes.

"Frankly, don't be icky and modest about making money, let's monetise the bejesus Mary and Joseph out of our programmes abroad so that money can come back, take some pressure off the licence fee at home and be invested in even more ambitious quality shows, that can only add to our value."

Mr Whittingdale, who was interviewed by ITV News' Alastair Stewart at the festival, said he wanted an open debate about whether the corporation should do everything it has done in the past.  He said he had a slight sense that people who rushed to defend the BBC were "trying to have an argument that's never been started".

"Whatever my view is, I don't determine what programmes the BBC should show," he added. "That's the job of the BBC." Mr Whittingdale said any speculation that the Conservative Party had always wanted to change the BBC due to issues such as its editorial line was "absolute nonsense".

Questions 27-31

Do the following statements agree with the information in the IELTS reading text?

In boxes 27–31 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE: if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE: if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN: if there is no information on this

  1. Armando Iannucci expressed a need for more popular channels.

TRUE             FALSE             NOT GIVEN           

  1. John Whittingdale wanted to dismantle the BBC.

TRUE             FALSE             NOT GIVEN           

  1. Iannucci delivered the 30th annual MacTaggart Lecture.

TRUE             FALSE             NOT GIVEN           

  1. Ianucci believes that British television has contributed to the success of American TV-shows.

TRUE             FALSE             NOT GIVEN           

  1. There have been negotiations over the future of the BBC in July.

TRUE             FALSE             NOT GIVEN           

 

Questions 32–35

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter in boxes 32-35 on your answer sheet.

  1. 32. Ianucci praised everything EXCEPT

A  US shows

B  British shows

C  Corporation

D  British programming

  1. 33. To advise on the charter renewal Mr Whittingdale appointed a panel of

A  five people

B  two people

C  seven people

D  four people

  1. 34. Who of these people was NOT invited to the discussion concerning BBC renewal?

 A  Armando Iannucci

   B  Dawn Airey

C  John Whittingdale

 Stewart Purvis

  1. There panel of experts lacks:

A  media owners

 people who make enduring TV-shows

 gurus of Television industry

 D  top executives

Questions 36–40

Complete the summary below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 37–40 on your answer sheet.

Easing the strain on the licence fees

Iannucci recommended increasing BBC's profit by pushing ourselves more 36 __________ He suggests being more aggressive in selling British shows, through advertising and proper international 37

Also, he invokes producers to stop being 38.  _____  and modest about making money and investing into even 39.___________  quality shows. However, Mr Whittingdale denied any 40.______  that the Conservative Party had always wanted to change the BBC because of its editorial line.

IELTS Academic Reading task 3 - Answer

Each question correctly answered with a score of 1 mark. Correct spelling is needed in all answers.

Question NumberAnswers
27TRUE
28FALSE
29Not given
30TRUE
31FALSE
32A
33C
34A
35B
36commercially abroad
37subscription channels
38icky
39more ambitious
40speculation

(Source: https://ielts-up.com/reading/academic-reading-sample-1.1.html
https://ielts-up.com/reading/academic-reading-sample-1.2.html
https://ielts-up.com/reading/academic-reading-sample-1.3.html)

2.ELTS Writing sample questions and answers

 IELTS Writing Task 1: Question

Try this process diagram question about the man-made the process of hydroelectricity.

The diagram shows how electricity is generated by a hydroelectric dam. Write a 150-word report for a university lecturer explaining how the process works..

IELTS Writing Task 1: Model Answer

The diagram illustrates the basic principles of hydroelectric power. The process requires the construction of a large dam connected to a powerhouse. The dam creates a large reservoir and the powerhouse is where the electricity is generated.

First of all, water trapped in the reservoir behind the dam is forced through an intake. It then flows into a narrow chamber called a penstock, where the resulting high pressure turns a turbine. The turbine is connected to a generator in the powerhouse above, and this is where the movement of the turbine is converted into electricity. The resulting electricity leaves the powerhouse via cables that carry it over long distances to where it can be used.

It is interesting to note that a hydroelectric dam creates no harmful by-products and relies entirely on natural forces to produce electricity. After the turbine stage, water flows out through a second channel and into a river. The process is renewable, thanks to the water cycle in nature.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Question

Try this argument essay question about access to university education. It’s very important that you write a balanced argument before giving your opinion.

It is sometimes argued that too many students go to university, while others claim that university education should be a universal right.

Discuss both sides of the argument and give your own opinion.

 

IELTS Writing Task 2: Model Answer

In some advanced countries, it is not unusual for more than 50% of young adults to attend college or university. Critics, however, claim that many university courses are worthless and young people would be better off gaining skills in the workplace. In this essay, I will examine both sides of this argument and try to reach a conclusion.

There are several reasons why young people today believe they have the right to university education. First, growing prosperity in many parts of the world has increased the number of families with money to invest in their children’s future. At the same time, falling birthrates mean that one- or two-child families have become common, increasing the level of investment in each child. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that young people are willing to let their families support them until the age of 21 or 22. Furthermore, millions of new jobs have been created in knowledge industries, and these jobs are typically open only to university graduates.

However, it often appears that graduates end up in occupations unrelated to their university studies. It is not uncommon for an English literature major to end up working in sales, or an engineering graduate to retrain as a teacher, for example. Some critics have suggested that young people are just delaying their entry into the workplace, rather than developing professional skills. A more serious problem is that the high cost of university education will mean that many families are reluctant to have more than one child, exacerbating the falling birth rates in certain countries.

In conclusion, while it can be argued that too much emphasis is placed on university education, my own opinion is that the university years are a crucial time for personal development. If people enter the workplace aged 18, their future options may be severely restricted. Attending university allows them time to learn more about themselves and make a more appropriate choice of career.

(Source:http://ielts-academic.com/ielts-writing-practice-tests/)

  • You can take the IELTS practice test online by factoring in the time you will be given for taking the actual tests. You can find them on the website where sample questions and answers are given. Separately, you can also buy IELTS preparation books and related IELTS study material and IELTS listening practice tests that are available at British Council IELTS tests centers and selected bookstores across the globe.
  • The British Council IELTS website has a list of IELTS Preparation books with a brief description that you could refer to while preparing for your IELTS test.
  • Likewise, you can ask for some good book references from the people who have taken the exam before you. The Official Cambridge IELTS Guide is one top recommendation by many. It comes with a DVD and has questions for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Another is the Cambridge IELTS Practice Tests Series.
  • Many IELTS Preparation books are available, but you should first stick to the source material for the preparation, i.e. IELTS vocabulary books, the British Council IELTS books, Cambridge IELTS books, and the like. IELTS PreparationThese are some essential steps that you must follow while preparing for the IELTS test. Some also ask how to prepare for IELTS at Home. It may seem like a daunting task, but we are going to give you some helpful IELTS study tips to help you refine your study habits.
    • You must concentrate on building your Core English Skills
    • A major error some IELTS applicants make when preparing for the exam is concentrating only on IELTS mock tests. Many consider that the IELTS more mock tests they do, the better prepared they will be.
    • The test is talent-based, not knowledge-based. This means that every IELTS mock test you do will comprise diverse content that you cannot study for. It is about the excellence of your abilities, and not the number of your IELTS mock tests.
    • Language is an ability. Therefore, you need to learn speaking skills, listening skills, writing skills, and reading skills. You can’t approach building your language abilities the same way when you do IELTS mock tests. Though understanding the exam format is half the battle, do not undervalue the necessity to develop your language skills.
    • So, find a good English teacher, take an IELTS course and immerse yourself in the language through IELTS Preparation books and other novels, newspapers, music, and movies. Find some English-speaking friends and organize an English-only conversation club. The more normal the language becomes to you, the more calm you are going to feel in the exam.

Learn from your weaknesses

To achieve success anywhere, you will have to learn from your mistakes and be aware of the weaknesses and habits you repeat. Candidates often tend to repeat the same mistakes repeatedly even after they are given thorough feedback. Take your time to understand your errors thoroughly. Are they related to spelling? If so, follow IELTS writing tips, and practice writing misspelled words correctly. Are your errors related to verb tense? Then focus on that, is it related to vocabulary? Then focus on that. Learn the rules and how to use them. The important thing is to not make those errors again.

IELTS Essay Writing Tips

Develop your writing skills by learning how to structure an essay paragraph by paragraph. Practice IELTS reading Practice test and understanding IELTS essay questions. It is easy to go off-topic or not directly answer the question. Additionally, read many different sample IELTS essay questions and write sample responses.

The more practice you get writing responses to different IELTS essay questions, the more comfortable you will feel with various topics. Be careful not to memorize sample IELTS essays. I have seen many candidates make this mistake. Even if you get a similar topic in the exam, the concentration of the question will be diverse and so the answer will have to exactly address the question.

IELTS examiners know how to spot learned essays and they will give zero no matter how well written it is. It is also significant to practice writing 250 words in timed situations. Your writing should be neat and legible. Therefore, if you do not feel comfortable with writing by hand, then practice more writing, until you feel comfortable doing that.

IELTS Speaking Practice

  • The same goes for IELTS speaking Test. IELTS speaking practice can be done with a friend. Become comfortable talking about yourself and your experiences. You can have some common answers pre-prepared related to your basic information related to the first part of the test, but this should come out as impulsive and natural.
  • Furthermore, remember to avoid memorizing presentations for part 2. The examiner will know if you are repeating memorized answers. Always keep in mind that you are talking about yourself. Therefore, develop a habit to do it on a daily basis. Even if it means speaking to yourself!

 

To know more read: Complete Guide for the Speaking section of IELTS

The speaking section of IELTS checks your speaking ability and vocal clarity. It includes a one-to-one interaction between the student and an examiner. This section consists of three parts, which give the examiner a chance to evaluate the student’s range of different speaking skills. This section is recorded at the time of conducting. The Speaking section checks the use of spoken English of the candidate and it takes between 11 to 14 minutes to complete.

Duration

11-14 minutes

Total parts

3

Parts of the speaking section of IELTS

  • Part 1

In the first part, the examiner will ask general questions about yourself and a range of related topics like family, studies, work, habits, interests, etc. This part takes about 4 and 5 minutes to complete.

  • Part 2

In the second part, you will be given a task card that asks you to speak about the given topic. You will have 1 minute to prepare and will be given 2 minutes to speak about it. Don’t speak for less than 2 minutes as you will lose marks for it. After completion of 2 minutes, the examiner will stop you. The examiner will then ask 1 to 2 questions related to that particular topic to finish the second part of the speaking module.

  • Part 3

In the third part, you will be asked further questions related to the topic in Part 2. These questions will give you the opportunity to discuss more conceptual ideas and issues. You need to go deep into the topic and state reasons, examples, and analysis. This part of the test will get completed between 4 and 5 minutes.

Topics of IELTS speaking section

There are unlimited topics on which tests can be conducted but none of them requires you to have specialized knowledge. You won’t be asked to describe the process regarding medical or engineering. Topics will be based on issues that frequently appear in English language media.

  1. Part 1 topicsare introductory in nature. It is the simplest among 3. Here it is very likely that you will be asked  questions about yourself, such as:
  • Your family
  • Your Hometown
  • Your job or studies
  • Your likes and dislikes
  • Your habits
  1. Part 2 topicsare personal in nature. You may be asked to describe a family member you appreciate or about a famous festival in your country. You have to include everything which you know about it.

For example: Describe your favourite photograph

  • Who clicked the photo?
  • Where was the photo taken?
  • When was the photo taken?
  • Who are there in that photo?
  • Why is this your favorite photograph?

 

  1. In Part 3 you have to discussspeculate and explain more about the topic discussed in the previous part, you may have to state the importance of family or how festivals define our society.

For example: Describe your favorite photograph (continuation of the same topic of part 2)

  • How to take a good photo?
  • When do people use the camera?
  • How can new technology help us to take pictures?

 

How is the scoring of the Speaking section of IELTS done?

Only examiners who are certified will evaluate your speaking. When your IELTS speaking section will be conducted, it will be recorded and assessed later. The examiners who listen to your recording are given a set of rules on the basis of which scoring is done. You will be given marks on the basis of the following 4 criteria of the IELTS Speaking Test.

  1. Fluency and coherence - This is your speed of speaking and ability to make sense.
  2. Lexical resources -This is your vocabulary.
  3. Grammatical range and accuracy -This is your ability to use different tenses and structures of the sentence accurately and clearly.
  4. Pronunciation -This is how well you can produce the sounds of English.

 

Preparation tips for the IELTS speaking section

  • Speak some English every day. It is better to speak English a little bit every day and improve your language skills step by step.
  • Dedicate at least half an hour every day to either listening or reading something in English. When you read, do it aloud. It helps in pronunciation.
  • Learn the correct grammar and functional language and also know when to use those correctly.
  • As the speaking test is a representation of real life, it is better to get connected with this aspect while preparing. Instead of writing down the answers to questions, find a partner to study. Talk to them and practice by having a conversation with them.
  • If you cannot find a partner, speak to a mirror or record your answers. Listening to the audio will help you improve your modulation, and pronunciation, and fix grammatical errors.
  • English news channels and podcasts are the best resources for preparing for the speaking test.
  • Additionally for reading, pick up newspapers, magazines, and blogs in the language.
  • To get your pronunciation correct, use online dictionaries that let you listen to how a word is pronounced.
  • The best resource to get a solid understanding of spoken English is a tutor. Find one of the best tutors and practice more.

 

Useful tips for the Speaking test of IELTS

  • Remain calm during the speaking test. The more nervous and uncomfortable you will be, the more difficult it will be for you to keep up your fluency and maintain consistency.
  • Once you start speaking, don’t stop until the examiner stops you. You should not just answer the question in one or two lines and stop, try to explain as much as you can.
  • If you don’t understand anything feels free to ask the examiner. You can say ‘I am sorry, can you explain what this means?’ You can also request them to repeat the question. But you cannot ask him/her to explain the whole question.
  • Giving just  ‘Yes,’ and ‘No’ as an answer is not satisfactory. You need to show how good you are at speaking the English language to the examiner. If you give very short answers, then the examiner will not know how good you are at speaking. So give full answers.
  • Often candidates try to impress the examiner with big and complex words in their Speaking Test. But to be on the safe side, avoid using words you are not much familiar with. There is a higher chance of making mistakes, either mispronouncing words or using them in the wrong sentences. These silly mistakes can affect your score.

So, now you are totally informed about the speaking section of the IELTS and also we have mentioned all the tips and tricks you can take advantage of and crack the speaking module well and score high.

BEST WI..!!

 

Reading Section

  • Read up on general topics such as news, current affairs, science, climate change, animals, history, economics, sociology, etc. The more you read, the more you will develop the habit of understanding the context of the sentences and new vocabulary.
  • This will help you increase your knowledge of English and feel more comfortable with the reading paragraphs in the exam. If you are doing the IELTS academic, but have never read an academic paragraph until the day of the exam, you could be in trouble. So, use sites like National Geographic, the Economist, the New Internationalist, and Science Daily to become an academic reader.

Read below to know more about the reading section: Complete Guide for the Reading section of IELTS

The reading section of IELTS includes 3 passages for reading with increasing difficulty and there are 40 questions in total. The content may of descriptive, factual, discursive and analytical. The texts are mainly taken from books, journals, newspapers and magazines. A variety of question types is used to evaluate a wide range of reading skills.

 Duration of the reading section 60 minutes
Number of Questions40
Number of tasks3

Types of the question in the IELTS Reading section

There are several types of questions you will come across in the IELTS Reading section. The descriptions of the question types and tips below will help you to understand this section very closely. First, let us discuss the types of questions included :

Multiple Choice

In this kind of question, you will have to select the answer option which you think is right from the given choice. Some will focus the on main ideas, while others will focus on details. First, you should look for keywords in the given passage and the answer choices then you should scan the whole passage for answers.

True/False/Not Given

These kinds of questions consist of a few statements. You need to decide whether each one is TRUE if the information in the question statement agrees with the information in the text or FALSE  if the question statement contradicts something found in the passage

The third option is also possible when the information in the question statement cannot be found in the article. It is a bit difficult to search for something that is, in fact, not there. Try your best but do not spend more time on these questions. If you can’t find an answer after you have searched for it thoroughly in the passage, mark NOT GIVEN and move on.


Yes/No/Not Given

These kinds of questions are almost the same as True/False/Not Given questions. The difference is that they concentrate on ideas and not facts. Your job is to mention whether the statements given in the questions agree (YES) or disagree (NO) with what the author has written in the essay. If the information isn’t discussed directly, you have to answer NOT GIVEN.


Matching

There are different kinds of Matching questions on the IELTS Reading paper. We have discussed the below:

  • Matching Headings

In this kind of question, you are required to match a list of given “headings” to each paragraph in the passage. A correct heading expresses the main idea of one paragraph in the text. To get the headings to question correct, you must find the heading that connects the main idea of a paragraph.

  • Matching Information

This type of question asks you to match information from a list with one of the paragraphs given in the passage. Matching Information questions is a bit tricky because you have to search for details. To answer them correctly, you are required to find the paragraph which contains the information given in the question. The given information will be paraphrased, so don’t look for the exact wording in the passage, instead search for the same idea.

  • Matching Features

This type of matching question provides you with a list of items in a box. These items will be categorized in some way and each item will be given in the reading passage. Your job is to match phrases or sentences in the questions with the appropriate items given in the box.

For example: If the box includes a list of people mentioned in the passage, then the questions may ask you to match statements with the person who said them.

Try to scan the passage for giving answers to each question, rather than using the items in the box to direct your scanning. This is because some answer choices in the box may not relate to any of the questions, and you might waste your time scanning for information.

§  Matching Sentence Endings

To answer these questions, you have to match two parts of a sentence. The question will provide the starting part of the sentence. You will have to select an appropriate ending to the sentence from a given list of options. To get the correct answer, you will have to search for information in the passage to confirm that your combined sentence relates to the passage. Keep in mind, correct answers must:

  1. be logical.
  2. be grammatically correct.
  3. agree with the information in the passage.

 

Sentence Completion and Short Answer

In Sentence Completion questions you need to fill in a blank at the end of a sentence with some words taken from the text. Short Answer questions also require you to choose some words from the text for your answer, but the words you need to fill in are not located at the end of a sentence. You simply need to answer a question about the text for Short Answer questions. It is very important to read the instructions carefully as the word limit will be mentioned in them. If you exceed the limit, you may be penalised, so pay close attention to word limits.


Note, Diagram, Table or Summary Completion

In this question, you are required to complete a set of notes, a diagram, a table or a summary with information from the passage. It may be a Short Answer question or you will have to choose from a set of answers in a box or from a list. Diagram label completion questions are usually associated with hard sciences, mainly biology.


Preparation tips for the Reading section of IELTS

  • Read general topics like news, current affairs, climate change, science, animals, history, sociology, economics etc. The more you read, the more you will improve your understanding power of the context of the sentences and new vocabulary.
  • Pay more focus on the structure of grammar. There are various types of grammar structures, try to understand all of them, it will help you with writing. If you have limited vocabulary still you can find a way, but if you are weak at grammar, you will not know what the text refers to, due to which you will not understand the main idea of the content.
  • You must have known that skimming(reading quickly so as to note the important points) and scanning are two essential tools in reading. Both rely on an understanding of the main ideas. Therefore, if you can not understand the main ideas in a short time, you will lose time. This can be learned by reading various types of articles every day.
  • Make Use of sites like the Economist, National Geographic, the New Internationalist and Science Daily to become an expert academic reader.
  • Practice with sample papers and know your weakness. When you know your weakness, you will know what to improve. If it is due to your wrong understating of the passage, then you know that you have to improve your English language. If you are getting out of time then there is a problem in your strategy.
  • In many ways, the IELTS Reading section is more of a vocabulary test than just a reading test. To crack this section well you will need a wide range of vocabulary to understand the given passages. You must also have knowledge of synonyms and paraphrasing if you want to identify the information you will need to answer the questions correctly.


Useful tips during the IELTS Reading Exam

  • You will just have an hour to complete the 40 questions of the reading section of IELTS, so you must manage your time wisely. It is suggested to try and get each section finished in 20 minutes. You can use 16-17 minutes to read and answer the questions and 3-4 minutes to transfer and check your answers.
  • Many candidates who are well-prepared lose marks in the Reading module of IELTS because they don’t read the given instructions properly. Pay close attention to the instructions given to you so that you won’t make silly mistakes.
  • Some of the questions will be easy and some may be extremely difficult for you. The wrong thing to do is spend a large amount of time on a difficult question. If you find it too difficult to answer, move on to the next one. You can always come back to the leftover questions later. In these situations, you should stay calm and don’t panic.
  • If you don’t understand a word given in the text, you should look at the words and sentences around to get some clue about its meaning. Or else you can move on and forget about it. Concentrate on the words that are related to the question and don’t worry about the words you don’t understand.

So, now you are totally informed about the reading section of the IELTS and also we have mentioned all the tips and tricks you can take advantage of and crack the reading module well and score high.

BEST WISHES..!!

 

LISTENING SECTION

Learn native-like fluency

You can listen to some podcasts and ted talks to understand different accents and pronunciations. This can help you understand different accents and is a great way to expose yourself to new vocabulary and different interesting IELTS speaking topics. Remember, the broader your general language and general knowledge, the more comfortable you will be with the language and topics in the test.

 

Get all your doubts clear regarding the listening section: Complete Guide for the Listening section of IELTS

In the Listening section of the IELTS, you will listen to the recorded texts, monologues and conversations and then you have to write your answers to the given questions. Questions in this section include which test your ability to understand the attitudes and opinions of speakers, ability to understand the main ideas and detailed factual information hidden in it, ability to understand the purpose of a statement and the ability to follow the development of ideas.

The listening module in the IELTS  includes four different sections. Each section can be heard only one time. There are a total of 40 questions, with 10 questions in each subsection. The listening part takes 30 minutes, but then you will be given 10 minutes to transfer your answers to an answer sheet.

Duration40 minutes
Number of Questions40
Total Sub-Sections4

Subsections in the listening section of IELTS

Section 1: Conversation about everyday situations between 2 speakers.

Here the Speaker talks relatively slowly, making pauses between the conversation. This section is quite easy. It is a conversation on everyday situations, mainly social topics. For example, one person asking the other how to reach the city, two people discussing the plan of their upcoming journey, a tourist booking room at the hotel, a woman giving suggestions about a new project to her colleague etc.

 

Section 2:  A speech about everyday situations.

Speaker talks quite slowly but makes fewer pauses compared to the previous section. In this section, there is only one speaker talking on the general topic. This means that you have to listen to one speaker who is giving you the information for you to answer the topic may be about a service provided, public event, etc.


Section 3: Conversation on the topic of educational or training situation between 2 to 4 speakers
.

This section is quite more difficult than the two previous sections as the speakers use advanced vocabulary in the monologue and discuss the topics at a faster pace. This means that you have to listen to up to four people talking to each other which may be about an academic subject in a seminar, students talking about a class assignment etc


Section 4:  A speech on an academic subject.

This is a monologue or speech on an academic or study-related topic. This means you will have to listen to a person giving a lecture or talk, which is based on academics. Among all sections of the listening module, it is the most difficult one to understand and answer. There are no pauses in between, the speaker talks quite quickly and uses a good range of vocabulary. For example, speech regarding global warming and its effects,  talk on starting a subject lecture for children about endangered species etc.

Following charts describe in brief about the above-mentioned sub-sections:

Section

Number of Speakers

Context

1Conversation between two speakersSocial situation
2Speech given by one speakerSocial Situation
3 Conversation between Two to four speakers Educational or Training
4Speech given by one speakerAcademic Subject

Types of questions on IELTS Listening:

  1. Multiple-choice questions
  2. Short-answer questions
  3. Sentence completion
  4. Notes, summary, diagram, plan, table or chart completion
  5. Labelling a diagram 
  6. Matching
  7. Classification

 

IELTS listening tips for preparation

The main point in the preparation for the IELTS Listening test is a practice which must be done regularly until you appear for the official IELTS test. It is always a good strategy to listen to English speakers as often as you can.

  1. You must watch TV programs in English, listen and translate English songs, watch YouTube videos which are in English and get to the meaning of the words.
  2. You should also practice with the help of IELTS Listening practice tests and analyse your mistakes and work on it well.
  3. You should also do different types of listening exercises for each Listening part. This way you will develop your own techniques and methods for answering various types of questions in this section.
  4. It is much more effective when you listen to general listening materials like radio reports, TV-shows, documental programs etc and only after that take IELTS Listening practice tests.
  5. Section 3 in the listening module is almost always about education and training such as a discussion on an assignment by students and a tutor. Learn all the vocabulary you can relate to it.

 

IELTS listening tips for the exam.

In the first two sections, you should focus on listening to the specific factual information and in the last two sections, in addition to factual information, you have to focus on the speaker’s attitude and opinions as well.

 

  1. Focus on the given questions and decide which type of word fits in each gap. It may be a noun, verb, adjective or adverb?  Use ‘N' for the noun, use 'V' for verbs etc. This will help you to pay attention to the specific word forms while listening.

 

  1. Try to get a proper idea of the situation while listening to the recording. Before starting each part, a short introduction will be given to you: 'Now, you will hear a dialogue between…' or 'you will hear a lecture on…' This information is not written on the question paper, so pay attention. Take note of who the speakers are, what are they speaking about, why are they speaking, where are they etc. This will help you understand the rest of the recording easily.

 

  1. You will hear the particular audio-only once. So if you did not hear some words or sentences and passed over some questions, then it is better to leave them blank and focus on the ongoing part. Review those questions at the end of the section, otherwise, you will miss more questions and get confused during the recording.

 

  1. Listen carefully to words which indicate something important to you, such as however, then, but, finally.They will help you to predict what the speaker is actually saying.

 

  1. A lot of students make this mistake, as soon as they hear the required information, they assume it as the correct answer. But sometimes this information is repeated or corrected further in the recording. For example:
    Sofia:Thank you! I have received your email. So it is loren-hanson@gmail.com.
    Annie: No-no! It is loren-hamson@gmail.com, spelt with M.
    Sofia: Oh, I am sorry…

 

  1. After each section, you will be given 30 seconds to check your answers. It is important to check spelling errors, plurals and word forms. Remember that only correctly written answers will award you points.

 

  1. You will not lose points for wrong answers, so even if you don't know the correct answer, it is better to answer something. Re-read the question and try to make a guess which you think is the most suitable one.

 

  1. At the end of this IELTS section, you will be given 10 minutes of time for transferring your answers into the given answer sheet. Sometimes test takers get confused in the numbering. So while writing the answer on the answer sheet, check that they fit into the correct numbered space. For example, make sure that the answer to question 6 goes into space number 6.

So, now you are totally informed about the Listening section of the IELTS and also we have mentioned all the tips and tricks you can take benefit of and crack the listening module well and score high.

BEST WISHES…!!!


Know the test tips and strategies

Finally, learn the exam tips and strategies and apply them to practice exams. This will help you learn how to manage your time and how to utilize it effectively to complete each section of the exam. Time management is one of the most important aspects when it comes down to tests. However, at the end of the day, it rests on your language skills the most.

Understand and analyze each module of the test thoroughly. For example, understand the IELTS reading Practice test – how many passages there are, how long they are, how many questions there are, the types of questions there are, etc. This will help you understand where you should be given more time, and where it should be less. When you have learned and answered every type of question, you will not be surprised on the test day with something new. Once you feel comfortable answering True, False, Not Given questions for example, then you will not be afraid of them when you see them on test day.

International English Language Testing System known as IELTS  is one of the world’s major recognized English language tests and is widely approved as proof of English language proficiency by over 9,000 organizations worldwide.

Since IELTS is a very popular test, it is suggested that candidates should book the test seat before the registration deadline. Please note, once all the test places have been assigned and the session is full, you will not be able to get a suitable IELTS exam date. Before that, here are some useful links about IELTS Exam:

Candidates looking for an IELTS exam date can read this article for clarity, as everything related to it is mentioned in detail below.

How to find the IELTS Exam Date?

IELTS exam dates can be scheduled 4 times a month. You can choose your IELTS exam dates and convenient test center on the IELTS website as well as the type of exam you want to take i.e IELTS Academic training or IELTS General Training. You will then see IELTS exam dates that are available according to you and click then fill out the application form.

Steps to Select IELTS Exam Dates and Location

Candidates who are looking to book their required test center and IELTS exam Dates are required to do the following:

  • Visit the IDP/British Council official website and click on Register
  • Click on ‘Find Test Date’ and enter in the month city and module of choice
  • You will be then redirected to the IELTS Application: Check Test Availability page
  • Candidates are required to select the desired date and click Apply 

There are 2 official bodies that conduct the IELTS Test. They are :

  1. The British Council.
  2. IDP Education.

 

Can I postpone the IELTS exam date?

Yes, the IELTS exam date can be postponed or canceled. Candidates can postpone or cancel the exam through email. However, Cancellation or rescheduling cannot be done through the telephone.

  • You will receive a refund of less than 25% of the administrative fee If you postpone or cancel your IELTS exam date prior to 5 weeks of the test date.
  • Candidates canceling the  IELTS exam date less than 5 weeks of the test date will not receive any refund.
  • Those who do not appear for the exam will also not receive any refund

Do we get text/practice books when we book the IELTS exam date?

The aspirants can prepare for the exam through self-study or by attending coaching for the test. Those who wish to prepare themselves can prepare from the best books and resources for IELTS. 

  • IELTS Exam date is arranged almost every week in different locations.
  • The last Registration time limit is 2 weeks before the IELTS exam date.
  • IELTS exam date is scheduled on Thursdays or Saturdays only.
  • British Council conducts IELTS Academic Test 48 days each year and the IELTS General test is arranged 24 days per year.

Important Points regarding the IELTS exam date are:

  • Candidates should register one month prior to secure their place on your preferred day at your chosen test center
  • Both IDP IELTS and the British Council IELTS offer the test on 48-fixed IELTS exam dates each year. The schedule for the whole year is available on the website.

International English Language Testing System known as IELTS is given by the candidate for international movement. Many people want to study or work abroad for which they are in a requirement of a good IELTS score. They want to appear for the IELTS test and score high points. But most of them don’t know how to do IELTS registration, so for them, this article will help throughout for IELTS registration process starting with which website until you receive an acknowledgment. IELTS registration is one of the most important steps in students' journey to study abroad. 

IELTS registration is the first step towards the application procedure of IELTS 2021. Applicants who are willing to appear for IELTS should fill out the IELTS application form online. While filling up the IELTS application form, candidates can select their IELTS test dates as well as the center in which they will be appearing for the IELTS test. The candidate must choose the exam most suitable date keeping in mind the application deadline of that particular university to where he/she has applied to. Applicants have to follow some simple steps in order to finish the IELTS registration process.

 

Before you start your IELTS registration process you need to make a few decisions regarding:

  • The version of the IELTS you wish to take - Academic or general version.
  • The format in which you wish to take - computer-based or paper-based.
  • For which organization do you want to take IELTS for the applied organization.
  • In which test center do you want to appear for the test may be nearest to you.


IELTS registration can be done by following the steps given below:

Step 1: Visit the British Council IELTS website.

Step 2: Click on the 'Register for Test' option.

Step 3: Select your preferred test (IELTS), Test Type (Academic and General), and available Test Date in the city.

Step 4: On the ‘personal details’  page fill in your personal information about your first name and last name, E-mail id, mobile number, date of birth. Mention your ID document name and its number(passport).

Step 5: On the ‘registration details’ page fill in the asked information about yourself properly.

Step 6: On the ‘document upload’ page, upload a scanned copy of all the pages of your passport. You have to take care of the format of the copy because it will accept only in the JPG, PNG, JPEG and PDF format. The maximum size of the file can be up to 1 MB.

Step 7: On the ‘RO details’ page you can mention the universities where you need to send your IELTS result.

Step 8: On the ‘Review’ page read all the information you have filled in once again before making payment and make sure everything is filled correctly.

Step 9: Make the payment as per your convenience method in the next step.

Step 10: Once the payment has been made. Candidates can take a printout of the acknowledgment receipt for the proof and here your IELTS registration process ends.

IELTS test is available on 48 fixed dates per year (up to four times a month), depending on the local demand. The candidates have the freedom of giving the exam on any of the 48 days in as per their convenience. IELTS registration can be done any time throughout the year. Apart from this, candidates can also reattempt the exam whenever they want. Also, there is no limit for giving the IELTS test, candidates can give the IELTS exam as many times as they want or till they reach their dream score.

If you have appeared for the computer-delivered IELTS test, you will get your IELTS result online within 5 to 7 days and if you have appeared for paper-based IELTS you have to wait for 13 calendar days to view your IELTS result online from the test date. IELTS result remains online for only  28 days. IELTS results are divided on the 9-levell IELTS band scores system, so there is no pass and fail system in it. Each institute or organization specifies its individual level of IELTS results to meet its individual requirement. The IELTS 9 scoring system reports the test scores of each candidate.

Requirements to view IELTS results

You will need your ID number, which must be the same as you used before while booking your IELTS TEST or passport, and your candidate number.


To check your IELTS Result follow the steps detailed below

  • Visit the official British Council IELTS website to check IELTS results online.
  • Next, you have to click on the ‘'Take an exam'’ option under which you have to click 'IELTS'’
  • Next, you will find an option of ‘'Your Results’', on the right-hand side of the page, click on it.
  • On the next page, you will have to select the '’Preview your IELTS result online'’ option. Before you click that, make sure you go through the information shared on the page.
  • When you click 'Preview your IELTS result online', you will have to fill in the details of the test date, date of birth, identification document number, and candidate number and then click on the ‘’Find’’ option.
  • As another option or possibility, you can prefer the other way: you can collect your IELTS result from the test center. You can check your IELTS result at the center itself by giving your password or ID number you used while registering for the exam.


IELTS Bands

The table below shows how IELTS result scores are calculated and converted into band scores.

IELTS Listening score

Correct AnswersScored Bands
13-154.5
16-175
18-225.5
23-256
26-296.5
30-317
32-347.5
35-368
37-388.5
39-409

IELTS Reading Academic Score

Correct AnswersScored Bands
13-144.5
15-185
19-225.5
23-266
27-296.5
30-327
33-347.5
35-368
37-388.5
39-409

IELTS General Reading

Correct AnswersScored Bands
19-224.5
23-265
27-295.5
31-326
32-336.5
34-357
367.5
37-388
398.5
409

The validity of IELTS results

The candidate who has received the IELTS result can use it for a period of 2 years after the test, as it expires after the given period and loses its validity.

Apply for a Re-score of your IELTS result

If you are not satisfied with the IELTS result you received, you can apply for a remark of your score using a service known as Enquiry on Results (EOR). It should be requested within six weeks of sitting your test, with your Test Centre. An Enquiry on Results (EOR) demands some inquiry fee, which is fully refunded if your band score of IELTS result changes. Your changed IELTS result will generally be available within 21 days, depending on numerous elements including the number of sections applied for re-marking.

To receive a copy of the IELTS results

After giving your  IELTS, you will be presented with your IELTS result in the Test Report Form (TRF). If this IELTS result is lost or damaged you have an option of replacement. To get a copy of your TRF, you will need to communicate with the center where you have given your test. You must request them in writing by providing a copy of the ID document you used on the test day. You can contact them for additional copies to be sent to recognizing institutions. For providing this service, your center may charge some administration fees.