Today :21-05-2012
IELTS ZONE
What Is IELTS?
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a usual entrance requirement by British, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian universities and for secondary, vocational and training programs. IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication.
IELTS is designed to assess the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is used as the language of communication. Tests are administered at accredited Test Centers throughout the world - there are currently more than 300 Centers, in over 120 countries.
ACADEMIC AND GENERAL TRAINING CANDIDATES?
Candidates must select either the Academic or General Training Reading and Writing Modules depending on the stated requirement of their sponsor or receiving institution. The Academic Reading and Writing Modules assess whether a candidate is ready to study or train in the medium of English at an Undergraduate or Postgraduate level. The emphasis of General Training is on basic survival skills in a broad social and educational context. It is suitable for candidates who are going to English speaking countries to complete their Secondary Education, to undertake work experience or training programs not at degree level, or for immigration purposes.
All candidates are tested in listening, reading, writing and speaking. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Modules. There is a choice of Reading and Writing Modules. The first three modules - Listening, Reading and Writing must be completed in one day. The Speaking may be taken, at the discretion of the test center, on the same day or up to two days later. Candidates in some test centers are required to take additional pretest sections of up to 20 minutes. Performance on these pretests does not affect a candidate's results in any way but pre-testing is an essential part of IELTS question paper production.
IELTS Band Scales
This exam tests your ability to use English. Score in each of the subtests and an overall (average) score is recorded as levels of ability, called Bands. Highest : 9 bands for each of the four language macro skills - Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The above information is listed on the Test Report Form. The nine bands of language ability are described in general terms as follows:
Band 9 Expert User
Has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.
Band 8 Very Good User
Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.
Band 7 Good User
Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.
Band 6 Competent User
Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
Band 5 Modest User
Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.
Band 4 Limited User
Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.
and 3 Extremently Limited User
Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.
Band 2 Intermittent User
No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
Band 1 Non User
Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.
IELTS is designed to assess the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is used as the language of communication. Tests are administered at accredited Test Centers throughout the world - there are currently more than 300 Centers, in over 120 countries.
ACADEMIC AND GENERAL TRAINING CANDIDATES?
Candidates must select either the Academic or General Training Reading and Writing Modules depending on the stated requirement of their sponsor or receiving institution. The Academic Reading and Writing Modules assess whether a candidate is ready to study or train in the medium of English at an Undergraduate or Postgraduate level. The emphasis of General Training is on basic survival skills in a broad social and educational context. It is suitable for candidates who are going to English speaking countries to complete their Secondary Education, to undertake work experience or training programs not at degree level, or for immigration purposes.
All candidates are tested in listening, reading, writing and speaking. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Modules. There is a choice of Reading and Writing Modules. The first three modules - Listening, Reading and Writing must be completed in one day. The Speaking may be taken, at the discretion of the test center, on the same day or up to two days later. Candidates in some test centers are required to take additional pretest sections of up to 20 minutes. Performance on these pretests does not affect a candidate's results in any way but pre-testing is an essential part of IELTS question paper production.
IELTS Band Scales
This exam tests your ability to use English. Score in each of the subtests and an overall (average) score is recorded as levels of ability, called Bands. Highest : 9 bands for each of the four language macro skills - Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The above information is listed on the Test Report Form. The nine bands of language ability are described in general terms as follows:
Band 9 Expert User
Has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.
Band 8 Very Good User
Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.
Band 7 Good User
Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.
Band 6 Competent User
Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
Band 5 Modest User
Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.
Band 4 Limited User
Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.
and 3 Extremently Limited User
Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.
Band 2 Intermittent User
No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
Band 1 Non User
Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.