IELTS Course - Academstar

What is IELTS?

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the world’s most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration, with over 3 million tests taken in the past year.

The IELTS test is trusted by over 11,000 organisations, including universities, professional bodies, employers and migration authorities.

Types of IELTS

IELTS Academic

To study at the undergraduate or postgraduate level
To join a professional organisation or registration in an English-speaking country.

IELTS General Training

To work or undertake work-related training in an English-speaking country.
To immigrate to an English-speaking country.
To study or train at below degree level.

IELTS Test Format

Listening

The IELTS Listening test evaluates various listening skills, including your ability to:

Understand main ideas and specific details.
Recognize speakers’ opinions, attitudes, and purposes.
Follow the progression of an argument.

Format	You will listen to four recordings featuring native English speakers and then respond to a series of questions. Recording 1: A conversation between two individuals in a common social setting. Recording 2: A monologue on a routine topic, such as a talk about local amenities. Recording 3: A conversation involving up to four people in an academic or training environment, such as a discussion between a university tutor and a student about an assignment. Recording 4: A monologue on an academic topic, such as a university lecture.
Duration	The IELTS Listening test lasts approximately 30 minutes, with an additional 10 minutes provided to transfer your answers from the question booklet to the answer sheet.
Number of questions	There are 40 questions in total.
Task types	A variety of question types are included, such as multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labeling, form/note/table/flow-chart/summary completion, and sentence completion.
Marks	Each correct answer earns one mark. The total score out of 40 is converted to the IELTS 9-band scale, and results are reported in both whole and half bands.

Reading

You will need to read quickly and efficiently while managing your time effectively during the IELTS Reading test. You will be required to read three passages and answer related questions. The content of the Reading test varies between the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training versions.

The IELTS Reading test evaluates a range of reading skills, including your ability to:

Grasp the overall meaning of a passage.
Identify main ideas.
Pay attention to details.
Understand inferences and implied meanings.
Recognize the writer’s opinions, attitudes, and purposes.
Follow the development of an argument.

Academic Reading

Format	You will read three long texts that range from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical. These texts are drawn from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers. While selected for a non-specialist audience, they are suitable for those preparing for university or professional registration.
Duration	The IELTS Reading test lasts approximately 60 minutes, which includes the time to transfer your answers from the question booklet to the answer sheet.
Number of questions	There are 40 questions in total.
Task types	You may be asked to fill in gaps in a text or table, match headings to text, diagrams, or charts, complete sentences, provide short answers to open-ended questions, or answer multiple-choice questions.
Marks	Each correct answer earns one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale and reported in whole and half bands.

General Training Reading

Format	You will read extracts from everyday sources, such as books, magazines, newspapers, notices, advertisements, company handbooks, and guidelines. These materials are commonly encountered in English-speaking environments.
Duration	The IELTS Reading test takes approximately 60 minutes, including time to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.
Number of questions	There are 40 questions in total.
Task types	You may be asked to fill in gaps in a text or table, match headings to text, diagrams, or charts, complete sentences, provide short answers to open-ended questions, or answer multiple-choice questions.
Marks	Each correct answer earns one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale and reported in whole and half bands.

Writing

The IELTS Writing test is designed to assess various writing skills, including your ability to:

Write responses appropriately.
Organize ideas effectively.
Use a range of vocabulary and grammar accurately.

Academic Writing

Format	In the IELTS Academic Writing test, you will need to write in a formal style. In Task 1, you will be presented with a graph, table, chart, or diagram and asked to describe, summarize, or explain the information in your own words. This could involve explaining data, describing stages of a process, explaining how something works, or detailing an object or event. In Task 2, you will write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem. The topics should be engaging and easy to comprehend.
Duration	The IELTS Writing test lasts for 60 minutes. Allocate 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 minutes for Task 2. You will need to manage your own time, so ensure that you move on to Task 2 after 20 minutes.
Number of questions	There are 2 questions in total.
Task types	There are two tasks: Task 1 and Task 2. You are required to write at least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2.
Marks	Your writing test will be assessed by a certified IELTS examiner. Task 2 carries twice as much weight as Task 1 in the IELTS Writing test. Scores are reported in whole and half bands

General Training Writing

Format	The topics in the IELTS General Training Writing test are of general interest. In Task 1, you will be given a situation and asked to write a letter to request information or explain the situation. You may write the letter in a personal, semi-formal, or formal style. In Task 2, you will write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem, and you may use a more personal style.
Duration	The IELTS Writing test takes 60 minutes. Allocate 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 minutes for Task 2. You will need to manage your time, so ensure you move on to Task 2 after 20 minutes.
Number of questions	There are 2 questions in total.
Task types	There are two tasks: Task 1 and Task 2. You are required to write at least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2.
Marks	Your writing test will be marked by a certified IELTS examiner. Task 2 carries twice as much weight as Task 1 in the IELTS Writing test. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.

Speaking

Video call Speaking test

Many IELTS test centres now offer the option to take the IELTS Speaking test via video call, providing greater flexibility and availability. The video call Speaking test will be conducted at an official IELTS test centre, ensuring the same high standards of identity verification as the in-person test.

The video call Speaking test is identical to the in-person version in every aspect, including content, scoring, timing, difficulty level, question format, and security protocols. Delivered by an IELTS Speaking Examiner, the video call format preserves the face-to-face interaction that is a key feature of the traditional Speaking test.