Exams

IELTS 2019 Exam Pattern, Eligibility Criteria & IELTS Scale

August 31, 2019

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IELTS: An Overview

IELTS is a standard test that examines a person’s knowledge of English Language which helps in getting him/her an entry into any one of the International institutions abroad. This can be for educational/ employment or other such purposes. IELTS refers to International English Language Testing System which tests and then provides scores to the candidates taking the test which determines their eligibility for further admission in their desired school/college/company located abroad. IELTS has been going on since quite a long time now and has helped a number of candidates in fulfilling their dream of getting an entry into one of the best study spaces/ workplaces abroad. The test is conducted in around 40 locations in India and a good number of candidates actually opt for this test from India. IELTS 2019 will also be conducted all over India in these 40 locations. There are innumerable institutions which are authorised to function as the test centres and which also provide test training/coaching to people interested in moving abroad. IELTS is conducted every year and takes place in various stages. For those who are planning to take up the IELTS test presently should know the details of the eligibility and the test pattern also.

IELTS 2019 Eligibility Criteria

There are usually a large number of candidates interested in taking up the IELTS test as it offers a number of opportunities to all by moving abroad. In case of students, they can receive a quality education and for adults looking for good career options, there are a variety of options that offer a stable and lucrative career. Before you plan to initiate the preparation for IELTS, you should also know if you are eligible for it. IELTS is majorly applicable to UK/US/Canada/New Zealand/Australia.

A candidate who is of / above 16 years of age is eligible to apply and take the IELTS test.
A candidate should also possess a valid passport.

IELTS 2019 Test Pattern

While you plan to take up the IELTS test, it is extremely important that you gather some information about the test pattern and what all you actually need to prepare for qualifying the test. You should always be aware of the pattern of the exam as that will save enough of your time in the future and you can plan your preparation in the same manner. Note down few important points:

IELTS is of two types: IELTS Academic & IELTS General Training.
IELTS Academic is meant for those who wish to enrol themselves for an academic program in a country where most of the communication is done in English.

IELTS General Training is meant for those who wish to move abroad either for employment purposes/ training related to work or simply migrating to a country that is English speaking.
IELTS is held in two modes: Paper Based & Computer Based. The Paper Based Test (PBT) is conducted four times a month and Computer Based Test (CBT) is conducted on various dates every month. Candidates can choose their favourable option accordingly.

The exam pattern for both the types of IELTS test remains similar except in two tests the subject matter may vary. Let’s have a look at the IELTS exam pattern in detail.

IELTS Academic / General Training Exam Pattern

IELTS Academic/General Training Test
Test	Time Duration	Questions/Tasks	Marks
Listening	30 minutes (+10 mins transfer time)	40/6	40
Reading	60 minutes	40/11	40
Writing	60 minutes	2/2	–
Speaking	11-14 minutes Part 1: 4-5 mins Part 2: 3-4 mins Part 3: 4-5 mins	3 (Parts)	–

The tests/sections of Listening, Reading & Writing will be completed on the same day without any breaks but the test of Speaking can be completed upto a week before/after the remaining tests.
For the tests of Writing & Speaking, the scores are reported in whole or half ‘bands’.
The final evaluation / result is also converted and declared on a 9 bands scale. This implies that the final performance/result is determined in the form of a scale from 1 – 9.
All these bands (1-9) correspond to the respective feedback of the candidate.

IELTS Scale

Band Score	Skill Level
0	Test unattempted
1	Non-user : Unable to use language proficiently
2	Intermittent User: Difficulty in comprehending spoken and written English.
3	Extremely Limited User: Understanding of general meaning & not too fluent in communication.
4	Limited User: Not able to use complex language. Limited to comprehension in familiar situations.
5	Modest User: Partial command on language. Adept at basic communication.
6	Competent User: Good command of language. Can understand fairly complex language used in familiar situations.
7	Good User: Can use English Language well and comprehend complex language also except for a few occasional errors.
8	Very Good User: Complete operational knowledge and command over English Language. Effective communication. Occasional errors in unfamiliar situations.
9	Expert User: Complete command on the language.