IELTS
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a relatively new and quickly growing in popularity exam which certifies the level of English language proficiency appropriate for higher education or migration. Having developed into a global leader despite its short 20-year existence, IELTS enjoys over a million annual candidate numbers and is accepted by over 6,000 organisations worldwide, including the eight most prestigious institutions of higher education in the North-eastern United States, known as the Ivy League.
IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. This exam is the right choice in generally two cases, which defines the two different modules you can sit: Academic format and General Training format. On the one hand, if you intend to study or train in the medium of English in another country, IELTS is trusted and recognised by education institutions all over the world, so choose the Academic format; on the other hand, IELTS is required as proof of your language abilities for gaining professional experience or simply for migration to Australia, New Zealand and Canada – if that is your case, choose the General Training Test Module.
Test format:
The test consists of four parts:
- Listening (30 minutes);
- Reading (1 hour);
- Writing (1 hour);
- Speaking (14 minutes).
The differences between the Academic and General Training modules are in the Reading and Writing papers. The Academic Reading and Writing modules assess whether a candidate is ready for instruction in English at an undergraduate or postgraduate level. The General Training Reading and Writing modules emphasise basic survival skills in a broad social context. Please check the requirements of the receiving organisation before deciding whether the Academic or General Training module would suit you best.
The possible dates to sit the Reading, Writing and Listening components of the test are fixed. For Bulgaria there is usually one date a month. The fourth component (Speaking) may be taken up to seven days before or after the date of the other three papers. The registration for each session closes five weeks before the test date. There are no pass or fail grades in IELTS. The scores fall within a 1 to 9 band scale, each band corresponding to a level of English competence. You are given a score for each part of the test (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking) as well as an Overall Band Score. The scores can be reported in whole and half bands – for example, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, etc. The exam results (the so called IELTS Test Report Form) can be accessed online on the 13th day after the test date and are valid for a period of two years.
