What is IELTS and How Do You Prepare for it?

what is IELTS exactly and how do you prepare for it let's find out [Music] now if you are new to IELTS you may have a lot of questions about it who's it for uh what does it look like exactly how do I pass how do I prepare for IELTS how do I even book The Test these are all great questions I'm going to try and answer all of these questions and more in this short video so that you know whether IELTS is for you and if it is how to prepare the correct way right let's start at the beginning so IELTS stands for the international English language testing system and it's a test of English proficiency for people whose mother Tong is not English if you're watching this video that's probably you right who is IELTS for well if you want to study or work in an English-speaking country you'll probably need to show the university college or workplace that you have a good control of both spoken and written English right IELTS can do that for you it can show your control of English it is accepted by I think over 11 000 education training providers around the world including more than 3 000 from the United States likewise if you want to migrate to a country where English is the native language such as Canada Australia New Zealand the United Kingdom and the United States IELTS is one of the tests you can take to show that your English is good enough Keith do I need British English um for IELTS this is such a common question the simple answer is no right IELTS is owned by three partner organizations Cambridge English who write the test and IDP and the British Council Who deliver the test Cambridge English and the British Council are British IDP is an Australian organization that provides International Education Services interestingly many people wrongly think that IELTS is a test of British English it's not right the clue is in the name IELTS International English language testing system right it's International and that means therefore that when you're writing you can use American spelling or British spelling make sure make sure you choose one don't mix them choose one and stick with it in the speaking test you can speak with an American accent a British accent a local accent it doesn't matter in fact um accent is not evaluated in IELTS speaking pronunciation yes accent no if you want to find out more about the evaluation of IELTS speaking check out this video up here and also the listening test where you'll be tested on your ability to understand speakers of many countries like South Africa or Australia Ireland the United States and so on so it's very much an international test if like me now and again you're on Facebook or Instagram you may see this question everybody which is easier idb or the British Council now both organizations deliver the test but here's the thing Cambridge English write the test so it's the same test whether you go with IDP or British Council it doesn't matter it's the same test your result will be the same so neither are easier right it's not really even a question so what does the IELTS test look like well in fact the test has two modules right you can choose either the academic IELTS or the general IELTS which one is right for you well it depends the academic module is the suitable one if you're going to study abroad or in an English-speaking environment at undergraduate or postgraduate level it's also favored by many organizations for professional registration purposes so for example in the fields of medicine nursing accountancy if you're going to work as a professional in those fields you may need the IELTS academic the general module will be needed for those going to an English-speaking country to study below degree level so for example in secondary education for those who are going for work experience and also who need IELTS as part of a Visa requirement for migration to an English-speaking country so if you're going to migrate to Canada Australia New Zealand or the UK then you'll probably need the IELTS General module the important thing is right you must always always check with the University or the organization you're applying to which module you should take right these are guidelines but please always double check now the tests right needs to show that you can function well in English in a variety of academic work or life settings so each module both the general and the academic test 4 skills they test your reading your listening your writing and your speaking skills the academic module has a special different test for the reading and the writing because that's where the academic skills are shown more however the listening and the speaking is the same test for academic and general IELTS for the speaking test you will have an interview it's a face-to-face interview with an examiner a real person it may be sometimes by video conference but normally by in a face-to-face interview and it lasts about 11 to 14 minutes there are three different parts if you want to find out more about the speaking testing IELTS go and check out this video up here if you want to know more about the details of the test format for the four different skills go and check out the link in the description to below to find out more now where can you take the IELTS test well you can take IELTS with either IDP or the British Council in one of their test centers there are centers in over 120 countries around the world again you can find out where the nearest test center to you is by clicking on the link find the test center down in the description below or visit the ielts. org website you can take the test either on a computer or a paper based test right for both modules the reading listening and writing are done at a test center or a test venue taking a total of two and a half hours so your reading is one hour listening 30 minutes writing one hour and then the speaking test is done separately in the face-to-face interview normally taking 11 to 14 minutes as mentioned earlier sometimes the speaking test can also be a video conference for the paper-based tests you'll get your score after 13 days normally for the computer-based test it's quicker right three to five days which is better paper-based or computer-based it depends again it's the same test the reason you have two options is to make it fairer for you to choose the the way of doing the test most suitable so if you prefer to write with a pen or a pencil do the paper-based test if you're really comfortable typing and you prefer to type and work with a computer do the computer-based test at the end of the day it's the same test now in some countries now you can also take the IELTS academic test online in the comfort of your home the world is changing right this is only the academic test and only in certain countries again you could there's a link below you can find out more about it and the online test is the same test same format so it's the same preparation you just do it in the comfort of your home which can be much more practical and convenient foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] just to let you know the Keith speaking Academy that's me right is now an official IDP IELTS online affiliate so that means you can take the test by clicking on the link below the IELTS online this means that if you book via my link then IDP gives me a small commission but at the same cost to you right you don't pay anymore so just to let you know if you want to do that it helps me and it's a way for you to book the test check out the link below this is another common question by students you know what score do I need to pass IELTS first of all in IELTS there is no pass okay it's a proficiency test so basically you get a score from zero the lowest level up to band 9 the top level if you're familiar with the Cambridge levels of A1 A2 B1 B2 Cambridge have done a chart over here that compares them both the tests are different so it's difficult but more or less you can see here for example a a B1 would be around four to five in IELTS and at il-7 would be around a C1 IELTS 8 C2 as an approximation good so you may think well okay what score do I need to study abroad in the UK for example well I'm afraid it depends because IELTS doesn't decide each individual organization chooses the score that they will accept so a university in one city may say they require a seven for a subject but a university in a different city in the same country may say we will accept 6. 5 each University decides generally speaking an IELTS score between six and seven is accepted by most UK universities but it's really important that you contact the University or organization where you're going to study and check with them what their requirement is for you good let's move on right let's talk about preparing for IELTS so this is really really important and I'm going to say this at the beginning to be really clear your main goal should be to improve your overall level of English once you feel you're at the right level of English then and only then focus on exam technique and preparing for the test you can check your level of English by working with an IELTS tutor you can go to a platform like um cambly or IL italki and ask them to give you a mock test the big mistake that many students make is to take the test too early with too little preparation don't make that mistake for example a student may be at a level of English of a band five in IELTS and think well within a month I can get to band seven if I prepare well now in a month yes you can improve your exam technique but you cannot improve your overall level level of English not very much in a month unless you're studying maybe five hours a day Cambridge English who create the IELTS test experts in language learning they recommend about 200 hours of guided study to improve your English level by one level on the cefr for example let's go from A2 to B1 one level on the efr as we noticed earlier is more or less one band in IELTS more or less to give you an idea right so my suggestion is you take a general English course first to get up to the level you need and then focus on exam technique number two practice lots and lots and here if we're looking at exam technique especially for Reading Writing listening and speaking to understand the questions understand the types of questions and do lots of practice of past papers there are lots of good past papers on the IELTS website Cambridge English has some British Council has some on their take IELTS website all the links are down below go and do the past papers and practice Lots with those you can also buy the Cambridge books number one to 14.

there's really really useful number three do a speaking mock test so the practice papers are good but do a speaking mock test with an IELTS tutor you can go to many platforms such as italki Camberley prepley look for an IELTS tutor and ask them to give you a speaking mock test with feedback so you know where you are number four when it comes to getting information about the test trust the official sources go to the IELTS website ignore the social media the Facebook the Instagram and all the YouTube posts um you don't know what's true or false out there go to the official sites and I do understand the irony of me here on YouTube telling you to do that but seriously go and do that you can study on your own but I do think it's always a good idea to study with other people to share ideas share motivation and work with others number six again you can study by yourself on your own or you can follow a course um you can take if you're interested one of my Flagship courses for IELTS speaking IELTS speaking success get a band 7 plus gold within that you get all the language the strategies that you need you join a community of like-minded people going towards their IELTS goals together also on the Keith speaking Academy there we have a courses for IELTS academic reading and IELTS writing from fellow IELTS tutors Eli and Fiona you can go and check them out guess where in the links down below so you've done your preparation how do you register so when you are ready you've got the right level of English you've been preparing technique then you can register to take the exam you can register anytime but I suggest you get ready first there are over 16 000 test locations in over 140 countries around the world um you're looking for centers run by the IDP or the British Council you can find the nearest test center to you on the IELTS website then register and book your test again the links are down below by the way if you have any special requirements such as learning difficulties or visual difficulties or medical conditions you must tell the test center at least six weeks in advance okay don't turn up on the day and tell people because they won't have time to get ready for you some students do ask me you know I've got a stutter can I tell my speaking examiner on the day no you have to tell the test center in advance so they can evaluate your case and see if they can make special arrangements for you now on test day the big day the day you've been waiting for well what do you do first of all the day before rest well the IELTS test is a marathon right the reading the writing and the listening is two and a half hours all in one go and then you've got the speaking maybe on the same day maybe a different day but it's a really long test and you need to be fresh and focused so you can do the best that you can arrive early to the test center so you're not giving yourself extra stress if you can immerse yourself in some English or listen to some English or read some English half an hour before the test just to get you in the mood in the zone in your English frame of mind right do a bit of work on your mindset about being positive doing the best that you can my tips especially for people who are nervous about the speaking test is to think I'm going to enjoy this test strange but true just say to yourself I'm going to enjoy this test whatever happens and then go and do your best smile and enjoy it it'll make a big big difference most of all believe in yourself believe you've taken time you've done your preparation you're ready to go you're going to try your best and there's nothing more you can do the test and then after stop thinking relax and wait for the results and that's it so so listen if you are preparing for IELTS do go and check out the official websites for IELTS ielts. org IDP and the British Council and just to be clear I have no official connection with IELTS the British Council or Cambridge English I am an official affiliate for the IDP IELTS online but that's it this video is not endorsed by IELTS if you are looking especially for help with your IELTS speaking go and check out my website keithspeakingacademy.