The IELTS Preparatory Course or (International test of English as a Foreign Language) is an English proficiency test for non native English speakers. IELTS and TOEFL are the 2 major Tests for proficiency in English for non-native English Speakers. IELTS is a standard test for people visiting countries in the European Union, The US and Australia and New Zealand for academic and employment purpose.
Test bands:
The success of the test is measured in bands. To score more, you have to increase your test band score. Test bands vary from a scale of 0 to 9 where 0 means being absent for the test and 9 suggest expertise in the English Language. A high band score always suggests the knowledge and expertise that the user has over English as a foreign language. Some universities select students who score a higher band on the scale. Therefore it is essential to understand that the higher the band scores the better the chances of getting into the more exclusive colleges offering higher education. To enter a good university, you have to have a test band score of at least 6.5. The competition is stiff and it is difficult to get into universities because of a large number of students vying for limited seats. But with hard work and perseverance it is possible to crack the IELTS and get a good band score and make you eligible for higher education in the best universities
The IELTS test consists of 4 different sections. These are:
· Listening
· Reading
· Writing
· Speaking
The IELTS listening test takes about 30 minutes and the student is given 10 minutes extra to transfer the answers to the answer sheet.
The test has 4 sections with each section having 10 questions, total 40 questions for the listening section. The recordings will be in different accents, including British, North American and Australian. You will hear the recordings only once.
Here are a few tips to help you crack the Listening section of the IELTs exam without any problems:
· if you cannot hear the audio clearly, let a member of staff know straight away follow the instructions carefully
· Listen to the specific information you want
· Concentrate well on what is being said
· Be careful with spelling and grammar
· Do not panic if you find the topic difficult or if the speaker is fast
· Read, Write and Listen at the same time
· Pay Attention to the word limit
· Attempt all questions as there are no penalties for incorrect answers
· Check your answers thoroughly
