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Young World
Testing your mettle
AJAY REDDY
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Would you like to study in the U.K., Australia or New Zealand? Then you have to do the IELTS.
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To study in the U.K., Australia and New Zealand you would have to do the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test. It is increasingly recognised as an alternative to TOEFL by many universities in Canada and the U.S. This two hour 45 minute test has four components: listening, reading, writing and speaking.
Candidates intending to take up higher education must select the academic module, whereas a person seeking to migrate will have to choose the general module.
The listening sections are the same in both modules. Listening consists of four sections with 40 questions that need to be answered in 30 minutes. The module is recorded on tape and is heard only once.
The academic reading and general reading parts have three sections consisting of 40 questions, which have to be answered in 60 minutes.
The writing section follows this. The academic and general writing sections have two tasks each and have to be completed in 60 minutes. The first task usually is representing a solution to a given problem or to represent the given diagram accurately in words . Providing factual information is important.
The last part of the test is speaking. In this section each candidate is allotted a time and has to face questions by the examiner which is taped.
The IELTS test score is valid for 24 months and the test can be repeated only after three months. The University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), British Council and IDP Education Australia own the test. In India, the test is administered by the British Council and more recently by IDP Education, Australia.
Since July 2001, IELTS has been made a mandatory requirement for Indian students who apply for student visas to Australia. The test costs Rs.5000. The marks are sent in 10 to 12 days. The exam dates are flexible and usually test dates are available at least once a month. The British Council provides the study material when one registers and it includes a cassette.
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