IELTS
The IELTS exam is one of the most recognized tests for validating English as a foreign language. It is currently accepted by over 11,000 institutions, academic, governmental, and employers worldwide.
It is estimated that more than 3.5 million students take the IELTS annually. Its comprehensive and accurate ability to evaluate the four main skills – reading, speaking, writing, and listening – combined with its accessibility make it one of the preferred options worldwide.
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Everything You Need To Know About The IELTS
On this page, we bring you the 13 most frequently asked questions by all IELTS candidates. Discover the whole truth about the exam:
How to prepare for IELTS?
The IELTS Academic exam is a demanding test that evaluates a student’s English level in an academic context. There are many guides, applications, asynchronous training programs, low-cost courses, among other resources available.
At EPIC PREP, we recommend that you trust professionals who have gone through what you need and know how to achieve results quickly with guaranteed success. We suggest you click on the link, where we detail what a good IELTS preparation course should include.
Where can I register for IELTS Academic?
To register for the IELTS Academic, you can visit the following link. The registration for the IELTS must be done through the institutions that own the IELTS exam. When registering, you should follow the steps indicated in the URL we have left for you.
Before starting the IELTS registration, ask yourself the following questions: Which version of IELTS do you need (Academic, General, or UKIV)? Do you want to take it on paper or computer-based? At an official examination center or from home?
What are the different versions of IELTS?
IELTS has several versions: IELTS Academics and IELTS General Training are the main ones.
The IELTS Academic exam is specifically designed for people planning to study in an English-speaking environment or university, as well as those who need to take the exam for professional registration purposes. This exam measures your ability to use English in an academic context and includes vocabulary commonly found in academic environments.
The IELTS General Training exam is suitable for people who want to apply for study programs not required for a degree, as well as for obtaining work experience or other types of vocational training. Additionally, the IELTS General Training is a prerequisite for people migrating to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. The exam evaluates everyday English skills necessary in social and workplace environments.
There are 2 additional versions of IELTS that are aimed at specific niches: IELTS UK Visas (UKIV) and IELTS Life Skills for initial levels of learning.
Why choose IELTS?
IELTS, along with TOEFL, is the global standard for certifying a candidate’s English proficiency level. It is accepted globally in academic, professional, and governmental contexts. It has different versions depending on what you need to validate: Academic, General, and UKVI. You can take it from virtually anywhere since even in countries where the remote version is not available (such as Spain at the moment), there are multiple test centers in different cities.
In conclusion, it is fast in evaluation, accessible, universal, and suitable for any candidate level. Wherever you go, if you choose IELTS, you will be accepted.
If you need to prepare for IELTS, consult our courses, and you will see why we have been helping students like you achieve their results since 2010.
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How much does the IELTS cost, and how many times can I take it?
The price of the IELTS Academic starts at 227€. We say “starts” because some centers may slightly increase their fees. At the time of registering for the exam, and depending on the city in which you register, you will see what the final price of your IELTS is.
Currently, the IELTS can be taken:
- On paper in: A Coruña, Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Córdoba, Donostia, Elche, Jaén, Las Palmas, León, Madrid, Málaga, Oviedo, Palma de Mallorca, Pamplona, Santander, Santiago de Compostela, Tenerife, Valencia, Valladolid, Vigo, and Zaragoza.
- On a computer: Barcelona, Bilbao, Burgos, Madrid, Las Palmas, Sevilla, Valencia, and Santiago de Compostela.
How is the IELTS scored, and when do you receive your results?
Your IELTS score is the result of the average of the 4 sections of the exam (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking). All sections have the same weight in the calculation of your grade, and are scored between 0 and 9 points with variations of half a point. That is, your Writing score can be 6, 6.5, 7, etc. Your grade certificate details your total grade and each of the 4 parts.
Your grade is published in your IELTS account in 13 days if you take the exam on paper and in a period of 3 to 5 days if you take it on a computer. After 2 to 3 days of publication, you will receive your IELTS certificate by regular mail. On the other hand, remember that it is directly IELTS who shares your grades with the educational institutions that you request.
Do I have to go to the British Council to take the IELTS?
Yes and no. That is, if you take the IELTS in Spain, you must go to an official examination center. The British Council is one of them, but it is not the only one authorized for you to take the exam.
IELTS and the British Council usually go hand in hand because the institution for the dissemination and preservation of British culture is one of the owners of the IELTS exam along with IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
Which do I choose, IELTS or Cambridge?
The University of Cambridge has designed a pathway from the very early stages of learning English language to mastery level. Along this path, 3 exams are introduced to help advance and consolidate learning milestones. The journey is impeccable when the focus is on learning and time is not a limiting factor.
In contrast, IELTS does not aim to design a long-term pathway but to certify the level of a candidate at a particular moment in time. The same exam is suitable for all levels. It is fast in its processes and offers multiple dates so that you do not have to wait for specific moments as happens with Cambridge exams.
These are two exams that fulfill different functions. If you need speed and universality of acceptance, IELTS is a better option than Cambridge exams.
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Can I take the IELTS exam online?
The IELTS online test is an optimal option if you live far from an official examination center or if you are in a hurry to complete the exam. Unfortunately, not all countries offer this option. Here is a link for you to know which countries currently allow the possibility of taking the IELTS from home.
Do IELTS results expire?
It’s not that the exam expires per se, but the time conditions for your IELTS are set by the institution who asks you to present it. That is, your IELTS Academics score expires after 2 years because schools, Colleges and Universities require you to have taken the exam less than 2 years ago. The same applies to all other exams (First Certificate, Advanced, Proficiency, Lingua Skill, TOEFL, etc.) since the conditions are set by the institution that requires your score.
What adaptations does IELTS offer for students with disabilities and/or learning deficits?
IELTS adapts its exams for people with disabilities and/or attention deficits. As detailed on their website, they offer adaptations such as extra time for people with learning disabilities, documents in braille, audios with special pauses, cards with special characters or in braille for Speaking, etc. It is very important that if you need these adaptations, you communicate with the center where you will take the exam at least 6 weeks in advance.
How do I request an IELTS review?
If your IELTS score is not what you expected, you have the right to request a review of the results. You can choose a review of one or several sections and must do so through your IELTS account in the Results section. The process has a cost that will be refunded if IELTS considers your score to be incorrect.
Remember that you can take the exam as many times as you want. However, if your result was not as desired, we advise you to seek the help of professionals because it is very difficult to achieve significant improvements without notable changes in your preparation. Also, note that the One Skill option (taking only one of the sections) is not yet available in Europe. Here is a link to our IELTS courses in case you need help.
What is the structure of IELTS Academic?
IELTS has 4 parts to validate the 4 language skills. These parts are:
- IELTS Listening: It lasts for 30 minutes. During this time, you will listen to 4 recordings and answer questions about them. The first two audios are conversations in everyday settings, and the last two take place in an academic environment. During the listening test, you will be asked questions in different formats such as multiple-choice, matching items, filling in blanks, etc.
- IELTS Reading: It lasts for 60 minutes. During this time, you must answer 40 questions. The tasks to be completed are very diverse, such as multiple-choice, identifying relevant information, understanding the writer’s point of view, completing incomplete sentences, etc. The texts used are extracted from books, newspapers, and magazines and are written for non-professional audiences in the subject.
- IELTS Writing: It lasts for 60 minutes and is divided into 2 parts: task 1 and task 2. Task 1 consists of describing a graph, table, or diagram in your own words. Task 2 consists of writing an essay in response to an argument or external problem. In both tasks, the language used is formal.
- IELTS Speaking: It lasts for between 11 and 14 minutes. All Speaking tests are recorded in case there is disagreement in the evaluation criteria. It consists of 3 parts: The first one is about questions regarding personal topics (your house, family, work, studies, etc.). In the second part, you will be given a card in which you will be asked to speak on a topic. In the third part, you will be asked more questions about the topic presented in the previous part.
We hope that all your doubts about the exam have been answered. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any remaining questions about how to obtain the score you need on the IELTS.
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