Test Day Information

IELTS



		How to Prepare for IELTS


		How to Register for IELTS


		Test Day Information


		Recognition of exams and certificates


		Frequently Asked Questions


		Special Needs

	Test Day Information

When you register to take an IELTS test you will receive a confirmation letter as well as an email giving you information about the test venue and starting time.

Arrival Time

The test starts punctually at 9am and you need to arrive at the latest by 8.30 am. If you arrive after the start of the test you will not be allowed to take the test .

ID Check

An ID Check will take place before you can enter the test room. You must bring along the ID (National Identity Card or Passport) that you stated in your application form. Driving licenses and student IDs are not acceptable proof of identity. Candidates without a valid ID will not be allowed to sit the test.

Materials allowed in the test room

			valid ID
			a pencil
			an eraser
			a bottle of water

You are not allowed to bring into the examination room any food, electronic devices e.g. mobile phones, electronic translators. If any of these items are found in your possession you will be disqualified.

Test

At 9am the test starts with a welcome and a short introduction from your supervisor.

Please note that there are no breaks between the first three parts of the test.

Test stages

Listening Test

			takes around 30 minutes plus 10 minutes for transferring answers to the answer sheet
			the text is recorded on a CD which contains all the instructions and necessary pauses
			the supervisor will conduct a sound check before beginning the test
			once the CD has started it can not be stopped for questions so please make sure you ask any relevant questions before the CD begins
			you must use a pencil and not a pen on the answer sheet

Reading Test

			takes 60 minutes and contains 3 sections of increasing difficulty
			regular time checks will be given by the supervisor
			please note there will be NO extra time to transfer answers to the answer sheet
			if you need to ask a question raise your hand and an invigilator will come to you
			you must use a pencil and not a pen on the answer sheet

Writing Test

			takes 60 minutes
			task one requires at least 150 words and should take about 20 minutes
			task two requires at least 250 words and should take about 40 minutes
			You must use your own ideas. You will lose marks for pre - prepared answers.
			You will lose marks for essays which are under the specified word count
			Regular time checks will be given by the supervisor

Speaking Test

			a face to face interview of 11 to 14 mins with a trained IELTS examiner
			you will need to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled interview time
			You will be asked to leave your personal belongings outside the exam room
			you will be asked to present your ID document to the IELTS examiner
			All tests are recorded for double marking purposes
			You will be asked to leave the test centre once your speaking test is over

Usually the speaking test takes place on the afternoon of the test day. However it can be also taken 7 days before or after that. We try to make this much shorter. Please be assured that we do our best to accommodate your needs and to ensure that candidates travelling long distances to the test venue are tested on the same day.

Here are some hints and tips that could help you:

		LISTENING

Read instructions carefully, don’t just glance at them. They are not always the same as in practise or previous tests.
Often the speaker will give you an answer and then correct themselves-watch out for this. It’s a common trick.
Try and anticipate what the speaker will say. This requires concentration-easy in your own language, but more difficult in English.
Remember if you want a high score you should aim to get all questions in parts one and two correct. Don’t make any careless mistakes in the easier sections.
Although there are not that many IELTS books on the market other Cambridge exam preparation materials can provide valuable practise such as FCE and CAE preparation books.
Small errors can lead to low score such as spelling, omitting 's' or incomplete times.
Don’t panic if you think the topic is too difficult or the speaker is too fast. Relax and tune in.
Read, write and listen at the same time. Tricky but practise!!
Don’t leave blanks, you might as well guess you won’t be penalised.

		READING

Leave a question if you can’t answer. To spend a long time on one answer is disastrous. Go back later if you have time and guess if you have to.
Don’t panic if you don’t know anything about the passage. All the answers are in the passage and you don’t need any specialist knowledge.
Remember you have no extra time to transfer your answers, many candidates think because they have extra time in listening they are able to do this in reading too. You can’t.
Before the exam read as widely as possible e.g. newspapers, magazines, journals. Don’t limit yourself to one type of text and read articles with an academic style where possible.
Look at ways paragraphs are organised.
Try and predict content of the paragraph from the opening sentence.
Give a paragraph you read an imaginary heading.
Don’t concentrate on words you don’t know. It is fatal and wastes valuable time.
Careless mistakes cost many marks. Copy the answer correctly if it is in the passage.
Check the spelling.
Only give one answer if that is all that’s needed.
Be careful with singular/plural.

		WRITING

Highlight/circle key words.
Clearly divide paragraphs.
Don’t repeat ideas in a different way.
Stick to the topic.
Careful with timing-don’t rush Task 2, it’s longer and carries more weight.
Paragraph simply with one idea in each paragraph.
Avoid informal language.
Learn to recognise how long 150 words is in your handwriting. You don’t really have time to count.
Get used to always spending several minutes re-reading and correcting your essays.
Don’t memorise model answers, they won’t fit the question and you will make more careless mistakes.

		SPEAKING

It tests your ability to communicate effectively not just your grammatical accuracy.
Don’t learn chunks of answers. The examiner is trained to spot this and will change the question.
Develop your answers as much as possible.
Speak more than the examiner.
Ask for clarification if necessary.
Remember it is not a test of knowledge and there is no single answer, but ensure that you give your opinion. Don’t worry if you feel it is not sophisticated enough.
The areas covered are fairly predictable and not infinite so practise at home recording ideas onto a tape recorder.