IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills - listening, reading, writing and speaking - for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication.

Thousands of educational institutions, government agencies and professional organisations throughout the world recognise IELTS scores. To find out which organisations will recognise your IELTS score, use the online Global Recognition System (GRS) on IELTS website.

IELTS is available in two formats - Academic and General Training.

You should choose Academic test if you are planning to study in English at an undergraduate or postgraduate level.

General Training is suitable for candidates who are going to English speaking countries to undertake work experience or training programmes not at degree level, or for immigration purposes to Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The General Training module is not offered at all test administrations.

IELTS consists of four parts:

			Listening (approximately 30 minutes)
			Reading (1 hour)
			Writing (1 hour)
			Speaking (11 - 14 minutes)

The Speaking test involves having a conversation with a live examiner. It is personal, interactive and as close to a real life situation as a test can get.

IELTS uses a unique nine-point scoring system to measure and report test scores in a consistent manner - wherever and whenever the test is taken. The scores are recorded on a Test Report Form, showing overall ability as well as performance in listening, reading, writing and speaking. There are 9 bands ranging from Band 1 (absolute beginner) to Band 9 (expert-user). IELTS scores are valid for 2 years.

NEW: Half Band Scores for Writing and Speaking

From 1July 2007, the scores for the Writing and Speaking modules will be reported in whole or half-band in the same way as the Reading and Listening modules. The range of scores for each skill will be:
0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0

Your results will be released on the 13th calendar day after the test day. We will send you your Test Report Form (TRF) by registered post and further Test Report Forms to the institutions of your choice. Please note that we cannot give results over the telephone or by e-mail.

We will send up to 5 Test Report Forms to institutions free of charge provided that you indicate the contact details of receiving institutions on your application form before or on the test date. If you want to send your TRF to institutions after the test date, we will ask you to pay 20 Lt per one TRF.

550 Lt

If you want to postpone or cancel your entry for IELTS exam, a minimum of five weeks notice must be given; otherwise the full fee is forfeited.

If you are absent on the test day without prior notice, you will forfeit your full test fee. If a medical certificate is provided within a week of the test, then 90% (495 Lt) of the IELTS will be refunded.

Exams’ fees are revised annually.

To register for IELTS you should:

1. Fill in the Application Form. Instruction in Lithuanian will help you to complete the form.

2. Pay the IELTS fee of 550 Lt to the British Council's bank account

			Gavejas (Account holder):				Britu taryba
			Gavejo bankas (Bank):				AB bankas 'Hansabankas'
			Saskaita (Account No):				LT447300010002458602
			Imokos pavadinimas: (Details of payment):				Uz (vardas, pavarde, egzamino data) IELTS egzamina For (name, surname, exam date) IELTS exam)

3. Provide the following:

			A photocopy of your ID document: passport page or ID card. Driver’s licence, student cards or other documents are not acceptable. Please be aware that on the day of the test you are required to bring the same form of identity document you indicated on your application form. Candidates providing other forms of identity from the one indicated on the application form will not be allowed to sit the test.
			Two recent passport type photographs. They must not be more than six months old.
			Bank slip.

4. Meet the deadline for registration (5 weeks before the scheduled exam date). Entries after the 5 weeks deadline will only be accepted if places are still available.

You can send your IELTS registration documents to the British Council by post  to the following address:

Laima Augulyte
British Council
Jogailos 4
LT - 01116 Vilnius
Lithuania

Or you can bring registration documents and leave them in the post boxes just outside the British Council office. Please look to your right when facing transparent glass doors leading to the British Council. You will see two grey post boxes marked IELTS APPLICATIONS. Lift the lid of the box and put registration documents inside.

Please note that faxed or e-mailed application materials are not accepted.

You can repeat the test whenever you wish. If you have taken the IELTS test before, it is no longer necessary to include this information on your application form. However, if you prefer your previous test details to appear on your TRF, you should put this information on the application form.

Please note that IELTS scores are not substantially improved merely by taking the test on multiple occasions. It is necessary to engage in further study of a serious nature in order to significantly improve a test score.

Deadline for registration is 5 weeks before the test date. Entries after the 5 weeks deadline will only be accepted if places are still available.

If you want to postpone or cancel your IELTS exam, a minimum of five weeks notice must be given; otherwise the full fee is forfeited.

If you are absent on the test day without prior notice, you will forfeit your full test fee. If a medical certificate is provided within a week from the test date, then 90 % of the test fee (495 Lt) will be refunded.

You can purchase the IELTS Specimen Materials Handbook with a sample of the IELTS Listening Test on CD. The cost is 60 Lt per pack and should be paid to the British Council's bank account. These Specimen Materials are approved by British Council, Cambridge ESOL and IDP Education Australia: IELTS Australia.

You can also purchase IELTS preparation materials at the following bookshops in Vilnius:

'Akademine Knyga', Universiteto St 4, LT-01122. Telephone +37052661680; or
'Rotas', Pylimo St. 42, LT-01136; Telephone +37052124760

If you want to attend IELTS preparation courses, you can choose from the list of the Language schools.

IELTS is linked to the Council of Europe Framework (CEF), which means that IELTS holders can use it for professional and educational recognition in the European Union.

	Corresponding CEF Level IELTS Approximate Band Score C2 7.5+ C1 6.5/ 7.0 B2 5.0/ 5.5/ 6.0 B1 3.5/ 4.0/ 4.5 A2 3.0

Please note that we will be holding an IELTS exam in Minsk, Belarus, on 27 September 2008. The IELTS fee is 124 GBP. Registration deadline 20 August 2008. Both IELTS modules – Academic and General Training – are available on 27 September 2008.

Please register at:
Private educational institution Study Centre International House
Masherov Avenue 10-311
220005 Minsk
Belarus
Telephone +375 17 284 4130
E-mail marina@ih.by
www.ih.by

The next IELTS dates in Minsk are as follows: