Home > Exams> IELTS> How to prepare for IELTS
We have free Top Tips for IELTS presentations scheduled for British Council registered candidates interested in preparing for and taking the IELTS Exam. This free 90-minute session will give you the answers you need to get started, including:
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why take IELTS? |
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what's in the test? |
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is my English good enough? |
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how can I get the score I need? |
We are also happy to answer any other IELTS-related questions you may have.
Upcoming Sessions
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COLOMBO |
KANDY |
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May
June
Thursday 7 June
Thursday 21 June |
May
Tuesday 29 May
June
Tuesday 19 June
July
Tuesday 10 July
Tuesday 24 July August
Tuesday 14 August
Tuesday 21 August
September
Tuesday 11 September
October
Tuesday 2 October
Tuesday 16 October
Tuesday 30 October
November
Tuesday 6 November
Tuesday 27 November |
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| WHERE |
British Council hall, Colombo |
British Council hall, Kandy |
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| TIME |
Unless specified above:
Weekdays - from 1730 to 1900
Sundays - from 1430 to 1630 |
1030 to 1300 |
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| ADMISSION |
A limited number of passes are available on a first-come first-served basis from our Examination Services counter from Tuesday to Saturday between 0900 and 1800. You can also register online and reserve your place. * This service is available for the candidates registered with the British Council only. |
A limited number of passes are available on a first-come first-served basis from our Examination Services counter from Tuesday to Saturday between 0900 and 1800. You can also register online and reserve your place. * This service is available for the candidates registered with the British Council only. |
Our one-day workshops will give you a broad overview of the exam so you can manage your IELTS preparation. You will look at sample questions from each of the four IELTS papers - speaking, reading, writing and listening - and pick up a number of practical hints and tips.
Workshops are held usually once a month on a Sunday in Colombo.
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| WHEN |
Sunday 17 June |
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| WHERE |
Teaching Centre
British Council
Colombo |
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| TIME |
from 0900 to 1600 |
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| FEE |
Rs. 6,400/- |
The Express Course offers 25 hours of intense preparation for either the General Training or Academic module of the IELTS exams. You will find out about IELTS and receive advice on how to maximise performance. READ MORE 
Our 50-hour Preparation Course offers you the best way of improving your score. You will develop your English skills and knowledge while acquiring effective exam techniques.
READ MORE
In addition, there are these exclusive offers for British Council IELTS registered candidates:
Feedback on speaking/writing tests, provided by real IELTS examiners
We can arrange for a mock speaking or written test. You will not receive a Band score as this is not allowed under IELTS regulations. However, the examining team will comment on your performance and let you know what areas need improvement. For more guidance write to: IELTSmarkingSL@britishcouncil.org
Practice materials
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IELTS practice book with listening CD
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free for candidates registered with the British Council |
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Mock speaking / writing tests |
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Rs 1,300 |
English Learning Zone
If you register for an IELTS test at the British Council, you will be able to use the IELTS preparation materials free of charge in the English Learning Zone of our library which is now open for IELTS candidates on the following days:
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Colombo |
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Tuesday to Sunday |
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Kandy |
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Tuesday to Saturday |
In the English Learning Zone we provide a self-study guide, which will help you plan a program specific to your needs. READ MORE
When marking the Writing and Speaking sub-tests, examiners use detailed performance descriptors which describe written and spoken performance at each of the 9 IELTS bands.
Writing
Examiners award a band score for each of four criterion areas: Task Achievement (for Task 1), Task Response (for Task 2), Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. The four criteria are equally weighted.
Speaking
Examiners award a band score for each of four criterion areas: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy and Pronunciation. The four criteria are equally weighted.
Versions of the band descriptors for Writing and Speaking have been developed to help stakeholders better understand the level of performance required to attain a particular band score in each of the criterion areas. IELTS examiners undergo intensive face to face training and standardisation to ensure that they can apply the descriptors in a valid and reliable manner.
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view a version of the descriptors for Speaking |
(source: www.britishcouncil.org/takeielts)
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A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO ALL IELTS CANDIDATES
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Please be aware of institutions or individuals who offer fake IELTS results certificates to you. By accepting such offers, you will put your future and money at risk. Anyone attempting to submit fake IELTS certificates or results will be caught by online verification systems. Offenders will face severe penalties such as a ten year ban for visas to certain countries. For your own safety, please report any IELTS scams or any such suspicious activities to security.lkexams@britishcouncil.org. |
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