IELTS Validity- a Detailed Overview
In this article, you will learn about
- What is the IELTS score validity?
- IELTS validity duration for different countries
- IELTS score acceptability
- Which country is best for study in 2023?
- Types of IELTS: Academic and General Training
- Four modules of IELTS test (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking)
- IELTS Bands score
What is the IELTS score validity?
IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. This test is designed for those people who want to go to any foreign country for study, work and migration. This test is taken under British Council, IDP, IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English, and was established in 1989.
As far as the IELTS validity is concerned, it is valid for two years.
IELTS validity duration for different countries
IELTS Academic and General Training (GT) score validity is two years across the world. The Validity of UK (United Kingdom) is also two years, but Australia has extended validity score for 3 years for immigrants, students and job applicants.
It will be easy for you to understand the IELTS validity for different countries by taking help from this table. Let us discuss validity duration of these countries in detail:
IELTS score validity
Which country is best for study in 2023?
UK (United Kingdom) is the best country for higher studies in 2023, because UK universities are included in top of the world universities. These Universities give you more experience and high level of education. Next comes the number of America.
IELTS Score scale
There is total 9 bands of IELTS test which are given below in this IELTS score table shared by IELTS body:
Types of IELTS
There are two types of IELTS (Academic and General). Depending on the purpose to move on any foreign country, candidates are divided into two main types.
Let us discuss these two types in detail:
IELTS Academic Test
In this test, your abilities of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills are assessed properly. Actually, Speaking and listening tests are same for both (General& Academic) candidates. Listening, reading and writing modules are taken on the same day, one after the other with no breaks in between, while speaking may be on that day, before the test day or after the test day.
IELTS speaking test (same for both)
There are mainly 3 parts of IELTS speaking test. These are:
IELTS speaking part 1
IELTS speaking part 2
IELTS speaking part 3
IELTS speaking part 1
In this part, the examiner asks you very short and simple questions about your daily routine; such as your name, home town, job or education, family, hobbies and your interests etc.
Basically, in this part, the examiner asks you 8 to 10 questions consuming 4 to 5 minutes.
IELTS speaking part 2
In part 2, you are given one minute to prepare the outline of cue card. You are given one pencil and paper for this test; because of this process, this part is also called ‘cue card’.
Most of the topics of cue cards are related to your personal life or some social happening, which happened in your life. You have to speak 2 minutes for this part of IELTS speaking test.
IELTS speaking part 3
In this last part of speaking test, the examiner asks you more questions that are related to the part 2, known as follow up questions. IELTS speaking Part 3 requires you to answer the examiner’s questions in detail.
Actually, speaking test is a two-way process where your examiner asks questions and you are to give acceptable answers to him. In this test, your examiner controls your time length when you speak. IELTS speaking part three is of 4 to 5 minutes.
The most important tips regarding speaking test are to use synonyms, natural and comfortable style of speaking, advance vocabulary, complex structures, right pronunciation and sentence stress patterns.
IELTS listening (same for both)
This listening test is also same for both candidates (Academic & General). You are asked 40 questions in listening test. You need to listen to the recordings carefully, because it will not be possible for you to listen to these recordings a second time.
The practical tip regarding listening module is that you should read the questions and underline the important key points on the question paper of listening. During listening, be careful, as synonyms will be used. So, cautious approach is quite supportive in this module.
The most challenging thing in listening is MCQs. So, when some respites are given to you for reading questions, use them actively to pick up as many key words as are possible to perform best in the listening section.
Keep this thing in your mind that you will have to listen to these four recordings at once without any break.
IELTS Academic Reading
In this module, you are given three sections for reading and you need to find out its accurate answers just in one hour. The most significant point to remember is that you are to transfer the answers to the answer sheet in this hour.
The best way to perform extra ordinary in the reading module is to attempt one section and transfer the answers to the answer sheet. Repeat this activity with the second and third sections to avoid any embarrassment.
This test is approximately similar for both (general& academic) candidates. But general test is easier than academic test.
Moreover, these 3 readings paragraphs are very long and can be descriptive, analytical and factual based. These paragraphs are taken from journals, magazines, research work or newspapers.
IELTS Writing test
This test is based on formal and academic writing consisting of 2 tasks.
Let us discuss these 2 tasks in detail:
IELTS Academic writing task 1
In IELTS academic task 1, you are to write about graphs, charts, maps, processes etc. In the start, you are to paraphrase the topic, and then write the overall summary of the given task. After that you elaborate the rest of the task by using proper connectors to infuse cohesion and coherence in the writing task 1.
IELTS Academic writing task 2
IELTS writing task 2 is same for both candidates (Academic& General). Academic writing task 2 is a formal essay where you are to write at least 250 words within 4 – 5 paragraphs. Your writing task will be assessed on the basis of vocabulary, grammar (compound and complex structures), cohesion & coherence and task response.
IELTS General Test
IELTS test is divided into two types, Academic and General. IELTS general training test is for those people who want to go to any foreign country for job or permanent residence. The main focus of this test is to asses and know about your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.
Speaking and listening are the same for both candidates (Academic& General). But reading and writing test are different for both. Reading is easy as compared to academic reading. As far as writing is concerned, task 1 is informal letter writing, while in academic IELTS, it is elaboration of graph, chart, diagram, process or table etc.
Let us discuss them one by one:
IELTS Reading
There are three sections of IELTS general training test. These three sections are easier than academic test. These 3 sections are not too long and are based on factual rather than descriptive.
Let us discuss these 3 sections of IELTS general training test in detail:
General Reading Section 1
The section 1 contains of one, two and three text passages which can be related about your life and daily routine.
For example
Sports center facilities, an advertisement for a hotel or online educational courses etc.
General Reading Section 2
This section contains more than one text paragraphs and is often related to your job, pay scheme, machinery, instructions or work conditions.
General Reading Section 3
Reading Section 3 is harder and longer as compared to other two reading sections.
IELTS writing for General
IELTS general writing test consists of 2 tasks which are task 1 and task 2. These topics in both writing tasks are related to the general interest.
Writing Task 1
Task one requires you to write a letter (formal or informal) based on any given situation. In task 1, you are recommended to spend 20 minutes for writing 150 words.
Writing Task 2
In task two, you are to write an essay where you express your opinion on a particular situation. In task two, you have to spend 40 minutes to write 250 words in writing task 2.
After teaching thousands of IELTS students, I have come to the conclusion that you should save at least 5 to 10 minutes to revise the task1 and task 2.
