Taking the IELTS test offers you much more than a paper certificate. As one of the world’s most popular and recognised English language tests, a good IELTS test score sets you apart and opens door to educational and employment opportunities.
While there is no pass or fail in the IETLS test, just like any other language test, it’s ideal for getting as high a score as possible. Naturally, the most efficient way to achieve that is through taking up English courses in Singapore. With accredited teachers proficient in helping you prepare for IELTS, you would be in safe hands. So If you are considering taking the IELTS test, here’s a quick overview of how the scores work and how to start preparing for it!
What’s on your IELTS score certificate?
You will find five different scores on your IELTS score certificate. The first four are your respective scores for the components of listening, reading, writing and speaking. Taking the average of these four scores, you’ll get the last and final score – your overall band score.
Each score is graded on a scale of 1-9, with all four scores holding the same weightage in the final score. As such, remember to do as much practice and preparation for each component! Apart from having equal weightage, you will be tasked to complete the reading, writing and listening tests all in one sitting. So it’s best to allocate equal amounts of time for each segment.
What can you expect in each of the test sections?
Don’t just study hard but study smart – here’s a quick breakdown of all the sections so you would know what to expect.
Writing
With the need to form your own argument, this comprehensive section will test your knowledge beyond English grammar and vocabulary. It requires you to organise your ideas in clear and fluent English and test how well you respond in the English language. So remember to break down the question and plan before you write!
Speaking
Through a face-to-face conversation with your examiner, there are three essential testing points. The first is an introduction: greet, introduce and converse on everyday topics. What your examiner will look out for is your ability to form opinions on ordinary experiences.
Then, you’ll progress to the second segment, which requires you to speak at length. And on what kind of topics? The examiner will let you know during the test, offering you about a minute to organise your ideas.
Lastly, the third segment takes the form of a discussion. You would be tasked to develop your ideas and express them with the appropriate grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.
Listening
What you’ll listen to extends from everyday social dialogues to academic conversations. The question types also range from diagram labelling to sentence completion. But, what you might find most tricky is the use of different accents in the recordings! Keep your ears peeled and remember to use the appropriate spelling and grammar when formulating your answers.
Reading
Whether you’re taking the IELTS General Training Reading Paper or IELTS Academic Reading Paper, there will be a range of texts prepared for you. With different writing styles curated for different audiences, you would be exposed to various texts – from advertisements to training materials.
Conclusion
Without a pass or fail result to the IELTS examination, is there then a minimum score? While there is no bare minimum, many top universities and international companies lookout for a score of at least 7, across all the individual segments.
And if you are learning English in Singapore, leverage on the different course offerings! Whether you prefer finding a community of learners in IELTS group classes or the one-on-one guided attention in private courses, English Explorer is here to cater to your individual learning needs. With the appropriate instruction, you will master the knowledge, fluency and confidence to score well on the IELTS test!
