It's almost 2 years now.
Do you miss the airports?
With international borders slowly opening worldwide, it's no wonder why many people are heading to the immigration department to apply for a passport/renew their expired passports.
Do you know that having an IELTS certificate is equivalent to having a passport to unlock a new adventure, be it a new job application or an opportunity to further your studies overseas?
In this article, we will look at where the IELTS is recognized worldwide, dive deep into the marking scheme of the various components of IELTS and review what candidates should take note of when they're answering the questions of the test.
Where Is The IELTS Recognized And How Long Is The Validity Of The Test Results?
In 2019, more than 50% of Malaysian candidates manage to score Band 6 and above for their overall IELTS test.
This figure proves two important things.
Firstly, IELTS is a popular language proficiency test among Malaysians. Secondly, many Malaysian candidates were well equipped to score well for all the tested components in IELTS.
Now, let's take a look at where the IELTS is a well-recognized English language proficiency test, in terms of higher learning institutions, government organizations and professional bodies.
You can refer to the below list for some examples.
Universities/College (Malaysia)
- Universiti Sains Malaysia
- Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
- University of Malaya
- University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
- Heriot-Watt University Malaysia
- The University of Reading Malaysia and many more
Government Agencies & Organizations (Malaysia)
- Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Malaysia
- British High Commission - Kuala Lumpur
- High Commission of Canada in Malaysia
- Malaysian Rubber Board
- Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment Malaysia
- New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Malaysia
Universities/ Colleges (Global)
- Curtin University of Technology, Singapore
- Birmingham City University, United Kingdom
- Massey University, New Zealand
- Monash University Australia
- McGill University Canada and many more
Professional Bodies (Global)
- CPA Singapore
- Singapore Medical Council
- Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership
- British Acupuncture Council (BAcC)
- Medical Council of Ireland
Source: Xframe
Important note: Your IELTS results are valid for only 2 years. Hence, it is advisable to plan an organized timeline (study and revision, test registration, job/ university application) within this timeframe so that you will not waste your time and money to resit them.
Be sure to explore these practical tips to score for your IELTS Academic papers.
What Is The Scoring And General Descriptors For The IELTS Band Scores?
There are two ways that you can sit for your IELTS test. You can either opt for a paper-based test or a computer-delivered test. The same applies to the IELTS General Training Paper and IELTS Academic Paper.
Do take note that the results of paper-based tests will normally be released approximately after two weeks while the results of the computer-delivered tests will take roughly three to five days to be released.
The scoring and general descriptors are the same for both types of IELTS papers. Before you register for the test, be sure to check the relevant institutions (education institutions/organizations) for their minimum IELTS requirements to know what to aim for.
For example, the University of Reading Malaysia requires its students to have an IELTS Band 6.5 with no component below 5.5 or equivalent. This means you need to at least score band 5.5 for your reading, speaking, listening and writing components (Your final IELTS band is the average).
| IELTS Band Scores | Skill Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Expert user | Has full operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding. |
| 8 | Very good user | Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well. |
| 7 | Good user | Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriateness and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning. |
| 6 | Competent user | Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations. |
| 5 | Modest user | Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field. |
| 4 | Limited user | Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language. |
| 3 | Extremely limited user | Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur. |
| 2 | Intermittent user | No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English. |
| 1 | Non user | Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words. |
| 0 | Did not attempt the test | No assessable information provided at all. |
What Is The Grading Method For Listening And Reading Components?
After reviewing the IELTS band scores, it's now time to look at how you can score well for the tested components.
Listening and Reading
For the listening test, it is the same for both the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training tests. Candidates will be tested on the following criteria:
- Accuracy of keywords listed
- Picking the right option based on the passage
Candidates will need to answer 40 questions based on various conversations and monologues about different settings. To get at least a band 6 for your listening component, you need to answer 23 out of 40 questions correctly.
Photo by Dillon Shook on Unsplash
For the reading test, the scope of questions is different from the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training tests.
The IELTS Academic reading passages are more complex and longer. The chosen passages are usually taken from textbooks, newspapers and magazines excerpt. The topics are familiar to students who are preparing to enter university.
On the other hand, the IELTS General Training reading passages revolve around the workplace and simpler topics. The passages are usually taken from working letters, corporate brochures or advertisements.
However, do take note that the number of questions (40 questions), test duration (60 minutes) and marking method (correct and direct answers from the answer guide) remain the same. Candidates have to write their complete answers on the provided answer sheet.
Read this article to learn more about the overall format of the IELTS test.
What Is The Marking Criteria For The Writing And Speaking Components?
Now, let's take a look at the marking scheme for the writing and speaking papers for the IELTS test.
Writing
For the writing test of IELTS Academic test, candidates will have two writing tasks. The first task is a 150-word report based on a given table, diagram or illustrations.
For the writing test of IELTS General Training test, candidates are required to write a 150-word formal or informal letter based on the given situation.
Candidates will be graded based on the following points:
- Fulfilment of task
- Coherence and cohesion
- Sentence structure and vocabulary
The second task for both IELTS Academic and General Training tests is a 250-word essay based on an opinion and problem (stating position). Candidates will be evaluated based on the following schemes:
- Presentation of arguments, ideas and evidence
- Structure and communicative quality
- Sentence structure and vocabulary
Speaking
The speaking test is the same for both the IELTS Academic and General Training tests. Throughout the three parts of the test, candidates will be tested on the following requirements:
- Fluency and Coherence [Your talking speed without long pauses and the ability to link sentences]
- Lexical Resource [Presentation of a wide range of vocabulary in an accurate manner]
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy [Correct and precise sentence structures]
- Pronunciation [Natural sound so that the examiner can understand you all the time]
Find out what it takes to ace your IELTS General Training papers.
What Are Some Common Challenges That Candidates Face For Different Components In Their IELTS Test And How To Overcome Them?
Apart from identifying the grading scheme of the tested IELTS components, it would also give you the extra boost if you know what are the common challenges that candidates usually encounter during their preparation for the tests.
Fret not, we got you covered with the following comprehensive lists:
Listening Test
- Candidates do not know the words/terms that they heard in the audio recordings.
- Candidates lose concentration in between and could not recall what has been mentioned (since the recording is only played once)
- Candidates are not used to the accents of the native speakers in the audio recordings.
Reading Test
- Candidates are not used to the length of the passages (especially the IELTS Academic Test).
- Candidates take a long time to finish reading the passages.
- Candidates struggle to understand the vocabulary of the passages and questions.
Writing Test
- Candidates are unsure of the various formats for the given tasks (report/letter).
- Candidates face difficulty interpreting the given graphs, tables and illustrations for Task 1 (IELTS Academic)
- Candidates are unsure of which position (agree/disagree) to write about for Task 2.
Speaking Test
- Candidates have concerns over their pronunciation and grammar.
- Candidates' answers lack order and structure during the Q and A sessions.
- Candidates are too nervous and speak too little during the three parts of the session (a passive stance).
Source: Xframe
When you're aware of these challenges, you can then be more well prepared to score well for the specific components.
Well, what if we tell you you don't have to do it all alone?
With the help of a Superprof English tutor, you can have a personalised and effective preparation process to ace your IELTS with flying colours!
At Superprof, you can experience a flexible learning experience (online lessons/face-to-face lessons), connect with an English tutor with many years of teaching experience, and learn from a tutor who is well versed with the syllabus and grading scheme of IELTS!
It's also super easy to find your perfect tutor that matches all your preferences and needs with a user-friendly and amazing filtering system at Superprof!
All you need to do is just key in "English" and your current location in the search box of the Superprof Malaysia homepage.
After that, you can then filter your tutor search according to your maximum budget of the hourly tutoring rate, your current learning level and others. For example, if you have set the maximum budget of your hourly rate as RM50 per hour, you will only be directed to Superprof English tutors that offer their lessons within that range.
You can then proceed to review the other information that is listed in the tutors' profiles and if you're satisfied with them, you can contact them via an affordable Student Subscription Pass! The tutor will then be in touch with you soon to discuss the details of your IELTS lessons.
We're pretty sure you have gained a better and clearer understanding of the IELTS test. All the best in this journey of obtaining your IELTS "passport"! It will certainly lead you to a wonderful and endless journey of opportunities and memories!
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