What is the IELTS exam?

IELTS test.

The full name is International English Language Testing System (IELTS), which is one of the famous international standardized English proficiency tests. The IELTS test was established in 1989 and is jointly managed by the British Council, Cambridge University Examinations Board and the Australian Institute for International Development (IDP).

It was jointly established in 1989 by the Australian Educational International Development Agency (IDP), the Cambridge University Examinations Board, and the British Council***. The University of Cambridge is responsible for the academic level and test content, while IDP and British Culture The association is responsible for conducting regular examinations around the world. Candidates can choose between academic tests (Category A, Academic) and training tests (Category G, General Training).

IELTS scores are accepted by the United Kingdom, Ireland, Commonwealth members such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa, as well as an increasing number of educational institutions and various professional organizations in the United States. Scores are valid for two years.

Features of IELTS

IELTS is an English language proficiency test for those who plan to study abroad or work in countries and regions where English is the language of communication.

IELTS combines the following features:

1. The IELTS test includes: English listening, speaking, reading and writing abilities.

2. The oral test will be conducted in the form of "everyone's dialogue", with candidates and examiners communicating one-to-one face-to-face.

3. A variety of accents and writing styles appear in writing. The purpose is to reduce the linguistic bias in the exam. The test focuses on international English, which is most obvious in the listening test. The accents in the listening test mainly include British accent, American accent, Australian accent and New Zealand accent. In contrast, the TOEFL pays more attention to North American English (American English). , Canadian English).

4. The IELTS test is developed by Cambridge Assessment English, which collects test materials from all over the world. Its teams are located in English-speaking countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

5. Each language skill has a corresponding score (listening, speaking, reading, writing). The total score ranges from 1 (no knowledge of English) to 9 (native language expert), with a score of 0 if you miss the exam, fail the test, or have your score revoked for cheating.

Extended information:

Scope of accreditation

As an international English test, IELTS has been approved by more than 10,000 institutions in more than 140 countries around the world as of 2017. recognized. Nowadays, whether you are studying abroad, immigrating, or working in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe, and Southeast Asia, IELTS is the best choice for international English tests.

1. The United States

In the United States, more than 3,300 colleges and universities have recognized IELTS scores, including all Ivy League schools and the world's top 100 American colleges and universities favored by Chinese students. . Some prestigious American schools and majors (such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) will expressly state in their admissions brochures that they “prefer IELTS scores” or “only accept IELTS scores.” As of 2017, there have been 200,000 instances of people in mainland China using IELTS scores to apply to American colleges and universities. ?

2. United Kingdom

The IELTS test is recognized by all British institutions. It is also the preferred choice for prestigious British schools to measure the English proficiency of applicants. It is also the designated test when applying for a British skilled immigrant visa. Proof of language proficiency, IELTS is a double insurance for British universities and visa applications. Whether you are applying to any school, major or vocational institution in the UK, IELTS is your choice.

3. Australia

Whether it is Australia or New Zealand, all local institutions 100% recognize and prefer IELTS. IELTS is also the first to be widely recognized for immigration or other non-immigrant applications in Australia and New Zealand. language test. The IELTS test has always been recognized in Australia and New Zealand unmatched by other exams. Therefore, the IELTS test is the best choice for studying, immigrating, and working in Australia and New Zealand.

4. Canada

The IELTS test is not only recognized and preferred by 100% of Canadian institutions, but is also used by the Canadian Immigration Bureau as an important proof of the English proficiency of its immigration applicants. In addition, IELTS is also the only language test recognized by the China-Canada Student Partnership Program (SPP) and the Study Implantation Program (SDS).

5. Hong Kong, China (region)

The IELTS test is widely recognized in Hong Kong. Many universities in Hong Kong sponsor recent graduates to take the IELTS test. In the comprehensive recruitment of Hong Kong government civil servants, the IELTS test has been used as a proof of English language proficiency for many years. At present, many companies in Hong Kong also require IELTS scores when recruiting.

6. China

In December 2016, the education ministers of China and the UK signed the "Sino-British Education Partnership Action Plan". The Examination Center of the Ministry of Education of China and the British Council will Cooperate to conduct research on the connection between the British English Test and the Chinese English Proficiency Scale.

After being aligned with the European Language Council's Reference Framework, IELTS and PELTS have become the first international English exams to conduct research on alignment with the Chinese English Proficiency Level Scale.

On January 15, 2019, the Examination Center of the Ministry of Education of China and the British Council jointly released the results of a study on the docking of IELTS, PELTS and the China English Proficiency Scale in Beijing, marking China's English language proficiency standards In line with international examinations, China-UK cooperation in education has entered a new stage.

The docking results present the critical scores for each skill and total score of IELTS and PELTS corresponding to the relevant levels of the China English Proficiency Scale. For example, if you score 5 points in IELTS listening, you will reach level 4 of the Chinese English Proficiency Scale; if you score 5.5 points in reading, you will reach level 5; if you score 6 points in speaking, you will reach level 6; if you get a total score of 8 points, you will reach level 8. Level etc. ?

7. Other countries and regions

In addition, IELTS is also recognized by many European and Southeast Asian countries, such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Malaysia, and Singapore , Czech Republic, etc., it is the most recognized English language proficiency certificate for English-taught programs in many local colleges and universities.

Reference materials: Baidu Encyclopedia-International English Language Testing System One-stop guide to studying abroad ing.com