What Does The IELTS Test Include?
The International English Language Test consists of four general and academic training modules which include;
1. Writing
The writing module consists of two questions in total. Task one is based on a formal letter and task two is an essay of about a hundred and fifty words.
The time provided to complete this section of the entire test is an hour i.e. sixty minutes. The letter, as well as the essay, must be written formally otherwise the score band marked will be very low.
Both the tasks assess your ability to write formal letters in the English language and your ability to be able to explain your point of view on a particular subject matter or argument.
The IELTS test has two formats. One is an academic test for students who want to go overseas for higher education.
The other format is called the general training test which is for people who want to work jobs in Australia or are applying for permanent residence.
2. Reading
The reading module comprises of three sections. Each section has texts of different lengths that you have to read. There is a total of forty questions that you will answer in different task forms such as multiple choice questions, matching, etc. and each question is worth one mark.
The three sections basically evaluate and test your reading abilities and the three sections are divided as social survival, workplace survival and general reading.
The total time given to complete this module is an hour as well i.e. sixty minutes with no extra time or transfer minutes.
3. Listening
The listening test consists of 40 questions and each question is worth one mark. The total time to complete the listening module is approximately half an hour i.e. thirty minutes.
In the test, four recordings of different native speakers in different situations are played. This test will determine your listening power and how much you can gather from each one of the four recordings.
4. Speaking
The speaking module is an oral interview that will be scheduled after the rest of the three modules of the International English Language Test System.
The speaking test is taken by the certified native English speakers. The speaking module is divided into three parts.
There will be questions asked about regular topics that you are familiar with such as work, home, family, interests, and studies.
The next part is about giving a little speech or your views o the topic that is mentioned on the given card. The interviewer can ask you several questions about the subject and you have to answer them orally.
The third part is similar to part two as well. The interview or the speaking test can last up to eleven to fourteen minutes but it also depends on how quick you can be in the interview.
What Score Is Required For Immigration In 2021?
After completing the entire test, the professionals and certified checkers will grade each module with a band score out of 9.
According to the year 2017, the eligibility score was 6 for each module however according to the year 2018, the eligibility score was increased up to 7 bands in each module which will later determine the final score of your IELTS test that must be no less than 7.
Your test score stays eligible for two years, however, sometimes it can be accepted by different bodies for up to three years as well.
The total time for IELTS test is two hours and forty-five minutes whether it is an academic test or a general training test.
Is Immigration To Other Countries Possible Through IELTS?
The answer to this is absolutely a yes. International English Literature Test System is accepted by a lot of countries besides the U.S. including Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
These countries have the English language as the language used for communication which is why over 90,000 organizations all across these countries accept IELTS as the correct test system for your English language proficiency.
This test does not only help the governments of these countries determine the eligibility of people who want to study as students in the institutes of their country but also recognizes the proficiency of people who want to permanently reside, stay and work in their country.
There are institutions that generally specify what type of IELTS test is required for the person who wants to migrate to each of these countries as there are three types of IELTS test such as academic test, general training test, and the life skill test.
If you want to migrate to these countries for education and work purposes, you will need to clear the academic IELTS test.
Should You Take The Academic Or General Training Test For Immigration?
If you want to live permanently in one of these countries, you might be required to clear a different type of IELTS test.
However, it is true that all of these countries have their particular standard and rules for the IELTS test except for the basics which stays the same.
For example the four modules; reading, writing, listening and speaking.
The right type of the IELTS test you must clear is determined by the requirements of the institute you wish to work or study for as well as your visa requirements.
The two types of IELTS test include the four same modules but the only difference is that the listening and the speaking tests are the same for both types but there is a major difference in the reading and writing modules for the academic and general training tests.
For immigration, the general training test must be required in most cases however the type of IELTS test and the required band or score can only be informed by the organization you take help from.
The steps are pretty easy and simple.
First, you should check out the requirements that are set by your visa.
Now the requirements for the eligible score mentioned in your visa might differ from the one required for your designated working or educational institute.
To figure this out, you can either use the internet to get updates about the latest IELTS test patterns, scores and band requirements for a particular type of immigration for a specific country or you could contact an organization which deals with such stuff to help you out directly.
The latter option is much more feasible and reliable as it can get you authentic updates and information on the recent rules.
Does My Spouse Need To Take The IELTS Test For Immigration Too?
In the IELTS test, it always remains a struggle for the people who want to apply for immigration to find out whether their spouse needs to clear the test as well or not.
A lot of people had been through this struggle yet the answer remains somewhat the same. Not only does the need for an IELTS test depends on your visa requirements, but it also depends on what visa you are applying for. Different situation implies at this point.
For example, if your wife does not plan on working anywhere once you immigrate to another country, there is no need for her to clear the IELTS test.
The need to sit in the test can also be determined by what visa you have applied for.
There are cases when even if your wife does not plan on working later if her visa requires for her to get a particular band score to prove her English language proficiency, it is a must for her to surpass that.
Similarly, the organization which you look up to for help in all the process of immigration is responsible for telling you what type of IELTS test would you need to take.
You and your spouse also have an option to write an application to the working or educational institute which recruited you as a student or an employee to approve your English language proficiency through your educational degree claiming that you received your education in the English language previously hence there might not be a need for an IELTS band score.
In Australian immigration, however, your spouse is bound to clear the functional IELTS test. The maximum band score required for a functional test is 4.5 just for the survival reasons.
But to make the score a complete 7 at mas, you must pay English Educational Charges which is the amount you pay in skilled immigration to cover for the dependent applicant’s English language tuition.
Other than this, there are many ways for your spouse to prove their English language proficiency by submitting their degree for higher education, a diploma or a trade certificate which stated two years of active study in the English language.
Or if your spouse submits proof of completing five-year primary education and three years of secondary education in English medium, it could work as well.
There is also an option to only submit the proof records of receiving secondary education for five years and that is just about it.
One more option was listed above which is to score a bare minimum band of 4.5 or the last option that your spouse can go for in order to prove their command and proficiency over the English language is to complete an entire year of full-time study for a higher degree or diploma once you immigrate to Australia.
In very rare cases, there is also a possibility to prove your command over functional English through an interview.
