Recently my 15 year old granddaughter, an Indonesian citizen, was contemplating a course that prepared her to sit for an IELTS test. I thought it was time to remind myself what IELTS was all about. The following is copied from the website of the British Council that oversees the testing:
What is IELTS?
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the world’s most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration, with over 3 million tests taken in the last year.
IELTS assesses all of your English skills — reading, writing, listening and speaking, and is designed to reflect how you will use English at study, at work, and at play, in your new life abroad.
The IELTS test is developed by some of the world’s leading experts in language assessment. It has an excellent international reputation, and is accepted by over 10,000 organisations worldwide, including schools, universities, employers, immigration authorities and professional bodies.
This led me to wonder what online resources were available to prepare students for the IELTS test. Not surprisingly, the British Council itself provides copious preparatory material. Here is a link to the site. In particular, there is an app that can be installed on a smartphone:IELTS is the most widely accepted English language test that uses a one-on-one speaking test to assess your English communication skills. This means that you are assessed by having a real-life conversation with a real person. This is the most effective and natural way of testing your English conversation skills.
There are lots of podcasts on iTunes that cater to preparation for IELTS e.g. the IELTS PODCAST. There are also a great many YouTube videos available as well. Here is a relevant video with the highest view count (7.5 million):
There are a plethora of books, downloadable PDFs and websites that are available as well. The problem with the resources supporting the IELTS is not one of scarcity but of largesse. Which of them to choose? Here are links to just two of the many sites that offer suggestions in this regard:
- The best self-study resources for IELTS: recommended book list
- 6 Awesome FREE Resources to Help You Prepare for Your IELTS Exam
The best place to start studying for IELTS are the Cambridge IELTS series of books. These are past papers published by Cambridge. Because Cambridge designs the IELTS exam, you know the information in these books is 100% accurate, and the exam tasks are similar to the ones you will see on the real exam.
These books are in a series, from Cambridge IELTS 1 all the way to Cambridge IELTS 11, which was just released earlier this year. Each book contains four complete IELTS Academic exams, each with Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing tests. There are also two General Training Reading and Writing tests as well.
One of the best parts of these books is the answers to the writing task. At the back of the book there are sample answers for each Writing task. Some of these are high-scoring answers written by an examiner. Others are answers written by IELTS test-takers. These have a band score and comments by the examiner, to explain the score.
Of course, the other popular English test is TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). As its website explains:You can buy these at bookshops in most countries or order them online. I recommend that you start with the most recent one–IELTS 11—and work your way backwards. Avoid IELTS 1 – 4. The test has been updated since then. While some of the material in these is useful, other materials are outdated and different from what you will see on the current exam.
The TOEFL® Test Gives You an Advantage: Most Widely Accepted, Most Popular and Most Convenient Choice
So which is to be preferred? The following site offers some help:
The TOEFL test is the most widely respected English-language test in the world, recognized by more than 10,000 colleges, universities and agencies in more than 130 countries, including Australia, Canada, the U.K. and the United States. Wherever you want to study, the TOEFL test can help you get there.
The site then goes on to explain:
The TOEFL and IELTS exams are fairly different, and therefore some people will find that they are naturally better suited for one than they are for the other. You probably want to know which test you should study for. But before we discuss their similarities and differences, remember that both IELTS and TOEFL are standardized tests. This means that, with some coaching and practice (like we have in the Magoosh TOEFL free trial), you can learn to do well on whichever exam you decide to take. Let’s talk more specifically about each exam…
The TOEFL is a language test for non-native English speakers, and is commonly used as an entrance exam at universities and graduate schools. Because of this, the TOEFL offers only academic English. On the other hand, the IELTS offers an academic option as well as a general test; this is generally the preferred test for immigration purposes to the UK and Canada.
The IELTS academic test and the TOEFL compared to the IELTS general test are both more difficult, but they are usually the only options if you want to study at any level higher than secondary school. No matter which test you take, be aware that the scores all expire 2 years after your test date. (And if you’re curious, you can see how the scores on the two exams compare here).
When you compare the format of the IELTS with the TOEFL format, you will notice a couple of things. First of all, both of them have four basic sections, each of which tests a basic skill (reading, listening, speaking, writing). But while the TOEFL only tests academic subjects, the IELTS academic option will have academic reading and writing sections combined with general listening and speaking sections. Overall, the IELTS has more of a real-world feel than the TOEFL. Deciding how hard the TOEFL is versus the IELTS truly depends on your English background.
