IELTS Test Pattern

In IELTS, there are four papers: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. There are two different IELTS modules: Academic and General Training. The Speaking and Listening tests are the same in both modules, but the Reading and Writing tests are different.

Academic Module: Choose this if you wish to study at undergraduate or postgraduate levels, or if you are seeking professional registration, e.g. doctors and nurses.

General Training Module: Choose this if you wish to migrate to an English-speaking country, (e.g. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK) or if you wish to train or study at below degree level.

The total duration of the test is 2 hours and 45 minutes and is divided into four sections. While the reading, writing, and listening sections will be conducted in a single day, the speaking section may be conducted on the same day or within seven days before or after the test day.

All candidates must complete four Modules – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking – to obtain a band score. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Modules, while the Reading and Writing Modules differ depending on whether the candidate is taking the Academic or General Training Versions of the Test. The first 3 parts are given without breaks, which makes the IELTS the longest test without breaks (160 minutes). This test structure provokes absent-mindedness, and according to statistics, the results of the second and third parts are generally lower than the results of the first part.

IELTS Academic Module

Academic Reading paper

Texts come from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online resources, written for a non-specialist audience. All the topics are of general interest. The texts may be written in different styles, for example, narrative, descriptive or iscursive/argumentative. At least one text contains detailed logical argument. Texts may also contain diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If texts use technical vocabulary, then a simple dictionary definition is provided.

Academic Writing paper

There are two Writing tasks and BOTH must be completed.

In Task 1, you have to describe some visual information in your own words (a graph, table, chart or diagram). You need to write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes.

In Task 2, you are given a point of view, argument or problem which you need to discuss. You need to write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes.

Listening paper

The paper has four parts, with ten questions in each part. The questions are in the same order as the information in the recording, so the answer to the first question will be before the answer to the second question, and so on.

Parts 1 and 2 deal with everyday, social situations. There is a conversation between two speakers in Part 1 (for example, a conversation about travel arrangements). Only one person speaks in Part 2 (for example, a speech about local facilities).

Parts 3 and 4 deal with educational and training situations. In Part 3 there is a conversation between two main speakers (for example, two university students in discussion, perhaps guided by a tutor). In Part 4 only one person speaks on an academic subject.

You will hear the recordings once only. Different accents, including British, Australian, New Zealand and North American, are used.

Speaking paper

The Speaking test is a face-to-face interview between the candidate and an examiner. The Speaking test is recorded.

There are three parts to the test, and each part follows a specific pattern of tasks in order to test your speaking ability in different ways.

IELTS General Training Module

General Training Reading paper

There are three sections of increasing difficulty. Section 1 may contain two or three short texts or several shorter texts. Section 2 contains two texts. In Section 3, there is one long text.

General Training Writing paper

There are two Writing tasks and BOTH must be completed.

In Task 1, you have to respond to a situation by writing a letter, for example, asking for information or explaining a situation. You need to write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes.

In Task 2, you are given a point of view, argument or problem which you need to discuss. You need to write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes.

Band scale

IELTS is scored on a nine-band scale, with each band corresponding to a specified competence in English. Overall Band Scores are reported to the nearest half band.

The following rounding convention applies: if the average across the four skills ends in .25, it is rounded up to the next half band, and if it ends in .75, it is rounded up to the next whole band.
The nine bands are described as follows:

9	Expert User	Has full operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.
8	Very Good User	Has full operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriate. 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
6	Competent User	Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate 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. Have frequent problems in using complex language.
3	Extremely Limited User	Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations.
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.
1	Non User	Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.
0	Did not attempt the test

IELTS Preparation at HMI Academy

Online IELTS Preparation

HMI Academy provides online exam preparation at your doorstep using latest online technology with same results

Campus-Based IELTS Preparation

HMI Academy provides the best exam preparation for all candidates who wish to take the IELTS examination in both General and Academic categories. Our teaching methods are designed to help students achieve an individual and overoll score of 7.0 and above in the first attempt itself. HMI Academy has the following features:

Up-to-date study materials prepared by expert faculty for all four modules
Intensive training session for all four modules (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
A student-friendly atmosphere that provides daily individual practice session for speaking
More than 10 years experienced trainers
Weekly mock tests that simulate a real test environment

Class Timings

Regular Course : 3 months

Day batch: 10.00 am to 1.00 pm

2.00 pm to 5.00 pm

(All students attending day batches can practice from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm)

Evening batch: 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm (for working professionals)

Crash Course : 1 month

10.00 am to 4.00 pm daily

Both Regular and Crash courses are conducted from Monday to Saturday.

Performance of each and every student is evaluated by our faculties and training is provided accordingly.

We also provide separate hostel facilities for boys and girls.