Information

for Candidates
Introducing IELTS
to test takers

Learning HUB IELTS

By - Examiner, IELTS-UP former author Gihan Amukotuwa
The test that Accessible and convenient
IELTS is offered up to four times a month in more than

opens doors 140 countries. Tests are held on Saturdays and Thursdays.
To find out test dates in your area, please contact your
nearest IELTS test centre. A list of all IELTS test locations
around the world worldwide is available at ielts.org.

The international test

IELTS is internationally focused in its content. For example,
texts and tasks are sourced from publications from all over
This booklet contains the English-speaking world; a range of native-speaker accents
(North American, Australian, New Zealand, British etc.) are

important information used in the Listening test; and all standard varieties of English
are accepted in test takers’ written and spoken responses.

to help you prepare The test that’s tried and trusted

IELTS has been developed by some of the world’s leading

for your IELTS test experts in language assessment, and is supported by

an extensive programme of research, validation and
test development.
with Learning HUB. The level of the test
IELTS is designed to assess English language skills across
a wide range of levels. There is no such thing as a pass or
fail in IELTS. Results are reported as band scores on a scale
from 1 (the lowest) to 9 (the highest).

The IELTS band score scale

IELTS, the International English 9 Expert user

Language Testing System, is 8 Very good user
designed to assess the language 7 Good user
ability of people who want to 6 Competent user
study or work where English is 5 Modest user
the language of communication. 4 Limited user
3 Extremely limited user
IELTS is recognised and accepted by
2 Intermittent user
over 10,000 organisations worldwide,
1 Non user
including universities, employers,
professional bodies, immigration 0 Did not attempt the test

authorities and other government

agencies. For a list of organisations
that accept IELTS scores,
visit ielts.org/recognition.
The Trainer
Test format

Cambridge IELTS There are two modules to choose from –

examiner Academic and General Training.

Gihan Amukotuwa IELTS Academic

IELTS Academic is for test takers wishing to study at
undergraduate or postgraduate levels, and for those
seeking professional registration.
Has trained over 800 individual
candidates and completed over IELTS General Training
IELTS General Training is for test takers wishing to migrate to an
2000 tests assessments for both English-speaking country (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK),
IDP Australia and British Council and for those wishing to train or study at below degree level.
Sri Lanka.
Each organisation sets its own entry requirements. In some cases
both Academic or General Training may be accepted. If you are
in doubt as to which to take, you should contact the organisation
you are applying to in order to check their requirements.

You are tested on all four language skills – listening, reading,

writing and speaking, unless you have an exemption due to
a disability (see section on special requirements). Everyone
takes the same Listening and Speaking tests. There are
different Reading and Writing tests for IELTS Academic and
General Training.

The Listening, Reading and Writing tests must be completed

on the same day. The order in which these tests are taken
may vary. There are no breaks between these three tests.
The Speaking test may be taken up to seven days before
or after the other three tests.

Listening

Academic Reading General Training Reading

Academic Writing General Training Writing

Speaking
Individual Sessions
Training format
between 6.00 pm - 12.00 am
session length 1.5 - 2.0 hours
Step 1 - Assessment
All the candidates will be called for an assessment prior to
Assessment fee 5000LKR the commencement of the training.
Training program fee 50,000LKR
* all inclusive - see below Speaking, Reading, Listening and Writing skills will be
assessed during the assessment and based on the outcome
a training program will be designed.

The content of the training program will be different for each

candidate as their skill levels will never be the same.

Step 2 - Course
It will only take 48 hours for the training program to get
ready.

The content of the course will be handed over to the

candidate at the first training session as a hard copy.

During the training

Step 1
Discussion of the theories/strategies. The candidate will be taught
all the strategies that are needed to answer all types of questions
found in all four modules of the test.

Step 2
The theories/strategies then will be applied to the
example exercises by the candidate.

Step 3
The 'Activity Sets' are a collection of activities that are carefully
designed to allow the candidates to master the strategies they
have learnt.

Step 4
The papers are introduced to the candidates upon
achieving a 70%-80% success rate on the 'Activity
Sets'.

*You get...
The training with an IELTS examiner.
The training material.
An unlimited number of papers.
Free of charge unlimited number of writing and speaking
assessments by an IELTS examiner.
The four components of the IELTS test

Listening
Timing Section 3 is a conversation between up to four people
Approximately 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes’ transfer time). set in an educational or training context (e.g. a university
tutor and a student discussing an assignment, or a group
Questions of students planning a research project).
There are 40 questions. A variety of question types are used,
chosen from the following: multiple choice, matching, plan/ Section 4 is a monologue on an academic subject
map/diagram labelling, form completion, note completion, (e.g. a university lecture).
table completion, flow-chart completion, summary completion,
sentence completion, short-answer questions. Each section is heard once only.

Test Parts A variety of voices and native-speaker accents are used.

There are 4 sections:
Skills assessed

Section 1 is a conversation between two people set A wide range of listening skills are assessed, including:
in an everyday social context (e.g. a conversation in • understanding of main ideas
an accommodation agency). • understanding of specific factual information
• recognising opinions, attitudes and purpose of a speaker
Section 2 is a monologue set in an everyday social context • following the development of an argument.
(e.g. a speech about local facilities or a talk about the
arrangements for meals during a conference). Marking
Each correct answer receives 1 mark. Scores out
of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale.

Scores are reported in whole and half bands.

Reading
Timing General Training Reading
60 minutes (no extra transfer time). Section 1 contains two or three short factual texts, one of which
may be composite (consisting of 6-8 short texts related by topic,
Questions e.g. hotel advertisements). Topics are relevant to everyday life
There are 40 questions. A variety of question types are in an English-speaking country.
used, chosen from the following: multiple choice, identifying
information (True/False/Not Given), identifying a writer’s Section 2 contains two short factual texts focusing on work-
views/claims (Yes/No/Not Given), matching information, related issues (e.g. applying for jobs, company policies, pay and
matching headings, matching features, matching sentence conditions, workplace facilities, staff development and training).
endings, sentence completion, summary completion,
note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, Section 3 contains one longer, more complex text on a topic
diagram label completion, short-answer questions. of general interest.

Test Parts Texts are authentic and are taken from notices, advertisements,
There are 3 sections. The total text length is 2,150-2,750 words. company handbooks, official documents, books, magazines
and newspapers.
Academic Reading
Each section contains one long text. Texts are authentic and Skills assessed
are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. A wide range of reading skills are assessed, including:
They have been written for a non-specialist audience and are • reading for gist
on academic topics of general interest. Texts are appropriate • reading for main ideas
to, and accessible to, test takers entering undergraduate or • reading for detail
postgraduate courses or seeking professional registration. • understanding inferences and implied meaning
Texts range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive • recognising writer’s opinions, attitudes and purpose
and analytical. Texts may contain non-verbal materials such • following the development of an argument.
as diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If texts contain technical
terms, then a simple glossary is provided. Marking
Each correct answer receives 1 mark. Scores out
of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale.

Scores are reported in whole and half bands.

Writing
Timing Skills assessed
60 minutes In both tasks, you are assessed on your ability to
write a response which is appropriate in terms of:
Tasks • content
There are 2 tasks. You are required to write at least • the organisation of ideas
150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2. • the accuracy and range of vocabulary and grammar.

Test Parts Academic Writing

There are 2 parts. In Task 1, depending on the task type, you are assessed on your
ability to organise, present and possibly compare data; to describe
Academic Writing the stages of a process or procedure; to describe an object or
In Task 1, you are presented with a graph, table, chart or event or sequence of events; to explain how something works.
diagram and are asked to describe, summarise or explain
the information in your own words. You may be asked to In Task 2, depending on the task type, you are assessed on
describe and explain data, describe the stages of a process, your ability to present a solution to a problem; to present and
how something works or describe an object or event. justify an opinion; to compare and contrast evidence, opinions
and implications; to evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence
In Task 2, you are asked to write an essay in response or an argument.
to a point of view, argument or problem.
General Training Writing
The issues raised are of general interest to, suitable for In Task 1, depending on the task type, you are assessed on your
and easily understood by test takers entering undergraduate ability to engage in personal correspondence in order to: elicit
or postgraduate studies or seeking professional registration. and provide general factual information; express needs, wants,
Responses to Task 1 and Task 2 should be written likes and dislikes; express opinions (views, complaints etc.).
in an academic, semi-formal/neutral style.
In Task 2, you are assessed on your ability to provide general
General Training Writing factual information; to outline a problem and present a solution;
In Task 1, you are presented with a situation and are asked to to present and possibly justify an opinion; to evaluate and
write a letter requesting information or explaining the situation. challenge ideas, evidence or an argument.
The letter may be personal or semi-formal/neutral in style.
Marking
In Task 2, you are asked to write an essay in response to a You are assessed on your performance on each task
point of view, argument or problem. The essay can be slightly by certificated IELTS examiners according to the IELTS
more personal in style than the Academic Writing Task 2 essay. Writing test assessment criteria (Task Achievement/Response,
Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical
Topics are of general interest. Range and Accuracy). The public version of the assessment
criteria can be found at ielts.org/criteria.

Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score.

Scores are reported in whole and half bands.

Speaking
Timing Part 3 Two-way discussion (4-5 minutes)
11-14 minutes The examiner asks further questions which are connected
to the topic of Part 2. These questions give you an opportunity
Test Parts to discuss more abstract issues and ideas.
There are 3 parts.
Skills assessed
Part 1 Introduction and interview (4-5 minutes) A wide range of speaking skills are assessed, including:
The examiner introduces him/herself and asks you to introduce • the ability to communicate opinions and information
yourself and confirm your identity. The examiner asks you on everyday topics and common experiences and
general questions on familiar topics, e.g. home, family, work, situations by answering a range of questions
studies and interests. • the ability to speak at length on a given topic using
appropriate language and organising ideas coherently
Part 2 Individual long turn (3-4 minutes) • the ability to express and justify opinions and to analyse,
The examiner gives you a task card which asks you to talk about discuss and speculate about issues.
a particular topic and which includes points you can cover in your
talk. You are given 1 minute to prepare your talk, and are given Marking
a pencil and paper to make notes. You talk for 1-2 minutes on You are assessed on your performance throughout the
the topic. The examiner may then ask you one or two questions test by certificated IELTS examiners according to the IELTS
on the same topic. Speaking test assessment criteria (Fluency and Coherence,
Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy,
Pronunciation). The public version of the assessment criteria
can be found at ielts.org/criteria.

Scores are reported in whole and half bands.

Test tips
Listening Reading
• Each recording in the Listening test is heard once only. • You may write your answers directly on the answer sheet
• You will be given time to read through the questions before or you may write them on the question paper and transfer
you listen. them to the answer sheet before the end of the test. You will
• As you listen, write your answers on the question paper. not be given extra time to transfer answers at the end of the
At the end of the test, you will have 10 minutes to transfer test. Nothing you write on the question paper will be marked.
your answers to the answer sheet. It is essential that you • You must write your answers in pencil.
transfer your answers to the answer sheet as nothing you • An example of a completed Reading answer sheet is given
write on the question paper will be marked. on the next page.
• You must write your answers in pencil. • ‘Completion’ question types (e.g. note completion):
• An example of a completed Listening answer sheet – The same rules apply to ‘completion’ question types
is given on the next page. as in Listening (see above).
• ‘Completion’ question types (e.g. note completion): –The word(s) you use must be taken from the Reading text.
– Pay attention to the word limit. For example, if you are You will not need to change the form of the word(s) in the text.
asked to complete a sentence using NO MORE THAN
TWO WORDS, and the correct answer is ‘leather coat’, Writing
the answer ‘coat made of leather’ would be incorrect. • You may write your answers in pencil or pen.
– Transfer only the missing word(s) to the answer sheet. • Pay attention to the number of words required for each
For example, if you have to complete the note ‘in the … ’, task. You will lose marks if you do not write at least
and the correct answer is ‘morning’, the answer ‘in the morning’ 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2.
would be incorrect. • You should spend approximately 20 minutes on Task 1
– You will hear the word(s) you need to use in the recording. and approximately 40 minutes on Task 2.
You will not need to change the form of the word(s) you hear. • You must write your answers in full; answers written
– Pay attention to spelling and grammar: you will lose in note form or in bullet points will lose marks.
marks for mistakes. • Pay attention to spelling, grammar and punctuation;
– You may write your answers in lower case or in capitals. you will lose marks for mistakes.
• You may write your answers entirely in capitals if you wish.
• You may make notes on the question paper but nothing you
write on the question paper will be marked.

Test results
The Test Report Form Preview your results online
You will receive a Test Report Form which reports a score for You can preview your results online 13 days after the test.
each of the four skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking), Results remain online for 28 days. Please note that the online
as well as an overall band score. Half band scores may be preview of results should not be used as an official confirmation
awarded to indicate a strong performance within a particular of your performance.
band. You can find more information on score processing
and score interpretation at ielts.org/criteria. Results validity period
Organisations will not usually accept a Test Report Form that
Results will be available 13 days after the test. At some test is more than two years old unless you provide evidence that
centres test takers can collect their results on the 13th day. At you have actively maintained or tried to improve your English
other test centres results are mailed to test takers on the 13th day. since taking the test. The IELTS Test Partners cannot confirm
Test centres are not permitted to give results out over the phone the validity of test results that are more than two years old.
or by scan or email.

You will receive Re-taking IELTS

only one copy of the
Test Report Form. There are no restrictions on re-taking IELTS. You can register
It’s important that for a test as soon as you feel you are ready to do so. Please
you keep it safe note that your score is unlikely to increase unless you make
as replacement a significant effort to improve your English before re-taking the
Test Report Forms test.
cannot be issued.
Test centres will send
copies of your Test Enquiries on results
Report Form to up to
five organisations free If you are unhappy with your test result, you can apply for a
of charge. re-mark (Enquiry on Results) at the centre where you took
the test. You must make the application no later than six weeks
after the test date. You can choose which test components
are re-marked. There is a fee for this service which will be
refunded if your score on any component is increased.
Enquiries on Results take six to eight weeks to complete.
IELTS five steps to success

1 Enquiry 4 Test day

Contact Learning HUB on +94 702736683/4. Your identity will be checked on the day of the test
and before the Speaking test. You must present the
same identity document that you used when you
registered for the test. Your photograph will be taken
as an additional security measure, and it will appear
on your IELTS Test Report Form. In addition a finger
2 Registration scan may be taken.

Learning HUB completely handles the registration upon

the candidate's confirmation.
5 Results
Results will be available 13 days after the test. At
some test centres test takers can collect their results
3 Confirmation on the 13th day. At other test centres results are
mailed to test takers on the 13th day. Test centres
The test centre will give you written confirmation of are not permitted to give results out over the phone
the date and time of the test. Your Speaking test time or by scan or email.
will be scheduled on the same day as the written tests
or on a different day within a 7-day window before A preview of your results is available online 13 days
or after the written tests. The test centre will confirm after the test. Results will remain online for 28 days.
your Speaking test time. Please note that the online preview of your results
should not be used as an official confirmation of
your performance.

Your privacy
The IELTS Test Partners recognise and support the right of genuine IELTS test candidates to privacy.

British Council IDP: IELTS Australia Cambridge Assessment Learning HUB

Bridgewater House Level 8, 535 Bourke St English 423/5,
58 Whitworth Street Melbourne VIC 3000 The Triangle Building Ranaviru Padmalal Mw,
Manchester, M1 6BB Australia Shaftesbury Road Meemana,
United Kingdom Tel: +61 3 9612 4400 Cambridge, CB2 8EA Pokunuvita.
Tel: +44 161 957 7755 [email protected] United Kingdom Tel: +94 702736683/4
[email protected] cambridgeenglish.org/helpdesk