Before
the day of your test, check the start time of your IELTS test and make sure you
know how to get to the test centre on time. We recommend doing this a week
in advance so you’re fully prepared.
Remember to also check the location of your IELTS test
location, as it may be different to the test center where you booked your test.
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Make sure you’ve read and
understood IELTS test terms and conditions as they contain important
information about your test day. These can be found in the Test Takers
Information part of your application form.
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If you arrive late to your IELTS
test, you might not be allowed to participate.
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Turn off your mobile and any other
electronic devices. These will be kept outside of the test room along with
other personal belongings.
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The Listening, Reading and Writing
tests take 2 hours 40 minutes. Please note that there will be no breaks during
the tests.
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You cannot bring food or drink
into the test room – with the exception of water in a transparent bottle. Make
sure that you have something substantial to eat before your test.
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IELTS staff will check your
identity upon your arrival, the documents you received when you registered for
the test will confirm which ID you’ll need. If you arrive without the correct
ID you will not be able to take the test.
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As an additional security measure,
IELTS staff will take a photograph of you before you sit the test. This photo
will be used on your Test Report Form.
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In some countries, you may also be
asked to provide a finger scan.
Follow these rules when sitting your IELTS test:
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You are only allowed to have a
pencil, pen, your ID, and an eraser on your desk.
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If you need to use the toilet
during the test, put your hand up to attract the invigilator’s attention and
don’t disturb other test takers.
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Raise your hand to attract the
invigilator’s attention if you want to ask a question during the test.
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When it’s time to take the
Listening test, check that you can hear the recording clearly. If you can’t,
raise your hand and inform the invigilator.
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After the Listening section, you
will have 10 minutes to fill in the answer sheet. However, you will not have 10
minutes after the Reading section, so be sure to write your answers on your
answer sheet when completing each section.
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Remain in your seat until you have
the invigilator‘s permission to leave the test room.
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If you believe that your
performance may have been affected by any issues, inform the invigilator
straight away.
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If you want to make a complaint
about your test day, you must do this within one week of the test date by
filling in the Complaint Form.
If you requested special arrangements as a result of
a disability or other condition, adjustments will be made for you on the day of
your test.
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Follow all instructions carefully
and remember that in the Writing parts of the test, you will be required to
write a specific number of words.
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Some questions have guideline time
limits for you to follow, make sure you stay aware of the time to ensure you
have enough time to answer each question.
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Stay calm and take deep breaths if
you feel nervous or worried.
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Let
staff know straight away if you cannot clearly hear the audio.
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Follow
the instructions given carefully.
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Listen
out for the specific information you need.
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Try
to anticipate what the speaker might say.
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Be
mindful about your grammar and spelling.
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Don’t
spend too much time on a question you don’t know the answer to.
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Focus
on what you are asked to do in completion style questions.
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Be
aware of the word limit; if you are asked to finish a sentence using only two
words and the correct answer is ‘leather coat’, then ‘coat made of leather’
would be an incorrect answer.
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Try
to answer all questions; you will not lose points for incorrect answers.
● Check your answers thoroughly.
Follow this Reading test
advice, and make sure you understand how to respond to ‘completion’ type
questions.
Make sure you write your
answers on the answer sheet, anything you write on your question paper will not
be marked. If you write down some answers on your question sheet, remember to
transfer them to your answer sheet before the end of the test. Please note that
you will not be given any extra time to do this.
All of your answers must
be written in pencil.
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Be
aware of titles, headings and other special features like italics, underlining,
capital letters, facts, graphs, tables and figures.
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Make
sure that you understand the question and follow all instructions carefully.
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Don’t
spend too long on one question or passage, keep an eye on the time you have
left.
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If
you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t spend too long on it.
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Stay
calm if the subject of the text is unfamiliar to you, all relevant answers can
be found within the text.
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Take
the words you use from the Reading text, don’t change the format or order of
the words in the text.
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Don’t
worry if you come across a word you don’t understand, you might not need to use
it.
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Make
sure you check your spelling carefully.
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Pay
attention to your use of plural and singular words, check that they are
correct.
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In
‘completion’ style questions, make sure you focus carefully on what you are
asked to do.
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If
a question asks you to complete the phrase ‘in the ___’ and the correct answer
is ‘evening’, just use ‘evening’ for your answer; using ‘in the evening’ would
be incorrect.
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Be
aware of the word limit. If you are asked to complete a sentence with no more
than two words, and the correct answer is “silk shirt” for example, saying “a
shirt made of silk” would be incorrect.
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Try
to answer all questions; if an answer is incorrect, there will not be a
penalty, so give it a go.
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Be
sure to check all of your answers carefully before the test ends.
For your Writing test,
all answers must be written in pen or pencil. You can choose whether you would
like to write in capital letters or in lower case.
You are allowed to make
notes on the question paper, but remember that anything you write on the question
paper will not be marked.
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Think
carefully about each task and be sure to make notes if that helps you.
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Underline
or highlight key words in the tasks to ensure you are aware of what you need to
do.
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Spend
time planning your answers before you write them.
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Use
a clear paragraph structure, put one idea in each paragraph.
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Don’t
repeat the same ideas by using different words.
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Don’t
copy entire sentences from the question – you will not get any marks for this.
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Stick
to the relevant subject and don’t write about unrelated topics.
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Make
sure you manage the time you have carefully. Keep in mind that Task 2 is worth
twice as much as Task 1.
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Try
to spend approximately 20 minutes on Task 1 and about 40 minutes on Task 2.
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Keep
in mind how many words are required for each task. If you don’t write at least
150 words for Task 1 and a minimum of 250 words for Task 2 then you will lose
marks.
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Practice
by learning roughly how long 150 words and 250 words look when written in your
own handwriting. During the test, you won’t have time to count them.
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Do
not write your answers in bullet points or in short notes, you need to write
your answers in full sentences or you will lose marks.
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Pay
close attention to your grammar, punctuation and spelling. If you make
mistakes, you will lose marks.
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Try
to use formal language.
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Examiners
can spot ‘model answers’, so do not memorise them and use them in your test or
it will be deemed invalid.
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Make
sure you spend a few minutes re-reading and amending your answers where
necessary.
Your Speaking test will
be a face-to-face conversation with an examiner. The test mimics a real-life
situation as closely as possible.
In part 1, your examiner
will ask you questions about topics such as studies, home life or work. These
topics will be familiar and should help you feel as comfortable as possible
when you answer.
Make sure you try to
relax as much as you can so that you speak as naturally as possible.
Before your test, it’s a
good idea to practice your verbal skills with a friend or teacher.
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Try
to speak as much as you are able to.
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Speak
as fluently as you can and try to be spontaneous.
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Try
to remain confident and enjoy using your English skills.
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Expand
upon your answers as much as you can.
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Make
sure that you talk more than the examiner does.
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If
you need to, you can ask the examiner to clarify a question.
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Don’t
memorise prepared answers, examiners have the ability to recognise this and
will change your question as a result.
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Remember
that you will be marked on your ability to effectively communicate your
opinions.
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The
questions that the examiners ask often tend to be quite predictable, so make
sure you practice at home but do not memorise your answers.
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Braille papers
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special Listening CD with
necessary stops and pauses
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lip-reading version of the
Listening test
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enlarged print or Speaking
task cards in Braille.
If you have a visual impairment, we can provide:
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enlarged print
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Braille test papers
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an amanuensis to write the answers
for you.
If you have hearing difficulties, we can offer:
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special amplification equipment
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a lip-reading version of the
Listening module.
If you have dyslexia, we can arrange:
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extra time for the Reading
and Writing tests
Please contact your
local test centre
as soon as possible if you have special needs that may
require a modified IELTS test version.