IELTS

 
 

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is designed to help you work, study or migrate to a country where English is the main spoken language.

What Cambridge Professional Trainers does for you

Our trainers have a long and highly-successful track record in helping students target problem areas and areas of opportunity in the IELTS test.

We take an extremely pragmatic approach, zoning in on problematic question types, or deficient language clusters, or skill shortfalls in order to maximise a candidate’s marks across all papers. We will provide copious and focussed material for practice outside training sessions, and forensic attention to detail in training sessions.

Every student approaches IELTS from a different direction. We rapidly identify what it will take to achieve the grade you need, and map out the optimal approach to get you there.

  • The IELTS assesses your level of English in four skills areas: reading, writing, listening and speaking.

    You will receive a score from 0-9 in each of these skills areas. The four scores are then averaged to give you an overall band score.

    The test can be taken throughout the year, in person at a test centre, or online. Speaking is always assessed in person.

  • Listening (30 minutes)

    40 questions on four recordings (two monologues and two conversations). 10 questions per recording.

    Questions test general understanding and detailed factual information, and a candidate’s ability to understand speakers’ attitudes and opinions, and that you can follow the development of ideas.

    Reading (60 minutes)

    40 questions on three passages taken from books, journals, magazines, or newspapers, written for a non-specialist audience.

    Questions test a candidate’s ability to read for gist, main idea, or detail, and to understand a writer’s attitude, opinion, and purpose, and follow an argument.

    Writing (60 minutes)

    Two tasks:

    1. Task 1 presents a candidate with some visual information (charts, graphs, maps etc.) and asks them summarise the main information. Answers must be of at least 150 words. Candidates should devote roughly 20 minutes to this task.

    2. Task 2 invites a candidate to write a discursive essay of around 250 words, in roughly 40 minutes.

    Speaking (11-14 minutes)

    The speaking test is in three parts:

    1. Introduction and Interview (4-5 minutes). Questions on familiar topics such as home, family, work, study etc., testing a candidate’s ability to communicate opinions and information on everyday topics and common experiences.

    2. Long Turn (3-4 minutes) The candidate is invited to talk for 1 to 2 minutes on a topic on a test card. Candidates have one minute to prepare.

    3. Discussion (4-5 minutes) The examiner and candidate discuss issues relating to Part 2 in a more general and abstract way