A Beginners Guide to the IELTS Exam: All You Need to Know

The International English Language Testing System aka the IELTS exam is one of the popular tests that evaluate the skills you’ve got related to the English language. The IELTS Singapore exam tests you in four major areas such as reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The total length of the IELTS test is 2 hours and 44 minutes including 10 minutes of transfer time. Remember, the Listening, reading, and writing tests are supposed to be taken without any break. You can take the IELTS speaking test before or after 7 days from the actual test date.

Types of IELTS Exam

You should also know that there are two types of IELTS Singapore exam: the Academic IELTS test and the General Training test. If you are willing to study abroad in a country where English is a primary language, you should take the academic test. While the General Training IELTS test is for those who are looking to settle or work in an English-speaking nation. Even though the purposes of both exams are different, there’s no change in the content, format, and level of difficulty. Did we mention the scoring part also remains the same for both types of IELTS exams?

Different Sections of the IELTS Exam 1. IELTS Listening test (30 minutes)

The listening test of the IELTS exam requires you to listen to four different recordings. The recording you’ll listen to is of the native English speakers. As far as duration is concerned, the listening part is of 30 minutes.

In this section of the IELTS test, you’ll be assessed in the ability to evaluate the facts, ideas, and opinions of the speakers. This eventually will evaluate the English listening ability.

Pro tip: Don’t get distracted while the recorder is playing, you may miss some important pointers.

2. IELTS Reading test (60 minutes)

The reading exam of the IELTS exam Singapore requires you to answer 40 different questions. Remember, this test is designed for you to assess your reading skills. So, it is best that you go through an IELTS preparation journey to strengthen your vocabulary. By doing so, you will know synonyms of different words that might pop up in the IELTS Singapore test center.

3. IELTS Writing test (60 minutes)

The writing part of the Academic IELTS Singapore test requires you to go through two different tasks and cover various topics in general.

The IELTS Academic consists of topics that are often suitable for undergraduates and postgraduates scholars.

The following tasks come across your testing journey:

Task 1: You will find different tables, charts, graphs, or different diagrams that have to be explained in your words. You might be asked to explain different data or showcase your opinion related to the same.

Task 2: The second writing task requires you to write an essay as a response to an argument pretend to you. However, you should do that in a very formal style.

4. IELTS Speaking Test (11-14 minutes)

The IELTS Speaking test is designed to test your speaking skills. In this section of the IELTS test Singapore, you are required to showcase your speaking skills in front of the examiner. They will ask you different questions in two different parts to assess your ability to speak English fluently. It should be noted that this test is recorded as well.

Part 1: In this part of the speaking section of the IELTS exam Singapore, you are asked questions related to you and generic topics such as interests, family, home, work, and studies. It will take somewhere around 4-5 minutes.

Part 2: In this part, you will be provided with a card with several topics written on it. After you’re ready with your topic, you have to speak about it for two minutes. You’ll be given one minute to prepare yourself. Examiners might also ask you something related to the topic allotted to you.

Yes, the IELTS preparation is tough but nothing is impossible when you approach it with sheer determination. The IELTS is nearby, and you should work on every section of this extremely important exam of your life.

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