What's All This Fuss about the IELTS test?

What is IELTS?

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is taken by more millions all over the world every year, making it the most preferred English language test in the world. People can take this test once they reach the minimum age of 16, and most people take this test as part of the requirement to study or work abroad, in countries where they will need to use English daily.

There are two versions of the test: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. The only difference between the two is in the Reading and the Writing section, with the IELTS Academic being more challenging in the mentioned sections.

In The IELTS test, students are graded using band scores, with 9.0 being the highest band score. The certificate will include specific marks for each of the four sections of the test as well as an overall grade. There are no pass or fail marks, but people failing to show up on test day will receive a Band 0 certificate. IELTS certificates are generally sent within fourteen days from the test date. Keep in mind that you will only be sent ONE copy of your certificate.

Why take the IELTS test?

The IELTS test has become a lot more popular nowadays, especially with Indonesian students intending to study overseas. This is greatly driven by the considerable growth in scholarship programs offered by the government, and various private and international institutions.

There are in fact more than 9000 institutions that recognize the IELTS certificate. These institutions, both academic and professional, are located in about 145 countries including popular student destinations such as The United Kingdom, The United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, The Netherlands, France, Italy, etc. It’s also possible to use the IELTS certificate to apply to study in other countries where English isn’t the main language. You can check if your target institution accepts IELTS here.

It is important to note that people intending to work or study in The U.K. will need to take the IELTS test at test centers specified by The U.K. Visas and Immigration (UKVI) during a visa session. For more information, you can read more on the official British Council UKVI website and download the UKVI IELTS brochure.

When and where to take the test?

There are over 1,000 test centers all over the world. You can take the test on the 48 fixed dates each year, but it generally depends on the test center. To find your nearest center and check upcoming test dates, visit the official site.

The test takes approximately three hours, and you can take the test as many times as you need. However, it is advised that you have adequate preparations before subsequent attempts to ensure that you have truly increased your chances or achieving the score you need.

How much does the test cost?

The IELTS test fee varies from one country to the next, and also at different test centers. While the fee may vary, most test centers charge about US $200 – $210 when this was written (April 2016).

How does Ambassador Language Course help in preparing for the IELTS test?

The test is highly technical, which means that people do need to know IELTS test-taking strategies to achieve their optimal score. Just knowing these strategies, however, is not going to be enough for people needing to really boost their band score. For that, it is necessary to work hard to improve upon all the four language skills (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking), and this could take some time.

Here at Ambassador Language Course, we recognize the importance of improving students’ general English proficiency, regardless of whether or not they intend to take the actual test. We provide everything that students need to achieve language mastery: the right books, an IELTS band-8 tutor to provide guidance and effective test strategies, the use of multimedia, all done in a comfortable air-conditioned classroom.

If you intend to take the test, it is most recommended that you dedicate a substantial amount of time (at least 4 months) to prepare before actually registering for the test.

To Join our IELTS Class you can contact us:
SMS/WhatsApp: 081905425007
Email: ambassador_english@yahoo.com
Or you can fill in our online registration form here.