The International English Language Testing System is a globally recognized examination to test English language proficiency.
So, why is the IELTS exam required? There are many reasons students take up the IELTS examinations.
For one, the English language is a widely spoken language across the globe. In fact, it is known as the lingua franca or the link language.
Learning English can help students and other job seekers to adapt quickly to other English-speaking countries.
Apart from quickly adapting to the new country, being proficient in the language can prove to be more productive for the candidate in a foreign country.
Why IELTS Exam Is Required?
We can summarize more reasons why IELTS is required, as follows
1. Recognition
Since the IELTS exam is a globally recognised certificate, the importance of the IELTS exam cannot be undermined.
More than 10000 institutions accept IELTS as one of the foremost examinations to test proficiency in English.
2. Inclusive Examination
Another reason why IELTS is required is that it covers all parameters of the English language. The test covers reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.
The examination is designed to determine how well you use English in your daily routine.
3. Mandatory for Some Universities Abroad
Many universities in English-speaking nations make it compulsory for students to write the IELTS exam before seeking admission into the college or university.
The examination ranking module is from 1.0 to 9.0. Here, 1.0 means that the candidate is poor in the English language while a score of 9.0 means that the student has a professional aptitude for the language.
4. Exchange Programs
Even as a high school student, you may require to attempt the IELTS exam in case you have an exchange program with an English speaking country
5. Job Opportunities
When you apply for a job, you may notice that some jobs require proficiency in the English language.
There is nothing better than a good score in the IELTS examination that can prove your proficiency in the language. That is why IELTS is required.
6. Immigration
Many English-speaking nations mandate the requirement of knowledge of the language. For this purpose, many countries have made IELTS compulsory for immigration.
Not only for white-collar jobs but having a good IELTS score can help you get skilled work like nannies or laborers in an English-speaking nation.
7. Formulated by Experts
The IELTS is owned by the British Council, IELTS Australia, and The Cambridge English Language Assessment. The test is formulated after considerable deliberation and a lot of forethought.
The Cambridge English Language Assessment formulates the exam with inputs from various IELTS countries across the globe.
8. Convenient
Another benefit of IELTS is that it is a convenient examination to attempt. The tests are conducted throughout the year with at least 4 dates in a month, making it convenient for candidates to attempt the examination at their convenience.
9. Widely Accepted
One of the benefits of the IELTS exam is that it is a widely accepted examination for the recognition of the English language. Many countries around the world accept IELTS as the standard for testing proficiency in the language.
10. Face to Face Module
The IELTS exam is one of the few exams that are conducted face to face. This means there is a personal interaction between the candidate and the examiner which gives the examiner a perfect idea of the candidate’s English language proficiency.
IELTS Modules
The IELTS examination modules are divided into two:
- General Module
The general module is usually taken up for immigration purposes. It is usually taken up for non-academic purposes like work opportunities.
IELTS benefits for jobs are that it allows you to apply in countries that accept IELTS as one of the standards for recruitment.
- Academic Module
The academic module is attempted by students who wish to seek admission to a foreign university or college.
The Examination duration is for a total time of 2hrs 45 mins. Each part of the test has a particular time slot within which it must be completed.
The speaking skill may be taken on the same day or on a date not later than 7 days from the date of submission of the written IELTS exam.
Characteristics of IELTS Examinations
The IELTS examination encompasses all levels of the English language.
- Writing skills
- Speak
- Listening
- Reading skills
The most important component of the IELTS examination is speaking skills. The speaking skills are determined through an interactive session between the candidate and the examiner.
Here, the examiner assesses the proficiency of the English language while conducting an interview face to face.
One of the benefits of the IELTS exam is that it caters to the needs of students with different accents, thereby eliminating any disadvantage to students from different countries.
Listening and speaking tests of the IELTS examinations are common for all candidates. However, reading and writing skills depend on what module the candidate has chosen, that is, academic or general module.
TOEFL and IELTS – What Is the Difference?
Both TOEFL and IELTS are international standards for testing the proficiency of the English language. The main difference between the two is that TOEFL is an American test while IELTS is a British/ Australian test.
The two tests differ in their approach. While TOEFL tests do not differentiate with accents and are purely American-oriented, IELTS tests differ in accents to cater to the needs of students and professionals from different parts of the world.
Also, IELTS caters to two types of candidates, students, and working professionals, unlike TOEFL examinations that cater to students only.
Determination of IELTS Scores
The scores of the IELTS examination ranges from 0 to 9.0. A person getting a score of 0 has not attempted the test and 9.0 is given to candidates who have excelled in the test.
Each component of the IELTS examination is graded individually. All scores are added and rounded off to arrive at the final score.
Therefore there is no pass or fail in the IELTS examination. Universities and colleges are free to determine the cut-off scores when it comes to seeking admission to their university.
The higher the IELTS score the better the proficiency in the English language. For a detailed scoring pattern of the IELTS refer to the official webpage of IELTS What is IELTS?
Candidates can attempt the IELTS examinations any number of times in a year.
Every university or country mandates a cut-off of different IELTS scores. For example universities in the United States of America mandate an IELTS score of 7.0 and above for admission.
Whereas, universities in the United Kingdom require an IELTS score of above 6.0. However, this requirement may vary between colleges in the country.
Is IELTS Mandatory?
To the question, is IELTS mandatory, the answer to this purely depends on the rules of the university or college in question. However, we recommend students and candidates attempt the IELTS tests to prevent the rejection of applications over the issue.
IELTS Benefits for Jobs
Attempting the IELTS and securing a high score in the examination is not a guarantee of job placements or a seat in a university.
IELTS is only a standard exam to test proficiency in the English language. However, securing a high IELTS score will be beneficial to you while applying to a foreign country as a student or for a job.
The job opportunities after IELTS range from engineering careers to skilled work in a foreign country.
Conclusion
Though IELTS is not a mandatory examination, it is useful to attempt the examination. Many times countries demand a good IELTS score for visa purposes.
