International English Language Testing System

(IELTS) es el examen de reconocimiento

internacional que te abre las puertas para estudiar
y trabajar en países en donde el idioma oficial es
el inglés.
IELTS está diseñado para medir el dominio del idioma inglés a través de
una examinación a las habilidades de lectura, escritura, auditivas y orales.
La prueba tiene una duración de dos horas con cuarenta y cinco minutos y
los resultados se obtienen tan sólo 13 días después de haberla presentado.
Contar con buenos resultados en la prueba IELTS es indiscutiblemente una
ventaja para todo aquel estudiante o profesional en busca de
oportunidades y éxito en el extranjero.

¿Por qué IELTS?

IELTS es reconocido por más de nueve mil organizaciones a nivel mundial.
Universidades, empleadores, organismos profesionales, autoridades
migratorias y agencias gubernamentales de todo el mundo solicitan los
resultados de este examen.
Se imparte en más de 125 países y está sustentando por un extensivo
programa de investigación que fue desarrollado y probado por expertos de
gran reconocimiento mundial.
La confianza y prestigio de la prueba IELTS permite que cada año más de
dos millones de personas realicen el examen.
IELTS es aceptado en universidades públicas y privadas de Perú como
requisito para ingreso y titulación.
A diferencia de otras pruebas al idioma inglés, IELTS es reconocido por
universidades de alto prestigio en toda Europa y no sólo en Estados
Unidos. Si lo que estás buscando es ser aceptado en alguna universidad
del Reino Unido o Canadá, IELTS es la prueba que se solicita.

¿Qué formatos tiene IELTS?

IELTS tiene dos formatos disponibles.
Académico: evalúa las habilidades requeridas para quienes buscan estudiar
alguna carrera o cursar un posgrado en países donde el inglés es el idioma
oficial.
General Training: se centra en las habilidades generales de supervivencia
en contextos sociales o laborales. Es requerido para quienes tienen
pensado migrar a países angloparlantes. Las personas que buscan
cambiar su residencia a Australia, Canadá, Nueva Zelanda o Reino Unido
deben presentar esta prueba.
Comúnmente, la institución que solicita los resultados del examen informa
a los interesados cuál de las dos versiones es la que deben realizar.

¿Cómo se miden los resultados de IELTS?

Por su formato, los usuarios de IELTS no aprueban ni reprueban el
examen. Los resultados de la evaluación se reportan en niveles banda que
van del más bajo (1) al más alto (9).

Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)

Basic user Independent u

CEFR A1 A2 B1

IELTS 4 4.5 5 5.5

¿Cómo se evalúa IELTS?

El examen está compuesto por cuatro etapas a realizarse en un tiempo
menor a tres horas: pruebas de lectura y escritura, así como una
evaluación de comprensión auditiva y otra oral.
Ten en cuenta que en la modalidad IELTS computer delivered, el examen
oral y el escrito tienen lugar el mismo día. El examen oral puede ser antes
o después del examen escrito. En situaciones excepcionales, el examen
oral puede ser un día antes o después del escrito.
El día que se presenta, la evaluación de IELTS se divide de la siguiente
manera:
 Prueba de lectura: 1 hora
 Prueba de escritura: 1 hora
 Prueba auditiva: 40 min
 Prueba oral 11-14 minutos
Prueba de lectura
En tres secciones se presentan 40 preguntas de diferente tipo a lecturas de
corte académico y general. Se leen un promedio de entre 2,150 y 2,750
palabras. La prueba tiene una duración de 60 minutos.
Prueba de escritura

Se solicita a los usuarios escribir textos con temas de interés general en un

estilo formal y semiformal. Dos de ellos deberán tener una extensión de al
menos 150 palabras y dos más de 250 palabras. La prueba tiene una
duración de 60 minutos.

Prueba auditiva

En cuatro secciones se presentan 40 preguntas de diferente tipo. El usuario

escuchará una conversación entre dos personas en un contexto social
común, un monólogo en un contexto social común, una conversación de
cuatro personas en un contexto de educación o profesional, y por último, un
monólogo en un contexto académico. La prueba tiene una duración de 40
minutos.
Prueba oral

Se solicita que el usuario tenga una entrevista cara a cara con un

examinador. El encuentro se divide en tres partes:

Introducción y entrevista (3-4 minutos)

El examinador se presenta, pide al usuario presentarse y le realiza

preguntas generales sobre su familia, trabajo o estudios.

Turno largo individual (3-4 minutos)

El examinador le otorga al candidato una tarjeta con un tema concreto.

Quien realiza el examen tiene un minuto para preparar su intervención y
tomar notas. Al final, el examinador hace preguntas sobre el tema
desarrollado.

Discusión (4-5 minutos)

El examinador continúa haciendo preguntas al usuario sobre el tema

previamente desarrollado.
La prueba tiene una duración total de 11-14 minutos.
 Test format
The IELTS test assesses your abilities in listening,
reading, writing and speaking – in less than three
hours.
There are two types of IELTS: Academic and General Training. Listening and
Speaking are the same for both tests, but the subject matter of the Reading and
Writing sections differs depending on which test you take.

The Listening, Reading and Writing sections of all IELTS tests are compl eted on
the same day, with no breaks in between them.

The Speaking section, however, can be completed up to a week before or after

the other tests. Your test centre will advise.

The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes.

 Listening
 Academic Reading
 General Training Reading
 Academic Writing
 General Training Writing
 Speaking

Test format – Listening

30 minutes

You will listen to four recordings of native English speakers and then write
your answers to a series of questions.

 Recording 1 – a conversation between two people set in an everyday

social context.
 Recording 2 - a monologue set in an everyday social context, e.g. a
speech about local facilities.
 Recording 3 – a conversation between up to four people set in an
educational or training context, e.g. a university tutor and a student
discussing an assignment.
 Recording 4 - a monologue on an academic subject, e.g. a university
lecture.
Assessors will be looking for evidence of your ability to understand the main ideas
and detailed factual information, the opinions and attitudes of speakers, the purpose
of an utterance and evidence of your ability to follow the development of ideas.
IELTS Listening description

There are four sections with ten questions each. The questions are
designed so that the answers appear in the order they are heard in the
audio.

The first two sections deal with situations set in everyday social
contexts. In Section 1, there is a conversation between two speakers
(for example, a conversation about travel arrangements), and in
Section 2, there is a monologue in (for example, a speech about local
Paper format
facilities). The final two sections deal with situations set in educational
and training contexts. In Section 3, there is a conversation between
two main speakers (for example, two university students in discussion,
perhaps guided by a tutor), and in Section 4, there is a monologue on
an academic subject.

The recordings are heard only once. They include a range of accents,
including British, Australian, New Zealand, American and Canadian.

Timing Approximately 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes transfer time).

No. of
40
questions

A variety of question types are used, chosen from the following:

Task types multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling,
form/note/table/flow-chart/summary completion, sentence completion.

Test takers write their answers on the question paper as they listen
and at the end of the test are given 10 minutes to transfer their
Answering answers to an answer sheet. Care should be taken when writing
answers on the answer sheet as poor spelling and grammar are
penalised.

Marks Each question is worth 1 mark.

IELTS Listening in detail

A detailed look at the paper with links to related resources.

Task type 1 – Multiple choice

In multiple choice tasks, there is a question followed by three

possible answers, or the beginning of a sentence followed by three
possible ways to complete the sentence. Test takers are required to
choose the one correct answer - A, B or C.
Task type and
format
Sometimes, test takers are given a longer list of possible answers
and told that they have to choose more than one. In this case, they
should read the question carefully to check how many answers are
required.

Multiple choice questions are used to test a wide range of skills.

The test taker may be required to have a detailed understanding of
Task focus
specific points or an overall understanding of the main points of the
listening text.

No. of
Variable
questions
Task type 2 – Matching

Test takers are required to match a numbered list of items from the
Task type and
listening text to a set of options on the question paper. The set of
format
options may be criteria of some kind.

Matching assesses the skill of listening for detail and whether a test
taker can understand information given in a conversation on an
everyday topic, such as the different types of hotel or guest house
Task focus accommodation. It also assesses the ability to follow a conversation
between two people. It may also be used to assess test takers’ ability
to recognise relationships and connections between facts in the
listening text.

No. of
Variable
questions
Task type 3 – Plan, map, diagram labelling
 Test takers are required to complete labels on a plan (eg of a
Task type and building), map (eg of part of a town) or diagram (e.g. of a piece of
format equipment). The answers are usually selected from a list on the
question paper.

This type of task assesses the ability to understand, for example, a

description of a place, and to relate this to a visual representation.
Task focus
This may include being able to follow language expressing spatial
relationships and directions (e.g. straight on/through the far door).

No. of
Variable
questions
Task type 4 – Form, note, table, flow-chart, summary completion

Test takers are required to fill in the gaps in an outline of part or of

all of the listening text. The outline will focus on the main ideas/facts
in the text. It may be:
1. a form: often used to record factual details such as names
2. a set of notes: used to summarise any type of information using
the layout to show how different items relate to one another
3. a table: used as a way of summarising information which relates
to clear categories – e.g. place/time/price,
4. a flow-chart: used to summarise a process which has clear
stages, with the direction of the process shown by arrows.
Task type and
Test takers may have to select their answers from a list on the
format
question paper or identify the missing words from the recording,
keeping to the word limit stated in the instructions. Test takers do
not have to change the words from the recording in any way.

Test takers should read the instructions very carefully as the

number of words or numbers they should use to fill the gaps will
vary. A word limit is given, for example, ‘NO MORE THAN TWO
WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’. Test takers are penalised for
writing more than the stated number of words, and test takers
should check this word limit carefully for each task. Contracted
words will not be tested. Hyphenated words count as single words.
 This focuses on the main points which a listener would naturally
Task focus
record in this type of situation.

No. of
Variable
questions
Task type 5 – Sentence completion

Test takers are required to read a set of sentences summarising

key information from all the listening text or from one part of it.
They then fill a gap in each sentence using information from the
listening text. A word limit is given, for example, ‘NO MORE THAN
ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER’.
Task type and
format
Test takers are penalised for writing more than the stated number
of words. (Test takers should check this word limit carefully for
each task: the limit is either ONE, TWO or THREE words).
Contracted words will not be tested. Hyphenated words count as
single words.

Sentence completion focuses on the ability to identify the key

Task focus information in a listening text. Test takers have to understand
functional relationships such as cause and effect.

No. of
Variable
questions
Task type 6 – Short-answer questions

Test takers are required to read a question and then write a short
answer using information from the listening text. A word limit is
given, for example, ‘NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR
Task type and A NUMBER’. Test takers are penalised for writing more than the
format stated number of words. (Test takers should check this word limit
carefully for each task.) Contracted words will not be tested.
Hyphenated words count as single words. Sometimes test takers
are given a question which asks them to list two or three points.

Sentence completion focuses on the ability to listen for concrete

Task focus
facts, such as places, prices or times, within the listening text.

No. of
Variable
questions
IELTS Listening – how it's marked
The Listening test is marked by certificated markers, who are regularly
monitored to ensure their reliability. All answer sheets, after being marked,
are further analysed by Cambridge Assessment English.

Band score conversion

A Band Score conversion table is produced for each version of the Listening
test which translates scores out of 40 into the IELTS 9-band scale. Scores
are reported in whole bands and half bands.

One mark is awarded for each correct answer in the 40-item test. Care
should be taken when writing answers on the answer sheet as poor spelling
and grammar are penalised.
 Sample test questions
Prepare for your IELTS test by practising with free
sample questions
There are two types of IELTS test to choose from, IELTS Academic or IELTS
General Training. All test takers take the same Listening and Speaking tests but
different Reading and Writing tests. Make sure that you prepare for the correct
version of the test.

Using the practice materials in this section will enable you to:

 familiarise yourself with the test format

 experience the types of tasks you will be asked to undertake
 test yourself under timed conditions
 review your answers and compare them with model answers.

 Listening
 Academic Reading
 General Training Reading
 Academic Writing
 General Training Writing
 Speaking

Speaking
Duration: 11–14 minutes

In the Speaking test, you have a discussion with a certified examiner. It is

interactive and as close to a real-life situation as a test can get.

There are three parts to the test and each part fulfils a specific function in
terms of interaction pattern, task input and test taker output.

In Part 1, you answer questions about yourself and your family. In Part 2,
you speak about a topic. In Part 3, you have a longer discussion on the
topic.

The Speaking test is the same for both Academic and General Training
versions. Each of the three parts is designed to test a different aspect of
your communication ability.
Find out more about the Speaking test

General Training Writing

Duration: 60 minutes

The General Writing test consists of two writing tasks of 150 words
and 250 words.

In Task 1, test takers are asked to respond to a situation by writing a

letter, for example, requesting information or explaining a situation.

In Task 2, test takers write an essay in response to a point of view,

argument or problem.

Academic Writing
Duration: 60 minutes

The Academic Writing tests consist of two writing tasks of 150 words
and 250 words.

In Task 1, test takers are asked to describe some visual information

(graph/table/chart/diagram). They need to write 150 words in about 20
minutes. In Task 2 test takers are presented with a point of view or
argument or problem. They need to write their response in 250 words
in about 40 minutes.

Below are samples of Task 1 and Task 2.

Please note that test takers for IELTS Academic take a different
Writing test in IELTS General Training.

General Training Reading

Duration: 60 minutes

A variety of tasks is used including; multiple choice questions,

identifying information, identifying writer’s views/claims, matching
information, matching headings, matching features, matching sente nce
endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion,
table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion,
short-answer questions.

Academic Reading
Duration: 60 minutes

Texts for the Academic Reading test are taken from books, journals,
magazines and newspapers.

A variety of tasks is used, including: multiple choice questions,

identifying information, identifying writer’s views/claims, matching
information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence
endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion,
table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion,
short-answer questions.