My IELTS Classroom Podcast

IELTS 101: Introduction to the IELTS exam

May 01, 2020 Shelly Cornick and Nick Lone Episode 1
My IELTS Classroom Podcast
IELTS 101: Introduction to the IELTS exam
Show Notes Transcript Chapter Markers

Welcome to My IELTS Classroom podcast. In the first episode of our IELTS 101 series, Nick and I introduce you to the basics of the IELTS test. If you are just starting your IELTS preparation, then this is the perfect episode for you, as we cover everything from what "IELTS" means to how your final score is calculated (and everything in between!). You can find the full episode notes for this episode and a transcript of the conversation at http://podcast.myieltsclassroom.com/

Episode Notes

The world of IELTS can seem a bit scary when you first start your preparation - but I promise that it doesn't have to be! Nick and I  work hard to make taking IELTS as painless as possible (and even a little but fun!) Today, we want to start right from the very beginning by taking you through all of the basic facts about the IELTS exam.

In this episode, you will learn the answers to these questions:

  1. What does the word IELTS mean (and how is it pronounced!)?
  2. Who are Cambridge, IDP and the British Council?
  3. How can you choose the best IELTS test centre in your local area?
  4. Why do people need to take the IELTS exam?
  5. What is the differences between the Academic IELTS exam and the General Training IELTS exam?
  6. What do the IELTS scores mean (and how can you understand your current level)?
  7. Should you sit the new computer-based IELTS test or stick with the original paper-based test?

In fact, by the end of the lesson you will have all of the information you need to start your IELTS preparation in the best possible way.

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spk_1:   0:03
Welcome to my eye out

spk_0:   0:05
classroom. The podcast where two ex examiners talk away things I ops. I'm Shelley Cornick and I make love on today it's ill to 101 The absolute basics. What is the arts exam? Why'd you need to take it now? What does the test involved way? Welcome

spk_1:   0:28
to the first ever episode of my Isles classroom. How unique.

spk_0:   0:33
I'm really good. Thank you. Nice and sunny outside about 15 degrees and just very happy Overall.

spk_1:   0:40
Fantastic. I like to hear that. So this is the first episode of my eyelids classroom. Tell minute. What is the purpose ofthe this podcast? Why have we decided to sit down twice a week to talk about isles?

spk_0:   0:55
Well, basically, this podcast wass designed to answer some of the more common questions that we get from ill students on DH to tackle a few myths on, basically just to give students some basic on, sometimes detailed information into what they can expect from the aisles test.

spk_1:   1:16
That's right. I think there's so much information about isles online that it could become really confusing the students. So I thought this would be a great place where students can come, learn, share and just really have a bit of fun. So what we're going to do today is start a Siri's that we've called Eilts 101 That's going to be five episodes that cover all of the basic information about the aisles exam. So if you are new to coyotes, you are absolutely in the right place. However, if you've been preparing for ions for a few months, if you've taken the test before and you already know what to expect on DH, how I'll test your level of English that maybe these 1st 5 episodes are not the best place for you. You might want to skip ahead to Episode six when Nick and I discuss some Eilts myths and facts that a great episode and I really recommend it. But if you are new to islands or you just want to refresh your information, then this is the place to be a way. So in this episode, we're going to go through some of the most basic information about the aisles test. So, Nick, why don't you tell us the most basic of all information? What does the word ill to me?

spk_0:   2:47
Eilts stands for the international English language testing system.

spk_1:   2:54
That's right on DH. I mean, I don't know, actually, how much how many students take the aisles test each year,

spk_0:   3:01
or I don't know. I probably guess tens of thousands across the world.

spk_1:   3:06
I mean, I think the last statistic that I saw was around three million, But that was a few years ago. So I mean, I was really is the biggest language test or the most common or the most popular language test in the world on DH Ayotte's is actually is an organisation which is actually run or administered by three companies. Um, do you know what they are? Nick?

spk_0:   3:31
So we've got the British Council on. We've got Cambridge on DH. We have I d p.

spk_1:   3:39
That is correct. Now, this is strange, right? Nick and I were both examiners for I d p. Do you know what I d p stands for?

spk_0:   3:47
I'm gonna guess good life. I was wrong. International. Yeah, something. Yes,

spk_1:   3:56
International development programme. I didn't only found that out this morning, so I always just call it a DP. I think it's really important to understand what the relationship is between these three organisations. because it causes students a lot of confusion, which is really unnecessary. So I want you to imagine a pyramid and at the top of the pyramid we've got Cambridge or the Cambridge University Press on their job is to create the test. So they are the people who choose the reading questions who invent the essay questions on Cambridge. Actually, they write lots of different exams, not just isles. Do you know some of the other tests that run by Cambridge? Nick.

spk_0:   4:39
Yes, they're So there's this cat and pet, which are the two kind of lower level English exams. Then we've got FC, which is first certificate. Yeah, which is about upper intermediate level. And then we have C A, which is Cambridge advanced English, which is the highest level. As far as I'm aware, the highest level English

spk_1:   4:59
think there's a proficiency

spk_0:   5:01
test Well, but that's like proficient,

spk_1:   5:03
crazy, difficult. Nobody's hates it but basically came with you. The people who write the test. And once they've written the test, their job was finished. They passed those tests to the British Council, or I D. P on the British Council or I D. P. They are in control ofthe. Making sure the test is distributed is done correctly in terms of security that all of the test centres run correctly. So when you set your test, your test centre will either be controlled by the British Council or by I DP and this is the important thing. It does not matter if your test centre is an idea pee test centre or a British Council test centre. You were going to sit the same test. The test has come from Cambridge. Remember, you're also your examiners are going to be trained in exactly the same way. In fact, many examiners test for I. D. P and British Council. Essentially, there is absolutely no difference between a British Council test centre, andan idee pee test centre. They just have a different name and administrating body. However, there is sometimes a different between test centres because each test centre, although it's controlled by either British Council or I'd BP, is actually an individual business. It's a bit like a franchise, so I wouldn't just give you like an example to help you understand this. So, Nick, when we worked at the same school just up the road, there was a subway restaurant. I don't know if you remember it.

spk_0:   6:42
Remember it? Well,

spk_1:   6:43
yeah, On on a Monday, I used to teach our business in the morning on. Then I had afternoon classes at the school and I didn't have time to go home. So every Monday I went to that subway restaurant to have lunch on. I always had the same thing. I always had, like, the sub of the day. I think it was ham with some salad, right? And when they asked in the subway, Do you want salad? I always said, Yeah, I want everything. So I would get letters, peppers, olives, those really nice, Like hot chilli things. Yeah, they're good, right? Plus plus two sources. So for me, that's what a subway was, right? You got you meet, you got all the cellars and you've got two sources. And then a couple of months after doing that for a couple of months, I was in another part of the city and I thought, Oh, you know, I'm going to get a subway for lunch. So I chose my bread. I chose the meet, and then they asked me for salad, and I said, I'll have everything and they said nine. You can't have everything. You can only have three things. And I was a bit confused cause I was like But it's subway. You can have everything on the same thing when I want the source. They'd only let me have one sort eso I was still eating subway. I was still getting the sandwich but there was just a little bit of difference in the service that I got on. I think that is how you should think about different aisles test centres.

spk_0:   8:07
Well, I'll test centres don't have different salads. So what is difference?

spk_1:   8:12
Alright, that's really true. So the difference is really small. Remember, the test that you sit is gonna be the same. The examiner's gonna have the same thing, so everything about the test will be exactly the same. It will just be about the service you get. So for example, it could be where do you sit? The test? Are you sitting in a really nice hotel which is comfortable and air conditioned, or are you in an average room in a small building which is quite hot? It could be for the listening test that you have headphones. Or it could be that you're just listening to a CD in a room, which isn't, I don't think is as easy. It could also be something simple, like the people who work in the administration are just really friendly. You know, that can make a massive difference. People have really stressed on exam day, and if you arrive at the test centre and there's a smiling face on DH, everybody treats you really well. That's gonna automatically relax you. Where's if you feel like which I've heard from some test centres? You're treated a bit like a sheep. Like come in, taking money, sit the test. That's not gonna help you get your best performance. So, you know, I would say Forget the difference between British Council and I DP but do spend a little bit of time having a look at the test centres that are available in your city on which one has got good reviews. Trust me, you'll be able to find that if you just google your test centres, I'm sure you'll find lots and lots ofthe positive and negative reviews on like so yet. But in general that you know the Isles is not just one organisation. It's three. If you want to sit, I'll how can you find a test centre?

spk_0:   9:57
Well, as far as I'm aware, the all you need to do is to go on to the official Eilts website on Be an option to book a test on. Then you. Obviously you'll need to choose your country. Andi. It will just give you a list ofthe places and test dates where you can take the test.

spk_1:   10:14
That's right. So that's the time when you could Once you know the names of the test centres in your area, you could then maybe Google and find out the reviews. And we'll put a link on our website on our podcast page on our website so that you can directly go to the Isles website and you can make sure you're looking in the right place. Now what about where you sit? The test. Is it important to sit the test in the country where you're from? So we're British. Do we need to set sit the test in the UK?

spk_0:   10:47
Absolutely no. So you can take a Niles test in any country in the world. So, for example, if you are a French student and you're studying in Lithuania, then you'll be able to take the test in Lithuania. Thie Only thing that I think might be different is the communication off the staff now, Ideally, all the staff will be speaking English anyway, so that shouldn't be an issue in terms of if you have a different language from the country where you're living, working or studying.

spk_1:   11:18
Yeah, that's a very good point. I think on test A ll, the administrative staff should speak English. Although I'm thinking of my old test centre and I remember one of the girls. I'm not sure if they all do, but, I mean, that shouldn't really be a problem, because the test will be the same. But that is a very good point on the main thing is price. I mean, I'm going to be honest, and isles test is not cheap. You know roughly how much they are with a minute, Nick, I'm not really sure.

spk_0:   11:48
I think there are around 171 £190 which in dollars is about just over 200. I think

spk_1:   11:56
that's right. Yeah. And and again, that is something that does change per country and even like by Test centre. So that's another thing you might want to consider when you're thinking about where to sit. But as long as you're an official test centre run by I DP or British Council, everything is going to be fine. The other important thing to think about is time. I'll certificates are no valid forever. There is a limit, which is is two years, right?

spk_0:   12:24
Yesteryear's exactly

spk_1:   12:25
yeah, and it's two years from the day you sit the test, not from the day you get your results. Could you have to wait a couple of weeks for the results? So you need to think about that as well before you book. But two years is a long time. Usually that's plenty of time for the students to use their certificate. Which brings us nicely to the next question. Why would you want to sit and isles test? Why would you pay $200 to sit this English exam? Well, actually, there's not just one isles test. There's two. There's an academic test on a general training test on the one you take will depend on why you need an ill certificate. So why would somebody take it and the Academic isles paper.

spk_0:   13:11
So the academic test is is mostly designed for people who want to study in a foreign country. In English eso bachelors, masters degrees students on DH would need to take the outs. Academic test also, maybe people who are moving abroad for professional reasons, So maybe doctors or something like that on then we have the general training, which is for it's for more sort of straightforward migration to another country to prove that your level is is good enough to exist and survive in the country of choice.

spk_1:   13:47
That's right, and actually often, especially if you're going to somewhere like Canada or Australia. The higher the score you get on the test, the more points you're going to get, which is gonna hopefully increase the chance that you can migrate to another country. It's probably also worth mentioning here if you're planning to migrate to the U. K. Andi So you're you're trying to get a UK visa. Maybe you're married to somebody British or your family or there you need to sit something called the U. K V. I test Now. This is really confusing for students. What is the U K V. I test Well, it's just the academic test. So you're going to sit the academic paper. But you're gonna do it in much more secure circumstances because it's for a visa. So they want to cheque. That is really you. So you're going to be video throughout the whole test, but is still the academic papers. You're still going to need to prepare for the academic paper, But make sure if you're applying for UK visa used, you choose and find a centre that has the U. K V I test. I just had that here with one of my friends, and they're not as many of those tests is normal one. So you do need to prepare in advanced now may sit. So if we've got academic for studying abroad or registering as a professional and jet general training for migration, can the students study like if I want to migrate and I've already got an academic I'll certificate. Can I use that certificate?

spk_0:   15:20
You cannot use that certificate. No, you need. You need to get the one that is required by the terms of your migration. So if you are migrating for education, then you need the academic one. Even if you have a good scoring A general training I arts exam.

spk_1:   15:37
Yeah, which, you know that is quite annoying. I stand on. I've worked with some students who migrate to Canada, so they need the general test because they're migrating. And then when they arrived there, pharmacists. So they need to register as a professional, so they then need to sit the academic test. That's quite common. I cannot say clearly enough. Make sure you know which test you need. I mean, I think we've explained it quite clearly, But if you're not sure you can email us, don't waste your money sitting the wrong test. So I think once you know if you're an academic or a general training student, the next question is, what score do you need now? I'll is a different type of test to many of the other Cambridge tests that Nick described at the beginning. Kept pet first difficult. In many English tests, you either pass or you fail. Isles is different. Aisles is pretty amazing. A student enters the aisles test room on. They could be elementary, or they could be a native speaker on at the end of four hours after sitting the test. Amazingly, the exam will accurately give you a score that reflects your level of English. So the way the schools were is they go from a zero, which, let's be honest name. You've got to be dead, I think get zero, or you just don't come like you pay the money. But you don't come to the centre. Right? So we've got zero on it goes up. So 1234 plus you can get half band. So you could be for 4.55 on the highest score is in nine, which I guess would mean that you can communicate to the same level as a native speaker. Yeah, so you know, we've only got nine points or against 18 with the half points on that goes from, like zero English two perfect of English. Now, the good news is it's very, very, very, very unlikely that you will need a nine. I mean, almost nobody needs a nine unless you want to become an islander examiner. Most students that we teach, they need somewhere between a six and a seven. Andi, please. You need to find out your school. I can't tell you what score you need. It will depend if you're going to study at university. Most of the time. If you're studying for a bachelor degree, you'll need a six. If it's a masters, you need a 6.5 is if if it's a PhD, you'll need a seven. But every university is different. So when students email me and say, I got a six, Is this enough for the University of Newcastle? I don't know. You need to go to the University of Newcastle website and cheque. What they are asking for sometimes is lower. Yeah, so you must cheque for migration. Migration is a bit different. As I said before, Sometimes the scores you get are connected to the number of points you will get towards your visa application. So Nick and I worked with many students who were trying to migrate to Canada. On Biff, you get the Magic school for Canada 8777 That means you get I think, 50 bonus points towards your visa application. And for most people, that means they will get expressed entry. They will be in Canada in six months time. It's amazing Australia. Now again, Australia has become very difficult that their points really high now and they're changing all the time, so you really need to cheque what schools you need. Unfortunately, only your visa agent or the migration website can really tell you that information. But just to help, everybody understands. We're talking about 67 and eight. How would you describe the level of somebody who needs a sex?

spk_0:   20:00
Well, a six. It's usually somebody who's around on upper intermediate level soul by the European framework. That would be a B two in English.

spk_1:   20:11
That's right. I mean, you know, if any of you have studied English at school and you've got an English textbook, if you turn and look at the back of that textbook, it will probably have a number like B one B two or see one that will tell you generally what your level of English is, I'd say like yet I think six is like a sort of low upper intermediate students. High intermediate shooting 6.5 is like a good, strong upper intermediate student. And if you want seven, that's a advance,

spk_0:   20:43
Yeah, pushing into advanced.

spk_1:   20:44
Yeah, so it doesn't look like much of a difference, right? Six and a seven is only one point, but that is a lot of hours of English study. I think they did. I think that somebody did a some research and they discovered to increase by one band score. You had to study 200 hours of English. Yeah, which makes sense because, you know, Nick and I before we just focus on islands, we spent many, many while I did things a bit younger than me. I spent many, many years teaching general English classes. And if you think about it, if we had like an intermediate group, we would spend six months. I guess

spk_0:   21:28
it's about, yeah, six months. It's about 26 weeks, six hours a week. So, you know,

spk_1:   21:36
it's about 150 hours, then safe each level. So, you know, I cannot say this enough. If you now are an intermediate student, you know, So that would be a 5.5. And you need a seven, which is advanced. You should really stop thinking about isles for about a year, and you should just go. I would say Find a good language school on just study an upper intermediate course an advanced course on, then come back, definitely to sit the test. I think that is much, much, much quicker and less depressing because your isles is no, your school is not going to improve just by practising. I'll

spk_0:   22:22
yeah, you need to improve your English as well first.

spk_1:   22:24
Yet absolutely, because essentially isles test two things. It has your level of English on your academic skills. But if your level of English isn't high enough at the beginning, it's impossible to get the scores you need. So really, really be honest when you start. How good is my level of English? Is it good enough to get the school that I need? If you don't know if you're B one B two, if they just sound like numbers to you, are put a link. I've got really good block post that's called how to start preparing for islets. And on there there is a great link to a Cambridge site where you can do a quick test that will tell you your rough levels. It will say, if you will be won or be, too. That could help some of you who maybe didn't learn English in a structured way. Maybe you just grew up in speaking the language. So that will give you an idea of your current level, but definitely English first and then ions preparation second. Uh huh. Hey, I'm German from India and this is my classroom. Hello, My name's Michael. This's my cluster Khalida. And this is my eyes class, my child hospital. This is my fault, Castro. This's my stressful. All right, so we're talking about the scores. You're going to get a six a 6.57 How are you going to get those scores? Why don't you tell us about the four parts of the test?

spk_0:   24:04
So the aisles test tests for different skills. Your listening skills, You're speaking skills, your reading skills on your writing skills on DH. The listening on the speaking identical on both the academic and the general training test. The writing there is a slight difference in the in the academic writing. You will be asked to analyse a graph or a chart on in the general training. You are us to write a letter, so think about that. You know, academic, you are going to university potentially, so you need to understand how to analyse things and how to write about it. Whereas the general training migration you're going to be living in a society communicating, whether people. So it's important to be able to understand how people write letters or complain a CZ we like to do about things in English. Yeah,

spk_1:   24:59
different functions really, isn't it? Like apologise? Complain? Yeah, Interestingly, though, although there's two tasks in the writing, the Tass one's different. But the task to in both test you're gonna have to write this essay. Yeah, so sorry, General Training students Evening. You're gonna have to write. Oh, what about reading? That's slightly different as well, isn't it?

spk_0:   25:24
Yes, it is, but I can't exactly remember how. So you're gonna have to explain this one, all

spk_1:   25:29
right. So, essentially, is there an academic paper? You're going to get three quite long academic texts, so they are text based on psychology or sport with biology on DH. Then you'll have either 13 or 14 questions for each of those texts. There's just three kind of big 800 word text in the general training test. Like Nick said, general training is testing. If you could live and function in an English speaking country. So you also have three sections, but you may have more than three text. There are a lot of short text in Section one and two, maybe just a short advertise advertisement for a job with three or four questions and then some information about parking at a university with five or six questions. So still the same number of questions, but just more mohr different styles of text to read, which we're going to talk about in a couple of episodes time, I guess. The main thing is, though, is that for each of those tests, you're going to be given one of those scores between zero and nine, and then at the end they will take the average of those scores to give you an overall school. Now, I think I also is quite generous when they calculate your overall score. So if your average is a point to five, they round up. So, for example, if you got 666.56 point five, so the averages 6.25 they'll put you up to 6.5 if you get a 0.125 So if you hate maths. But if you got 6666.5 only 16.5, you would stay at a six. Um, most of the time, people only ask for your overall score. However, if you're looking for the Canada migration or for some high level university courses like a PhD, they may ask you to have a minimum score in each section. So they may say, OK, we want an overall seven, but a minimum of 6.5 in each section. So it's no good if you get nine for listening because you're great and listening and you get a five for speaking if they want a minimum of 6.5 you felt so again is really, really important to know what scores you need. Oh, and actually, this is a common question. A lot of students say okay, if I sit the test and I get all of my scores for listening, speaking of reading. But my writing score isn't good enough. Can I just sit the writing part of the test again?

spk_0:   28:18
Absolutely not.

spk_1:   28:20
No, I mean ahs a human. I wish you could, because I understand it's so frustrating, but you have to sit the whole test again, and you need everything in one test. Although there was an exception, if you were a nurse, they now allow you to combine two test papers, Actually. Wow. Okay. Yeah, Yeah, that's quite a new development. But, I mean, if you're a nurse, you can email may I'll explain it to you. There are quite a lot off rules, but it is possible to combine two papers. But for most people, if you do badly in writing, I'm afraid you're gonna have to sit the whole test again. The campaign of the $200. All right, So on our website, I'll also put a little chart that shows how I'll scores compared to the c f d. R and tow for schools and other tests. So if you've done other tests, you can have a look that might help you to understand the type of school come that you can expect. All right. So those with a different head test, maybe we can talk a little bit now about when you take these

spk_0:   29:28
tests. So usually the test will be taken on one day usually, but it can happen, especially if it's a very busy test centre that the test will be over two days. The most important thing to remember is that the listening, reading and writing will all be on the same day, and it will always be back to back in the same place. So you got three hour block of three different tests, and they'll all be in the same place now. What's very common is that the speaking is in a different place or can sometimes be on a different day, even and it really depends on how busy are tested. Neri's the numbers of students who take the test that day. So you're speaking. Test could be even before the rest of your test. Or it could be straight after it or it could be a couple of days after it.

spk_1:   30:13
Yeah, I think I think the rule is that it's two days before

spk_0:   30:17
are up to a week after, right? Yeah, yeah,

spk_1:   30:20
yeah, definitely. And that's because the speaking test you will take face to face with an examiner. So every student needs 15 minutes with the Examiner, which is why they have tto have this extra time. Sometimes, I would say, if you need to travel to your test centre If you're coming from another city, If you tell them that they will try Teo, give you a speaking time on the same day because that is usually possible. And again if they don't maybe choose a different test centre. This is what I'm saying about, like noise test centres, friendly tear centres. They should, if you're travelling, do their best to get you on the same day. Um I love finally. So now we know you know the difference between the papers What? The tests will involve how the schools work. There's only one other thing you have to decide as a student, which is how you won't take the test until relatively recently. Until about a year ago, there was no choice here. All test test A ll test takers took the aisles test using a paper and pencil. It was quite old fashioned, actually. I think now in 2000 and 22 sit down and take a test with a pen and pencil. Recently, I'll have introduced a computer based test. Now the computer based test is the same test. There is no difference in the questions you are asked. You know it's the same. Cambridge wrote the test. The only difference is how you will physically complete the test on DH. I've gotta block post. There are lots of different reasons why students may prefer one or the other. Some students don't like reading on a computer. They prefer having the physical paper in the paper test. Some students hate writing with a pencil. They prefer typing their answer into a computer. I think the best way to decide which one you prefer just to try them both. Um, Now, apart from your personal preference, there are only two other small differences. Number one is the cost, so the computer delivered test is slightly more expensive than the paper test is. No, a massive amount. I think it's 20 or $30 but it is more expensive. The more relevant one, though maybe the time it takes for you to get the results. If you sit a paper based test, you will always wait 13 days before your results are delivered. If you set the computer test, you will get your results up to seven days later. Very often it's within one or two days, to be honest, because they get sent to the huge marking hubs. Now, if you are well prepared and planning ahead of time if you're listening to this, you probably are that time won't make a difference. But if you're applying for a migration visa on your points change because your birthday is coming You know, as you get older, you usually get less points. You may need that result quickly, so that can sometimes make a big difference to people on their applications for visas or universities. So that's another thing you should think about, I think Come as your planet, I mean, I don't know what would you take, Nick paper or a computer?

spk_0:   33:54
Um, honestly, I don't know. I think I think I would probably take paper. Actually, I hate it. I hate writing, but I just I think it feels dystopian and cold. Taking a computer test.

spk_1:   34:09
Yeah, I agree. I mean, I'm a bit of an old dinosaur, so I kind of like the traditional paper and pencil. But I do think the writing is I personally think the writing is easier, much easier on the computer, because you we don't, right. We don't start writing now doing just way. Edit amend copy paste cut. I think that's much easier in the computer test, but that is personal. I everyone, this is any car. This is my eyes classroom. I study with my classroom because ofthe she's amazing teaching site or in all the videos, whatever, she explained. It's really simple and yet fun. It doesn't make you feel bored at the same time. The practise activities helps you to test yourself by your mistakes on rectify them. So it's rewarded. All right, so let's test Nick to see if he's been listening in this effort. So with a few quick fire questions. So, Nick, how much is the aisles? Test

spk_0:   35:11
cost about $200. Very

spk_1:   35:13
good. How long does this certificate last?

spk_0:   35:16
Two years.

spk_1:   35:17
Excellent. If you are a doctor and you want to register for your PAP test in the UK with the GMC which test you need to see it.

spk_0:   35:27
You need to take the academic test.

spk_1:   35:29
You do. If you are a student who wants to travel to Canada on DH wants 50 bonus points for fast entry. What score do you need?

spk_0:   35:41
Ah, seven.

spk_1:   35:44
Almost within 88777 It is for listening okay. It must be in listening. All right. Very good. Your speaking test could be on a different day to the other exams. How many days before? Could it be

spk_0:   36:00
two days before?

spk_1:   36:01
Very good. How many days after

spk_0:   36:03
up to seven days after?

spk_1:   36:05
That's right. If you take the paper based test, how many days do you need to wait before you get your result?

spk_0:   36:13
Up to 13 days,

spk_1:   36:15
It is 13. That one never comes early. Very good. Is 13 days on DH. Finally, let's question about the scores. If you are going to a university to study for a bachelor degree, what score do you usually need?

spk_0:   36:35
Usually you need a 6.0 or 6.5, depending on the country.

spk_1:   36:40
That's right. So should you trust us, or should you cheque with the university? You are going, Tio.

spk_0:   36:45
You absolutely should cheque with the university first.

spk_1:   36:49
Very good. Yeah, well done. Now I think we'll just finish them with one final question, which is really common. How long does it take to prepare for isles?

spk_0:   37:01
So, after having many years of experience teaching above general English and isles, I am pretty confident insane that wants your level, ese upper intermediate good upper Intermediate. So we're talking a solid B two in English. Preparing for the aisles exam itself takes about 10 to 12 weeks, depending on how often you study. I think if you're English, level is lower than you. Absolutely should spend six months or even a year spent studying a general English course before you even think about taking isles,

spk_1:   37:42
Nick, I think that is the perfect answer thing. I can't add anything to that. That is absolutely perfect. So that was our introduction to the Isles exam. Now, you should know what test you need, where you can take it. Next episode. We're going to start looking at each part of the test in more detail, starting speaking eyes. Very strange. If you ask a student, what do you like about the town where you live? And then they start telling you, You know, London was founded in 40 45. Henry, is that what you like about your town? I mean, I just relax, you know, obviously. So that's what we'll be discussing in the next episode to make sure you don't miss it. Remember to subscribe to us on iTunes stitcher, Google play or any podcast provider on We'll see you next week.

spk_0:   38:47
My Iove classroom podcast is production of my I R Classroom Limited. Nick and I do not represent eyelets on Everything you heard in this episode is our own personal. You can find the show notes and transcript for this episode on our block. That's blogged dot my classroom dot com. And if you're looking for our video courses speaking lessons on marking service, you can find that at www dot my i's classroom doctor. If you have a question or query or just want to chat, you can t. Melnick and I at hello at my eye ops. Castro dot com Our theme music is by heartbeat on Our artwork is produced by David. Have a great week. Study hard on. Remember, thiss is my Isles classroom. Thanks for listening. We'll see you next week.

Introduction
What does the word IELTS mean?
Who are Cambridge, the British Council and IDP?
How can I find an IELTS test centre?
Why do people need an IELTS certificate?
What score will I need to achieve and what do the scores mean?
How are the General Training and Academic tests different?
Should you take the new computer-based test or sick to pen and paper?