How are the tests marked

1
The International English Language Testing System
IELTS is the worlds most popular English
language test. Over 1.2 million candidates take
the test each year to start their journeys into
international education and employment.
Increased Mobility !!
2. IELTS and the Common European Framework
(CEFR) Since the late 1990s, Cambridge ESOL has
conducted a number of research projects to
explore how IELTS band scores align with the
Common European Framework levels. The figure
below illustrates how the IELTS band scores and
Cambridge ESOL examinations align with one other
and with the levels of the Common European
Framework of Reference and the UK National
Qualifications Framework. It is important to
recognise that the purpose of this figure is to
communicate relationships between tests and
levels in broad terms within a common frame of
reference they should not be interpreted as
reflecting strong claims about exact equivalence
between assessment products or the scores they
generate. (3)
1. ALWAYS LEADING, ALWAYS INNOVATING, ALWAYS
TRUSTED
3. IELTS is the international test for
international mobility

• There have been more than 6 million IELTS
  candidates since 1989.
• IELTS is the fastest growing English language
  test in the world. (4)

IELTS is managed and jointly owned by three
reputable, international organisations University
of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL)
is the world's leading provider of exams for
learners of English. Each year the exams are
taken by around 1.5 million people, in 135
countries.British Council is the UK's
international organisation for educational
opportunity and cultural relations and is
represented in 109 countries worldwide.IDP
IELTS Australia is Australia's international
education organisation. It undertakes a broad
range of activities from student advisory
services and educational publications to project
consultancy and English language teaching and
testing.
Who recognises IELTS? IELTS is not just an
examination to study in the UK!! It is recognised
by more than 6000 institutions across 120
countries. 1. Universities, schools, training
colleges, tertiary institutes 2. Government
departments and agencies3. Professional and
industry bodies
4. Multinational companies and
employersIn Belgium, most higher education
institutions and universities with an English
language entry requirement will accept an IELTS
score. Some will only accept IELTS while other
institutions will accept a range of official
English language qualifications or only certain
specific non-IELTS qualifications. Some
institutions offering courses taught in English
language may still not set any minimum English
language level and leave the responsibility to
the students. In Europe and Belgium, IELTS is
increasingly used for admission into
undergraduate and postgraduate courses taught in
English language, for selecting candidates on
Erasmus-type exchange programmes or as an exit
qualification linked to the Masters. For example,
in Belgium, KUL has currently the largest number
of departments recognising and using IELTS, UCL
has the largest group of ERASMUS students taking
IELTS, FUSAGX is the first institution to offer
IELTS as an exit English language qualification
to their graduating students. In the USA, more
than 2100 institutions recognise IELTS including
all of the top Ivy League universities.
IELTS is one of the most comprehensively
researched tests ever. Todays test is the
product of 30 years of investment in
development and fundamental research. (1) IELTS
contains a huge and continually refreshed bank of
resources so avoiding unwanted repetition of
materials. (2) IELTS innovates by looking at
the scope of English around the globe IELTS
tests draw on a massive bank of learners
English. The unique 32-million word Cambridge
learner corpus helps to target IELTS more
precisely.
How are the tests marked? Candidates are graded
on their performance in the test, using scores
from 1 to 9 for each part of the test
Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Results
from the four parts then produce an Overall Band
Score.Each band corresponds to a level of
English competence. All parts of the test and the
Overall Band Score can be reported in whole and
half bands, eg 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0. ExampleBand
6 Competent user has generally effective
command of the language despite some
inaccuracies, inappropriacies and
misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly
complex language, particularly in familiar
situations.

• IELTS - 20 years of setting the standard
• IELTS is at the cutting edge of English language
  testing. The effectiveness of IELTS has been
  proven since 1989. IELTS test design has
  continued to incorporate advances in applied
  linguistics, language pedagogy, language
  assessment and technology.1. Ongoing research
  and development with an international teams of
  writers.
• 2. A reliable secure test
• - The IELTS nine (9) band score system grades
  scores consistently. It is secure, benchmarked
  and understood worldwide. Test materials are
  designed carefully so that every version of the
  test is of a comparable level of difficulty.
• - Rigorous, quality-assured system for marking
  every IELTS test.
• Quality-controlled system of recruitment,
  training, benchmarking, certification and
  monitoring.
• - Strict standards of quality, security and
  customer service at our test centres.
• 3. Equal opportunity and diversity
• Ongoing research to ensure that IELTS remains
  fair and unbiased and that IELTS encourages,
  reflects and respects international diversity and
  is fair to anyone who sits the test, regardless
  of nationality, background, gender or lifestyle.
• Special needs candidates with a disability or
  condition which might require special
  arrangements can be catered for.

• Added value to IELTS users (the institutions)
• Face to face interview that tests ability to
  interact.
• Free online IELTS Test Report Form Verification
  Service. Enables universities and employers to
  authenticate test report forms and safeguards
  against fraudulent report forms.
• Help with score setting IELTS scores
  explained DVD includes examples of candidates'
  Writing and videos of Speaking performance at
  different band levels.
• Increased visibility for institutions
  recognising IELTS through free online Global
  Recognition Service
• Road to IELTS (120-hour online course for
  institutions preparing candidates).
• Reliable and objective evaluation of students
  levels and no need anymore to design, administer
  own English test
• Washback effect Preparing students for IELTS
  ensures they are developing the essential
  communicative skills needed to work/study in
  English (cf. Morris, 1990 Alderson and
  Hall,1993).

IELTS is available in two test formatsAcademic
( for Institutions of Higher and Further
Education)The Academic format is for those who
want to study or train in an English-speaking
university or Institutions of Higher and Further
Education. Admission to undergraduate and
postgraduate courses is based on the results of
the Academic test.General training (for
school, work or migration)The General Training
format focuses on basic survival skills in a
broad social and educational context. It is for
those who are going to English-speaking countries
to do secondary education, work experience or
training programs. People migrating to Australia,
Canada and New Zealand must sit the General
Training test.
Where can IELTS be taken? IELTS is
internationally available, internationally
accessible, internationally recognised and
internationally focused. IELTS tests are held in
over 500 centres across the world. For example,
IELTS is offered at least once a month in
Brussels and Luxembourg (3 time/year), Lille,
Paris and Amsterdam. Candidates are not limited
in how many times they can sit the test.

• Added value to test takers (the candidates)
• Global recognition (one test for universities
  in many countries).
• IELTS tests international English (no US or UK
  bias)
• Face to face orals with a native speaker.
• Paper-based test, no risk of technological
  failure.
• Results available online on 13th day.
• Additional Test report Forms (TRF) sent free of
  charge to institutions for 2 years on candidates
  request.
• Road to IELTS (a free 30-hour online course
  for all candidates registered to the test).
• and much more

• References
• (1) Davies, A (2008) Assessing Academic English
  Testing English Proficiency, 1950-2005 the
  IELTS Solution, Studies in Language Testing 23,
  Cambridge Cambridge University Press/UCLES.
• (2) Davies, A (2008) op. cit..
• (3)
• Hawkey, R and Barker, F (2004) Developing a
  common scale for the assessment of writing,
  Assessing Writing, 9 (2), 122-159.
• Jones, N and Hirtzel, M (2001) Appendix D The
  ALTE Can Do Statements, in the Common European
  Framework of Reference for Languages Learning,
  Teaching, Assessment, Council of Europe,
  Cambridge Cambridge University Press.
• - Morrow, K (2004) (Ed.) Insights from the Common
  European Framework, Oxford Oxford University
  Press.
• (4) Cambridge ESOL (2009) The International
  English Language Testing System 30 Years of
  Innovation and Experience, Cambridge, p. 6.
• MORE ON WWW.IELTS.ORG

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