International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

At CHILC, students will study on a 36-week full time course in order to prepare for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). We have chosen this particular examination as it prepares candidates for the English language requirements of study at university or college. Further to this, the IELTS qualification is internationally recognised and is therefore useful in enhancing employment opportunities.

Each week, students will practise the four IELTS components using a practical, step-by-step approach. The components to be covered are Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. In each component, there are a variety of tasks and exercises which are designed to test the students' English language proficiency. Along with practice tests and past papers, students will be taught specific IELTS strategies which are intended to develop the students' linguistic ability rapidly, thus giving them a greater chance of success. The four components to be studied are detailed briefly as follows:

• Reading Those students planning to study at college or university will practise with academic texts using the Academic Training Module. This module covers a wide range of academic and professional fields suitable for all types of students. Those who are planning to seek immediate employment, or who are learning English in order to gain the IELTS qualification in itself, will practise from the General Training Module. The format of both modules is identical and the test itself takes 60 minutes.
• Listening All candidates taking the IELTS test do the same type of Listening test, but the version differs according to the test date. The Listening test takes 30-40 minutes and is in four sections. Each section is more difficult than the one before. The four sections cover social situations and course-related situations.
• Speaking Students will have extensive practice in oral performance in order to prepare for the speaking component. In the examination, candidates will perform in a 10-15 minute interview or conversation with an examiner. Students will be trained in five phases as follows - introducing oneself, extended discourse, elicitation, speculation and attitudes, conclusion.
• Writing Through extensive practise and performance, students will be required to analyse questions and tasks, organise writing plans, evaluate their own and others' written texts, and produce written work of an appropriate IELTS standard in the given time of 60 minutes. In this section, there are two tasks - describing information that is given in a chart, table or graph, and writing a formal essay or report.

The IELTS examination can be taken in most months and, if they wish, students can repeat the examination every 3 months in order to gain a higher score. The overall Band Score ranges between 0 - 9 with many universities and colleges accepting a 5.5 or 6 upwards.

Candidates cannot pass or fail the IELTS examination - a university, college or prospective employer may inform the candidate of the overall IELTS Band Score they require.

All students from a wide range of educational and professional backgrounds can take the IELTS as they are tested on English language skills only, not on specific knowledge of a subject.

Courses > IELTS : KET : PET : FCE : CAE : CPE : Business : Custom : Summer School : Modular

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