FineSkilzCanada takes you through the ins and outs of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Let’s find out who should take the IELTS, what the test is, where you can take the test, why you need it, and when you can expect your results.

Now that you have decided to study in or migrate to Canada, how can you demonstrate your language skills?

Having a standardized English test score will be important for you whether you are applying to an academic institution in Canada or for any of the Permanent Resident categories where English is one of two official languages. IELTS is a reliable and internationally recognized test score that can help you to achieve your goals.

What is the IELTS?

IELTS was developed in the 1980s to test an individual’s English language proficiency.

IELTS is jointly owned by, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment. The combined expertise of these three international partners is what makes the test secure, reliable, and the most popular high-stakes English-language test. The test assesses the English language levels of people whose language skills range from beginner to expert in four language areas. Here are a few details about the IELTS:

·        International:

o   IELTS is accepted in 140 countries.

o   The test provides results to more than 9,000 institutions and organizations worldwide.

o   The results can be used for work, study, or migration purposes.

·        English skills assessment:

o   Listening

o   Reading

o   Writing

o   Speaking

·        Testing info:

o   There is a nine-point band scale that allows you to demonstrate how accurately you can use your English skills.

o   The entire test takes 2 hours and 44 minutes.

o   In most cases, you will be able to complete all four sections of the test on the same day, but you may have to take the speaking portion of the test on another day.

·        System:

o   There are a range of scores that you can obtain in each of the four skill areas.

o   Four different aspects are considered in the writing and speaking areas.

o   There are two different versions of the tests: Academic and General Training.

Who should take the IELTS test?

IELTS scores can be required for a variety of reasons. You may need to provide an academic institution with a standardized English test score. Some professional associations require a standardized English test score for official registration purposes. Governments in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom specifically require IELTS scores when granting work visas and citizenship.

Which version of the test is right for me?

There are two versions of the IELTS test: Academic and General.

·        Academic IELTS is designed for:

o   university or college applicants

o   those seeking registration in a professional association

o   individuals whose strengths are in literacy

·        General Training IELTS is designed for:

o   those who are planning to study abroad at high school or in a vocational program

o   visa requirements for people migrating to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the UK

o   individuals whose strengths may be in numeracy

Be sure to confirm which version is best for your particular situation but be sure to consider General Training IELTS if it is an option.

Where do I take the IELTS exam?

The IELTS test is conducted at a test centre. Once we have booked an exam at your preferred test centre, you will need to go to the centre on your chosen date. All parts of the test are conducted at the centre and you will interact with people instead of computers.

How do I register for IELTS?

There are more than 450 IELTS test locations worldwide. More than 90 of these locations are in Canada.

Contact us for centres outside Canada.

Most IELTS test centres offer a convenient online booking system that is easy to use. To book online, you will need a clear, colour scan or photo of your passport and a credit card.

Most centres accept online registration, but a few centres will accept paper-based registration forms. To register for IELTS, you will need a valid passport or a Canadian Permanent Resident card if you are in Canada.

The test can be booked online by going to IELTS Essentials and clicking Book.

When can I take the IELTS test?

·        There are 48 test dates each year.

·        The Academic test is offered on all 48 dates.

·        The General Training test is offered on 24 dates.

·         Availability at centres may vary depending on local demand.

When can I get my results?

·        Results are available 13 days after the test.

·        Unofficial results can be viewed online.

·        Official results or Test Report Forms (TRFs) are sent to receiving institutions (for example, universities and professional bodies).

·        One copy of the TRF will be sent directly to you; or two copies will be sent if you are applying for immigration or visas for Canada and the UK.

·        Candidates can request up to five (5) additional TRFs at no cost within 30 days of the test.

·        TRFs can be requested at any time within two years of the test date.

·        There is a correlation between IELTS scores and Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB): CLB compared to IELTS score.

IELTS is an important tool to help you demonstrate and present your English language skills that are necessary for academic and migration acceptance. FineSkilz Canada along with Toronto’s leading English Language School has a network of support and resources to help you with your journey towards achieving your educational and professional goals.

Once registered for our IELTS exam-prep courses we will share what to expect on the day of the test.

Keep in mind that the purpose of IELTS is to measure your English language level. If you have gone through the necessary steps to prepare for the test with us, then your experience should go smoothly with the support of the professional test day staff and examiners.

What can I expect when I arrive to take the test?

IELTS is a high stakes test and the staff who administer it take it very seriously. The test day staff have been trained to make your IELTS experience as comfortable as possible. Because the results are highly regarded by so many institutions and organizations, it needs to be very secure. There are many security protocols to follow which includes:

·        Personnel have been specifically trained in facial feature recognition, so they will carefully examine your face with your identification photo.

·        Finger scans will be taken at the entrance of the test room and will be matched each time you leave and return.

·        Your photograph will be taken by IELTS test day personnel and it will be shown with your test report form to receiving organizations

The reason for such high-security measures is to maintain the validity and integrity of the test scores by ensuring against fraud and cheating. Images of the finger scans are not stored and photographs will be used only for the purpose of the IELTS test. You can be assured that the security procedures are in place for your benefit as they allow for test results to be highly regarded by the receiving organization.

What do I need to bring on test day?

·        The exact same valid ID you used to book the test—your passport or permanent resident card

·        Your confirmation email

·        2 HB or #2 pencils

·        Clear bottle of water with the label removed (optional)

What items are not allowed into the test room?

·        Any electronic device—watch, calculator, etc.

·        Your cell phone—even if it is turned off!

·        Additional pieces of paper

·        Food

·        Any item that is not on the approved list

Am I allowed to leave the test area?

Yes. You will be allowed to go to the restroom during the test. You will also have a break before the speaking part of the test. The length of the break will vary depending on the scheduled time of your speaking exam.

Who will be with me during the test?

·        The test-day personnel are there to support you if you have any questions on test day.

·        The listening, reading, and writing portions of the test are conducted in a group setting.

·        The invigilation staff (those staff members who are there to watch those taking the exam) will give you instructions and lead you through these sections.

·        The speaking portion of the test is done one-on-one with a professional speaking examiner (the speaking examiner will give you instructions and ask you questions during this portion of the test).

What can I expect during the speaking portion of the test?

·        Professionalism—speaking examiners have undergone a rigorous training process.

·        Friendliness—speaking examiners will be neutral but will be polite and friendly.

·        Your speaking interview will be recorded for monitoring purposes.

·        The speaking section is 11-14 minutes long—examiners are required to adhere to the time limits for each of the three sections.

o   In part one, you will be asked questions about yourself.

o   In part two, you will be required to speak for two minutes on a topic chosen by the examiner.

o   In part three, you will have a conversation with the examiner.

·        Examiners will remain neutral about your performance and cannot give you feedback about how you did.

How will I get my results?

·        Unofficial results are available online 13 days after the test.

·        Centres will also mail your results 13 days after the test.

·        Test results may also be picked up in person with your passport or permanent resident card.

·        If someone is picking up the results on your behalf, they must have your original identification and a letter from you specifying that they are authorized to pick up the test results.

·        Results are listed on a Test Report Form (TRF).

·        TRFs list sub-scores for listening, reading, writing, and speaking as well as an overall score which is the average from the four sections.

·        You will receive one TRF, but you may request a second copy if you are using the results for immigration purposes.

·        For tests that have taken place within the last 30 days, up to five additional TRFs may be sent to recognizing organizations at no cost.

·        A fee may be charged for additional TRFs to be sent out if the test occurred outside of the 30-day limitation.

·        TRFs may be sent by courier at an additional cost (contact your centre for more info).

·        You may request a review of your scores within six weeks of the test date at an additional cost.

The IELTS test is the same around the world. There should be no surprises if you have a good grasp of the English language, prepare well in advance, and follow the instructions for test day.

With a third of your total CRS score for Permanent Residency comprised of your proficiency in either English or French, FineSkilz Canada offers an intensive 2 week IELTS exam-Preparatory course from Canada to all our candidates, at no extra cost