How to appear for the IELTS test?

What are the ways in which you can appear for the IELTS test?

IDP and British Council currently offer 3 ways for you to appear for the IELTS test. The first is the time tested and the most popular option of paper-based test, the second is the computer delivered test which is now gaining popularity and the 3rd option is the online test which is known as IELTS indicator and has been introduced keeping in mind the current situation that has risen thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Let us examine each of these in detail.

1. Paper-based test 

The paper-based test has been the option that has been available since the day of the inception of the IELTS test. In this format of the test, the test taker appears for the test in the traditional manner where a question paper and answer sheets are handed out by the invigilators. The test taker reads the questions off the question paper and writes their answers on the answer sheets and then hands them over to the invigilators once the test is over. 

The paper-based IELTS test is offered at every official center were the test is conducted by IDP and British Council. Usually, the written part of the test that includes Listening, Reading and Writing is conducted on Saturday and occasionally on a Thursday or another day of the week. The speaking test is conducted in the week before or after the written test. This type of test is best for those who do not have the practice of typing on a computer or do not have access to a computer to practice before they can appear for the test itself.

2. Computer delivered test 

 The computer delivered test has been introduced by both IDP and British Council recently and is now seeing a rise its popularity. The section of the test takers who are gravitating towards this test the most are working professionals who have now lost the habit of writing with a pen or a pencil and have spent the past few years typing on a computer for work. Of late though, a number of college students have also started opting for the computer delivered test. 

The reason for the increasing popularity is the convenience of appearing for the test at a time or in a slot of one’s own choice. Another benefit that comes with the computer delivered test is that the word count on the writing tasks is available on the screen, so the test taker doesn't have to count number of words once the task is complete. It also offers a much better navigation experience when trying to look at the questions and the text simultaneously on the reading section. This is because the text is visible on the left hand side of the screen and the questions on the right hand side. We will examine this format of the test in detail in another article.

3. IELTS Indicator 

The IELTS indicator test is an option that has been offered by both British Council and IDP to help test-takers appear for the test in the times of the lockdown enforced by the coronavirus pandemic. The IELTS indicator test is an online test that you can appear for from the comfort and safety of your home. The format of the test is identical to the computer delivered or the paper based test. As in, you will appear for the Listening, Reading and Writing test in one go over a duration of 3 hours and then you will have a Speaking test separately. The test is conducted once a week.

To appear for this test, you do need a suitable computer and a steady internet connection to ensure that the test is conducted without any technical issues. The students will be given the IELTS band scores in the exact same way as they receive for the other test formats and the scores can then be submitted to the university or college that the text taker is applying to (please do check whether the institute you are applying to accepts the IELTS Indicator score before appearing for the test). One thing that needs to be kept in mind while appearing for the test is that once the situation returns to normal, the institution that the test taker applies to may ask that individual to appear for the IELTS test at an official center. 

The fee for the test IELTS indicator test is the same as the computer delivered and paper-based test. Keeping this in mind, the IELTS indicator test should be chosen only by those who need to appear for the test urgently. Others should still try to appear for the computer delivered or the paper based test so as to keep the cost of appearing for the test in check and not having to appear for the test twice. 

 If you are looking for guidance to prepare for your IELTS test, then you should consider enrolling in my online IELTS group classes. My group classes have a small batch strength of only 5 students to ensure that every student gets my maximum attention. Click here to register your interest to enroll to my course right now! 

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