The aim of this course is to help you understand how the IELTS test works and what is required to complete it successfully. You will become familiar with the structure of the test and the types of questions asked. You will practise answering some questions and you will be able to estimate your likely score.

The Listening module is the same for IELTS General Training and IELTS Academic. At the beginning of this unit, you will do a short sample Listening IELTS test. You will then have a chance to analyse your experience and prepare for a complete Listening practice test at the end of the unit.

While the Listening module is the same for all test-takers, the Reading module has two versions: General and Academic. Which version will be handed to you in the test room depends on whether you opted for IELTS General Training or IELTS Academic during registration. The Academic version contains texts which are approximately 700-800 words long. These could appear in academic publications and could be read by university students as part of their courses in various disciplines. The texts do not, however, require any specialised knowledge to be understood.

There are two tasks in the Writing module of IELTS. Task 1 is different in the General and Academic tests. IELTS General Training Task 1: You need to write a letter requesting information or explaining a situation. The task assesses your ability to engage in personal correspondence, request and provide factual information, express needs, likes, dislikes, opinions, complaints, etc. IELTS Academic Task 1: You need to look at a diagram, chart, graph, table or map and present the information in your own words. The task assesses your ability to organise, present and compare data, describe the stages of a process, explain how a mechanism works, describe an object, event or sequence of events. In Task 2, you need to write an essay on the topic provided. This task is virtually the same in both the General and Academic tests, however the Academic test requires an answer written in a more formal style, compared to the more personal style for the General test. You are assessed on your ability to outline a problem and present a solution, as well as present, evaluate and challenge ideas. In the General test, your ability to provide general factual information is also important, whereas in the Academic test, more attention is paid to how well you can present and justify an opinion, compare and contrast evidence.

There are three parts to the Speaking module. The whole speaking session is recorded. That is done in case there is a major discrepancy between the score you receive for speaking and your score in the other modules, and a second opinion is required.

Now that you have practised all the four parts of IELTS and analysed your results, you can assess how challenging each part will probably be for you on the actual test. You can even estimate your likely scores in Listening and Reading based on the approximate conversion tables in Unit 1. You have also analysed which aspects of completing each module are particularly problematic for you. With this knowledge in mind, you can spend the time that remains before your test date concentrating on the skill(s) you feel less confident about. Extra IELTS practice of the corresponding test module is important, but your preparation should not be limited to that. Of course, if the exam is only a week ahead, there isn't much you can do. Just complete a few additional practice tests and try to stay immersed in the English language in every way possible in the days before the test. However, if there are at least a couple of months left until the exam date, you can achieve a much greater progress. Here are a few strategies of developing your skills that you may consider using and may find quite enjoyable, too.