The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a globally recognised English proficiency test that ranks non-native English speakers in terms of their ability to succeed academically should they undertake tertiary study in an English-speaking country. It is one of several exams of this nature, the others including the Pearson Test of English (PTE), Cambridge English Advanced and Proficiency and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
The IELTS exam is task-based and covers the English language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing over four separate tests. It is available at two main levels, academic and general training, each having different purposes:
- academic — for candidates wishing to apply to university or TAFE in Australia, or for professionals looking to have their professional qualifications recognised and gain employment in their field (as a lawyer, doctor, teacher etc.)
- general training for people wishing to migrate to Australia or work long-term in non-professional employment.
Candidates can sit for IELTS in Canberra as well as in around fifty other locations throughout Australia, such as Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
This article will focus on why the IELTS exam is necessary, why preparation is so important and where students can do an IELTS course in Canberra.
Why is the International English Language Testing System Exam Necessary?
Studying for a university diploma, bachelor degree or postgraduate qualification is difficult enough in your first language, let alone trying to navigate the content AND decipher the academic English language.
The IELTS academic exam, and others like it, was developed to give international students peace of mind that they would be able to cope with studying at university level in English, and also to assure university and TAFE institutions that their intake of international students would not place an added burden on staff or fellow students.
The point of the IELTS test is that it provides a fair and equitable ranking system for all people, irrespective of their cultural background or experience. The content of the IELTS tasks for the English speaking, listening, reading and writing components are carefully selected to ensure they reflect the skills needed to study at an academic level, rather than reliant on cultural understanding and background knowledge.
A university will generally accept the results from IELTS as well as those from other exams. There is no advantage to doing IELTS rather than, for example, Cambridge English as the results across all tests are moderated to be equally representative of the applicant's skills and proficiency in English.
One important thing for students to realise is that their chosen university or TAFE is likely to require an overall minimum score as well as minimum scores in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Essentially, you can't afford to go easy in your preparation for one of the skills, or just focus on the ones you prefer — all of your language skills need to be at a minimum standard; one that will see you ready to tackle your diploma or bachelor degree university studies along with your native English speaking peers.
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How Can IELTS Training Help with the Exam?
Preparation for this examination is key and, yes, there is such a thing as IELTS training.
There are a number of ways you can get ahead with your training and preparation, including:
- study groups
- private tutoring
- IELTS courses.
A study group is great for academic networking and motivation. Everyone in the group can work together by having practice conversations, testing each other on vocabulary and grammar knowledge, working through the answers on mock tests and coaching in their areas of strength. If you help others, you also increase your own skill level. Plus, organising your own study group is free.
Private tuition is a great option, particularly if you have specific areas that need extra work or one-on-one training to improve. You should look for a tutor who specialises in IELTS, rather than just a general English tutor. The advantage of this is that an IELTS tutor who has experience with the IELTS test will better be able to help you with IELTS-specific strategies, such as exam techniques. They will also have access to the official IELTS practice materials, including past tests.
On the Superprof online tutoring platform, you will find a small number of tutors for IELTS in Canberra. This is perfect for in-person tutoring but even if the tutor you find is not based in Canberra, doing your training online is just as good. Plus, it's super easy to record your class to review later and instantly access additional practice materials. Most Superprof tutors offer the first session for free to help build student-teacher rapport and for both of you, student and tutor, to ensure you'll be a good fit.
IELTS courses are also highly recommended. Most courses run with small groups to make sure that every participant is attended to, however, the added bonus is that you learn and get help from your peers as well as from your teacher. It's not uncommon for a fellow student to be able to explain a concept in a way you understand, even though your teacher couldn't. In addition, your peers will probably become part of your support network, not only in the course but as you tackle your university or TAFE studies, whether you are all in Canberra or spread throughout Australia.
Of course, you can find plenty of courses for IELTS preparation in larger cities like Sydney and Melbourne, but what about courses for IELTS in Canberra?
Finding an IELTS Course in Canberra
Yes, like every other Australian capital, Canberra has plenty of IELTS courses to choose from. If you're planning to apply to one of the university or TAFE institutions in Canberra, you might be considering their IELTS preparation course. Otherwise, there are several independent IELTS training centres that are just as good.
University of Canberra English Language Institute
The University of Canberra is known throughout Australia for its work with international students and is often highly sought after, even if a student is intending to apply to do their degree at another tertiary institution rather than in Canberra. There are several courses to choose from:
- IELTS preparation classes are available for both the academic and general training tests. They run over four weeks, three evenings a week — Tuesday for writing, Wednesday for speaking and listening and Thursday for reading.
- Intensive IELTS preparation classes are full-time during the day, 20 hours a week over four weeks in January and June.
- IELTS Prep Plus is an extension course designed for students who require an IELTS rank of at least 7 or 8. The class runs on Saturdays for 3 weeks.
EnglishWise Canberra
This training centre specialises in the Pearson Test of English, however, also offers targetted training for IELTS candidates who need additional training to achieve their desired score at the higher level. Classes run for 4 weeks and may be repeated until candidates are successful. Included in your course fees are all materials for practising, five mock tests and unlimited practice time at the centre.
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English Guru
This centre also offers both PTE and IELTS support. For IELTS, you can apply for one of three streams:
- Fast Track IELTS — a one-week course that hones in on the final preparation stages, and focuses on reading and writing
- Sure Shot IELTS — an intensive course run over two weeks; week one focuses on the reading and listening modules and week two focuses on the speaking and writing modules
- Customised Course — this course is perfect for students who have sat the IELTS test but didn't achieve the score they needed. The teacher analyses the results, determining the student's gaps and creating a series of classes designed to fill those gaps.
Each of the courses features a mix of practical and real-life activities, practice tests and strategy development.
Australian Catholic University
A skills-based course, the Australian Catholic University IELTS preparation course guides participants to improve their proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing, as well as expand their academic vocabulary and improve grammatical accuracy. Small class sizes mean all participants are given the attention they need to achieve their goals.
What do I do when I'm ready?
In Canberra, your best option is to go online to the IELTS website and book a date for an 'IELTS Canberra' test. Tests are conducted approximately once a fortnight and are usually the paper-based option. Be careful, when you book your test, that you select the correct category — academic or general training — remembering that the academic test is the one you should be taking if you want to apply for university or TAFE in Australia.
Good luck!
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