The real-life test for the real world: IELTS update FACTA, Lakeland February 2010

1. The real-life test for the real world: IELTS update FACTA, Lakeland February 2010

2. IELTS . . . • The test of English language proficiency: Listening, Reading, Writing, face-to-face Speaking • 2 modules: • Academic • college admission in the US, Britain, Canada, Australia • healthcare professionals applying for permanent US residency • General • immigration applicants to Canada and Australia

3. Candidature

4. Test FormatTotal time = 2 hours 55 minutes • Listening • 4 sections, 40 items (40 minutes) Academic Reading 3 sections, 40 items (60 minutes) General Training Reading 3 sections, 40 items (60 minutes) Academic Writing 2 tasks (60 minutes) General Training Writing 2 tasks (60 minutes) Speaking 1:1 oral interview (11-14 minutes)

5. What sets IELTS apart? • face to face Speaking test • variety of real life task types • Listening and Reading components: sentence completion, notes, summary, diagram, flow chart, table completion, classification, matching, multiple choice, • identification of writers’ views, attitudes, claims • pen and paper test • putting people first

6. Scoring • Nine-point band scoring system. Bands awarded in Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking and Overall • Scores reported electronically or by paper Test Report 9 Expert User 8 Very Good User 7 Good User 6 Competent User 5 Modest User 4 Limited User 3 Extremely Limited User 2 Intermittent User 1 Non User 0 Did Not Attempt the Test

7. Recognition • IELTS recognized by over 6,000 institutions globally • More than 2,500 in the US, including over 200 2-year colleges • Benefits for Recognizing Organizations: • Test Report Form Verification site to authenticate test scores • Electronic score downloads • Promotion as an ‘RO’ - assist international student recruiting efforts

8. Online Recognizing Organization database

9. Miami Dade College, Miami, FL

10. FAQs • Offered up to 4 times per month on fixed Saturdays and Thursdays • US test fee $185 • Currently 41 US test locations, and growing • Test center details at www.ielts.org and online registration

11. Become an IELTS test center • US test center network growing in partnership with • ESL schools • IT training providers • University and college testing centers • University and college ESL programs • Local test center administration • Promotion, registration, staffing, processing of results, opportunity to grow and develop business

12. Why become a center? • professional development opportunities for ESL staff training to certify as local Examiners • valuable service for your international students and local residents • open new markets, attract new students • grow a new income stream – 60% of the candidate test fee retained by center

13. An alternative: on site testing • IELTS provides a test on your campus • Gain kudos with your international students and promote your IELTS access • Learn about IELTS test delivery • Potential income through registration fees

14. Andrea Domonkos IELTS Administrator ELS Language Centers St Petersburg, FL Richard Halstead Regional Manager – US Test Center Network, IELTS International rhalstead@ieltsintl.org