7 Most Common Misconceptions About the IELTS Exam

7 Most Common Misconceptions About the IELTS Exam

As the leading English language proficiency examination, IELTS has been giving tremendous opportunities to people all around the world for almost 30 years. However, there are still some misconceptions surrounding it. According to the British Council Philippines, the following are the seven most common misconceptions about the IELTS exam:

     1.    IELTS is a “pass or fail” type of test.

IELTS is an accurate indicator of an individual’s English language skills, using a 9-band scoring system to determine the proficiency level from Band 1—Non-user to Band 9—Expert user. To get a high band score, a test taker must enroll in the best IELTS online course review program.

     2.    IELTS examinees can score higher if they take the exam outside their country.

All IELTS test centers worldwide follow the same set of standards when it comes to the content, guidelines, and delivery of the four components of the IELTS Test, so it doesn’t matter whether the exam is taken within or outside of a test taker’s home country.

     3.    Face-to-face interviews can be unfair or biased.

All aspiring IELTS examiners participated in a standardized training by an experienced IELTS trainer. Once certified, the examiners are regularly monitored to ensure that they are consistently and accurately following the standards for marking the face-to-face interviews in the Speaking Test.

      4.    The test taker’s opinion can affect the result of their writing and speaking exam.

For students attending IELTS review online sessions, keep in mind that the IELTS is not a test of opinion, but an assessment of English language skills. Certified IELTS examiners evaluate the test taker’s ability to express their opinion coherently, fluently, and precisely.

      5.    Using English and American accents in the Speaking Test yields a higher score.

The Speaking Test is not evaluated according to the accent used, so IELTS test takers can speak in whatever accent they feel comfortable with. The IELTS Speaking Tests coring system is based on fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation.

      6.    IELTS is only for study purposes.

For test takers enrolled in the best IELTS online course review program, the IELTS exam is not just for studying abroad. In fact, there are two versions of the IELTS test.

IELTS Academic

§  Study at a university at an undergraduate or postgraduate program; or

§  Join a professional organization in an English-speaking country.

IELTS General Training

§  Train or study at below degree level;

§  Pursue a career in an institution abroad; or

§  Migrate to an English-speaking country.

      7.    IELTS is not recognized by US institutions.

This statement is definitely false. IELTS is recognized by over 3,000 US universities and institutions. If you want a comprehensive list of the organizations recognizing IELTS in the US, click here.

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REFERENCES:

"British Council Philippines Debunks Most Common Misconceptions about IELTS." Manila Bulletin Technology. Accessed October 16, 2018. https://technology.mb.com.ph/2018/10/02/british-council-philippines-debunks-most-common-misconceptions-about-ielts/.

"Test Format." IELTS Test Format. Accessed October 16, 2018. https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/test-format.