IELTS Examination Preparation

Levels: Lower and Higher Level
Duration: 12 weeks per level
Full-time: 20 hours per week

Just like EAP, Scot’s IELTS Preparation course is an example of a group of English courses called English for Specific Purposes (ESP). ESP courses are designed because students are studying them for a ‘specific’ reason – that means they the course is designed to meet the requirements of the English learners. Students are not learning English just to be good at it; instead, they study the ESP course because of some need. So what are the needs of students who decide to study an IELTS Preparation course?

If you wish to take an IELTS Preparation course at Scots, then you will probably know that IELTS stands for the international English Language Testing System Examination. This examination can be taken in over 100 different countries around the world. It usually used to assess the English language proficiency of students who wish to study or further or higher education courses held in English at college or university. Many education providers want to see evidence that a future student has completed an IELTS examination and has achieved minimum scores before the student will be offered a place in a course. This means that the student will not have learning difficulties because of his/ her English language ability.

The Australian Department of Immigration & Border Protection (DIBP) has a minimum English language proficiency requirement to ensure that overseas workers are able to respond to occupational health and safety risks, raise any concerns about their welfare with appropriate authorities and benefit Australia by sharing their skills with other workers’. Different occupations have higher minimum English requirements. The most widely accepted form of English proficiency accept by DIBP is the IELTS examination. People wishing to migrate to Australia and need to show evidence of English proficiency may choose to do an IELTS preparation course. Completion of this course can significantly improve a candidate’s chances of increasing their IETS score I the formal examination.

How many modules are there in the IELTS exam?

There are two kinds or ‘modules’ to the IELTS examination;

(a)    Academic Module – This module is suitable for students wishing to complete academic study at degree level in an English-speaking country.

(b)   General Training Module – This module is more suited to people wishing to migrate to an English-speaking country like Australia.  It is also suitable for students who wish to study at in courses taught through at diploma level only.

What does the IELTS examination consist of?

Both the Academic & General Training Modules consist of a four main tasks: a Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening task.  The IELTS exam takes 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete and consists of four Sub-tests in the skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking.

Students sitting the Academic & the General Training Modules take the same listening and speaking modules but different reading and writing modules. listening, reading and writing must be completed in one day.

The General Training Reading and Writing tests are less demanding than the Academic Module Sub-tests, but the listening and speaking subtests are the same for both modules of the IELTS exam.

The IELTS exam takes 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete and consists of four Sub-tests in the skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking.

For more information about the structure of the both the IELTS General and Academic Training, follow the link to the official IELTS website.

Scots English College’s IETLS Preparation programs

Scots IELTS Preparation Course is designed to prepare international students, from a range of backgrounds and nationalities, for the Academic Training Module of the IELTS test.

If you enrol in this course, you will have as your specific study objective the need to reach a result in an internationally recognised certificate of English language proficiency which will either provide you with a pathway for migration purposes or completion of a tertiary-level course in a mainstream Australian tertiary institution.  This may include the full range of tertiary courses available in the Australian context, universities, both private and public, private colleges

The two levels of our IELTS Preparation course will each be a self contained 12-week course.   However, you may enrol for the full 24 weeks of the course if you need to increase your IELTS score by more than one band in order to enter your chosen course of further study, employment or migration application. (Some students may need to improve their final score by 2.0, for example, from 4.5 to 6.5 so they can take a degree course at university). Preparation for the IELTS Examination is achieved by introducing you to the same kinds of types of texts and tasks which the real IELTS examination uses. The course is not only designed to help you to practise examination techniques, but it will also help you to develop the necessary skills required to pass the IELTS Examination. You will be exposed to a wide variety of materials covering a number of different academic disciplines and will learn, through this exposure, how the task requirements of the IELTS Examination reflect the English Language requirements of tertiary study.

In addition to the compulsory 20 hours of the programme, Scots’ offers and encourages you to avail of the valuable opportunity to attend a guided individual learning session at the end of each formal teaching day. You will have access to computers, resources, books and audio-visual materials to work on essays, research assignment material, etc. A teacher will be made available to you to assist you with any areas which require further development. As the IELTS Preparation Course is strongly focused on providing the necessary techniques and skills required to undertake the examination, independent learning further facilitates the need to develop strong learning habits and study management.

The IELTS test is an internationally recognised tertiary entry English language qualification. A score of 5.0 to 5.5 on the IELTS test (alongside a range of other qualifications) is a prerequisite for entry to Australian Vocational education & Training Courses. If you have been accepted into a vocational course but have not yet reached your required English score, Scots’ IELTS Preparation Course will be open to you.

The course also welcomes you if you have received a place in a range of institutions or if you are making an application. Remember, however, that you must achieve the required level in the IELTS test as stated by your education provider in order to join your chosen course of study.

Many VET and higher education providers allow students direct entry to their courses when they have successfully completed an IELTS Preparation course and without having to complete the formal IELTS examination. Scots English College is working hard to develop relationships with a range of different providers so that students can gain automatic entry to a range of further education courses.

IELTS Australia how has its own website where you can find a wide range of resources to help you with your IELTS studies. Follow the link to IELTS Australia.