IELTS - What is it and how can you take it?

Recently Super Fast Guides published a post on wikiHow called How to Take the IELTS, which has now been read by over 7,300 people!  In case you haven’t seen it, here is a shortened version of the article:

What is IELTS?

   

The IELTS test is an English language test that is taken by over 1.4 million people around the world every year. IELTS means 'International English Language Testing System'. It is an English language test that checks a person's language ability in speaking, listening, reading and writing.

How can I take the test?

1.      Decide which test to take. There are two forms of the test: the Academic module and the General Training module. The Academic module is generally taken by people who want to study at an English-speaking college or university. The General Training module is generally taken by people who wish to migrate abroad, for example to the UK or Australia. However, some training courses require the General Training module, not the Academic one. Check before you take the test.

2.      Find your nearest IELTS test centre. There are over 800 centres around the world, so there should be one near you. In the USA there are 49 centers across the States and there are 47 test centres in both the UK and Australia. In addition, there are test centres in over 130 other countries. You can find a full list of test centres with contact details for each one at www.ielts.org.

3.      Register for the test with your nearest test center. IELTS is offered all year round and some test centres offer the test as often as twice a month, so you might be able to choose several possible dates. Just be sure to register early so you get the date you want as dates often fill up quickly.

4.      Ensure that you have the right documents to register. You will need to give the test centre a completed application form, two recent passport photographs, which are in colour and identical, and a photocopy of your passport or national identity document, which should still be valid when you take the test.

5.      Pay for the test. The fee varies, but it is currently around USD185 in the USA, GBP115 in the UK and AUD317 in Australia.

6.      Bring the right materials on the day of the test. Bring your passport or national identity document. You will also need to bring pencils and pens to write with.

7.      Wait for your results. These will be available 13 days after the test.

For the full article, see wikiHow, How to Take the IELTS
For important information about the test and for essential advice on how to get the score you need, get the Super Fast Guide, IELTS, How to succeed in the exam, available from Amazon 
 

Language Learning

The latest Super Fast Guide is now available on Amazon!  'Language Learning, How to learn any language' is for anyone who needs to know another language.

Like any skill, there is a technique to learning another language, whether it's Spanish, German or even Chinese.  I once knew someone who could speak 7 different languages, including Italian, French, Korean and Turkish!  I asked him how he did it and he just said, 'The first one or two are tricky, but once you know the technique, it's easy.'  I watched him over two years as he learnt yet another language and noted down the techniques he used.  I then taught these techniques to my English students, realising that it was better to teach them how to learn rather that what to learn.  For example, students need to know how to learn vocabulary, such as how to keep good vocabulary records (see our website www.SuperFastGuides.com for an example of this).

The main piece of advice I have is, practise, practise, practise and don't be afraid of making mistakes!  What are your tips for learning other languages?