General Training Reading: The questions are asked from the reading text materials containing information and instances. The sources are generally newspapers, advertisements, instruction manuals and books, as the chosen materials are expected to be relevant to the day to day life of a student in any English speaking country.

Academic Writing: There are two tasks to be performed here by the examinees. Firstly, to write a report of aboutl50 words based on a given material. Secondly, to write a short essay on a particular opinion or problem. The prescribed word length for task 1 and 2 are ISO and 250 words respectively.

General Training Writing: The General Training Module does not differ much from its Academic module in terms of format. The first task here is to write a letter of atleast 150 words seeking information or explaining a situation. Next comes one more writing task i.e. writing a short essay with a word limit of250.

Speaking: This section is more like a formal viva-voce. The purpose is to gauge the candidate's verbal expression and interaction skills. The Candidates performance is evaluated for Vocabulary, Grammatical Accuracy and Pronounciation.

It may be clarified that the three tests, namely Listening, Reading and Writing are required to be completed in one day. There is no break between the three tests. As regards the speaking test, it may be taken. at the discretion of the test centre, in a period of seven days before or after the other three tests.

It is important to note that Academic Reading and Writing is conducted to assess whether a candidate is ready to study or train in the medium of English at an undergraduate or postgraduate level while General Training Reading is not designed to test the full range of formal language skills required for academic purposes. It is suitable for candidates who are going to English speaking countries to complete their Secondary education or to undertake work experience or training programmes not at degree level. It is the responsibility of the candidate to tell the administrator which version, Academic or General training, they need to take.

How to prepare for the test?
You can seek help from the test centre. It can supply preparation material called 'specimen material'. This includes: a full practice test with an answer key, CD of the listening test, three sample speaking tests. By going through this material the student can not only familarize himself/ herself with the format of the test but can also get some idea of his or her level.
How do you apply Your local test centre will give you an application form and the IELTS Handbook with more information about the test and advice on how to apply. Take and post the completed application form, and the test fee, to your test centre. You must show your passport or identity card when you arrive to take the test and at various stages during the test day.

When can you take the test There is no fixed timetable for when the test must be taken. The tests are held at least once a month in most centres. Test centres schedule regular testing days in response to local demand in order to ensure that the test is available when and where you need it.

How long does it take to get the result and what do they mean? Your results are sent to you, and can be sent direct to the institutions to which you have applied, within two weeks of taking the test. At some centres candidates can collect their results on the 13th day after the test, at other results are mailed on the 13th day. The Candidate can not get results over the phone or by fax or email. The candidate will only recieve one copy of his! her test result and replacement copies will not be provided. Additional copies can be sent direct to recieving organisations & Institutes by test centres. Scores are recorded on a Test Report Form, showing overall ability as well as performance in listening, reading, writing and speaking. All scores are given on a 9 Band scale from non-user to expert user with "a fully operational command of the language." Different institutions have their own entrance requirements. In general, universities request an Overall Band Score of around 6.5 for entrance to academic courses. This may vary between departments. You are advised to check with the particular institution to which you are applying.

Test Report Forms: The British Council will send (by post) Test Report Forms (TRFs) of a candidates to two institutions only, as indicated on the Application Form. If these are not indicated at the time of registration, the candidate is advised to furnish these details as soon as possible. If TRFs are to be sent to more than two institutions, the British Council will charge an extra sum per TRF.

Help for candidates with learning visual and/or specific learning difficulties: The Test centre makes arrangements to enable candidates with special needs to best understand questions and tasks and to give their answers. For this purpose, the candidate is required to notify the centre of any special requirements when he/she applies. The request must be submitted a  least six weeks before the desired test date. The details of these arrangements is available at the website: www.ielts.org.

Enquiring on results: In case a candidate is not happy with his /her results, he/she may apply for a remark (Enquiry on result) at the centre where he/ she took the test. This must be done within six weeks of the test date. The candidate can choose which modules are remarked. There is a fee for this service. However, this fee is refunded if score on any module is increased. Enquiry on results can take up to six weeks to complete.

Repeating the IELTS: There are no restrictness on candidates retaking the test. Payments: All payments are to be made at the British Council in cash or demand draft. Drafts are to be made in the name of the 'British Council Division' and payable at New Delhi.

Examination Manager
British Council Division, British High Commission
17 Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 11000 I
(Ph23711401 Telex: 65460 Fax: 23710717)
Email delhLeducation@in.britishcounci I.org
Timings: Monday-Friday 9.00 am - 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm - 4.30 pm
Test Centres in India are as follows:

IELTS Administrator
British Deputy High Commission
British Council Division
Tower 'C' Wing, IInd Floor
Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021
Ph 022-22823560/30 Fax 022-22836081

IELTS Administrator
British Deputy High Commission
British Council Division
L & T Chamber, 16 Cama Street
Kolkata 700016
033-22825370, 033-22824804

IELTS Administrator
British Deputy High Commission
British Council Division
737 Anna Salai, Chennai 600002
Ph 044-52050600
Fax 044-52050688

IELTS Administrator
British Deputy High Commission
British Council Division
Kasturba Gandhi Marg
New Delhi 110001

or
Examinations Manager
British Council Division
British High Commission
17 Kasturba Gandhi Marg
New Delhi I 10001 (Ph2371 1401 Extn. 11 1,23353562, Fax: 23710717)

For complete details, you may log onto www.ieltsindia.com. Email: info@ieltsindia.com.dia.com.

Short Intensive Preparation Course for IEL 1S
The British Council offers Short Intensive Preparation Course for IELTS (International English Language Testing System): International English Language Testing System (IEL TS) is an examination administered by the British Council for those going to study, work or live abroad. This 3-day (2 1­h0ur) training course prepares candidates for the IEL TS exam. It aims to develop the candidates' ability to make the most of their language skills within the examination format. Candidates are taught the techniques to enable them to obtain their scores. Further _detail can be had from The Registrar, The British Council, 17, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 110001 (Ph +91 112371 140 I, Extn II I Fax +9 I 11 237 I 0717 Email delhi.registrar @in.britishcouncil.org Website www.britishcouncil.org/india)