If you are planning to study, work or relocate to Canada, you’ll likely be asked to prove your English language proficiency with the IELTS. We know that nobody likes an exam, but with Maple Education, the process is pretty seamless.
What is the IELTS? And why do I have to take them?
In short, the IELTS are a way for (predominantly) English speaking countries to determine If individuals hoping to migrate can read, write and speak in English. It is essential to be able to communicate well in the language spoken by a majority of the population if you plan on relocating.
Countries that may require an IELTS exam include:
- The UK (England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales)
- Australia
- New Zealand
And of course, Canada.
Since its inception, the IELTS has become the most reliable and widely used method of English language assessment. Thousands of learning institutions across several countries use and accept it. While requiring the IELTS is a great way for potential host countries to gauge the eligibility of applicants, it also gives YOU a pretty clear idea of what you will encounter once you’ve made the journey across the Atlantic.
For more info on exploring immigration options to Canada click here.
It is in your best interest to study for and take the IELTS. It will provide you with some familiarity with the vernacular, speech patterns, syntax of native Canadians. This will make for a much soother transition once you arrive in the country. Also, being familiar with the way Canadians speak will help you to be successful you will be in all your undertakings, whether it is work-related, school related or purely relational.
What does the test consist of?
The IELTS consists largely of questions meant to reflect day-to-day situations you will encounter as a new resident of Canada. There are two types of IELTS:
- Academic IELTs for international students who may be looking to pursue schooling in the UK
- General IELTs which focus primarily on English survival skills. Largely used for people looking to emigrate to Canada, Australia or New Zealand.
There are four categories of tests within the IELTS
READING:
Typically, this portion of the exam consists of 40 questions which tend to fall under a handful of categories:
- reading for main ideas
- reading for detail
- skimming
- understanding a logical argument
- understanding the author’s opinions, attitudes or purpose
You read a paragraph or statement and suss out all of the necessary details and characteristics.
LISTENING:
This portion of the exam takes about 30 minutes to complete (with an additional 10 minutes to get all your answers down onto your exam sheet). There are 40 questions in total, and the questions are divided into four parts. You will listen to a series of recordings of conversations and speeches. You will then record what you heard on the exam sheet.
WRITING:
Tis part of the test is 60 minutes long and requires the taker to complete two sections. The first task will require you to describe some form of visual information (chart, graph, diagram) and present that information in words. During the second task, the examiner will present you with a problem or a point of view. Afterwards, you will be asked to write about it.
SPEAKING:
This is the only portion of the test that requires you to be face to face with your examiner. This section of the test is divided into three parts and will test your pronunciation, grammar, fluency and vocabulary. This is the shortest section of the test and tends to last between 10-15 minutes.
How can Maple Education help me prepare?
Preparing for the IELTS well is crucial, and using Maple Education will give you an advantage that may not be accessible to many other applicants. Maple Education’s IELTS preparation program gives access to an online database. This database is full of all of the information and advice you could need. You will receive 30 plus hours of video all geared towards helping you score within the top 10% of applicants. Included in the course are IELTS practice tests. The advantage on an IELTS online test is that it will provide you with the feel of the real exam. This will put you in the best possible possible position when actually taking the exam. Top tier professionals developed and curated Maple’s advanced training system. And they understand the tests inside and out.
Check out Maple Educations IELTS Program.
In addition, Maple not only offers you exceptional training and materials, we will also help you book your test at a time and location that is most convenient for you. In addition to this, we will provide you with extensive support all the way up to your test day. With this highly focused and specialized training program, Maple can drastically improve your chances of success.
What if I don’t want to take the test? Can I relocate to Canada without it?
Though we do not suggest it, there are ways to relocate to Canada without IELTS.
Check out our blog post on the subject.
To reiterate, taking the IELTS is as much benefit to you as it is to potential host countries. Moving to a new country can be challenging, and passing the IELTS is a great way to boost your confidence. It will also provide you with a level of credibility your peers (who skipped the test) will not have.
Maple Education’s Free IELTS Practice Test 2022
So, you want to see a quick IELTS sample test?
Here is an example of the sort of question you may encounter. Consider this a Maple Education freebie prior to registering for our program.
The first car appeared on British roads in 1888. By the year 2000 there may be as many as 29 million vehicles on British roads. Alternative forms of transport should be encouraged and international laws introduced to control car ownership and use. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The IELTS is not meant to discourage you from pursuing immigration to Canada. Rather, it is meant to help you prepare. Good luck to all of you taking your IELTS in the near future! Though with Maple, I’m certain you will be successful.
