IELTS - International English Language Testing System - Why it is important?

 

Why IELTS is important?

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System which tests English proficiency across the globe. Conducting 1.9 million tests globally, IELTS is the world’s most popular English testing system.

IELTS tests are held in over 800 centres with tests up to four times a month. IELTS respects international diversity and is fair to anyone who sits the test, regardless of nationality.
You can choose from two types of IELTS test: Academic or General Training, depending on whether you want to study, work or migrate. Both modules are made up of four parts – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. IELTS results are graded on the unique IELTS 9-band scale.
To help you prepare, IELTS provides test samples and Official IELTS Practice Materials. The test covers the full range of ability from non-user to expert user. You are not limited in how many times you can sit the test.
You can trust the quality and security of IELTS because it is jointly owned by three reputable, international organisations: British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment. For more information, see Frequently asked questions or download the Information for candidates booklet (PDF, 935KB).


IELTS | Test Takers - Why choose IELTS?  




IELTS tests all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking. The Speaking test is a face-to-face interview with a certified Examiner. It is interactive and as close to a real-life situation as a test can get.
Research shows that IELTS motivates test-takers to develop real and well-rounded English rather than learning by rote. This means your understanding of English is improved and valid for real life in an English-speaking country.
International EnglishIELTS recognises both British and American English in terms of spelling, grammar and choice of words. It also incorporates a mix of native speaker accents from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and US in the Listening component.

International contentThe IELTS approach is recognised as being fair, reliable and valid to all candidates, whatever their nationality, cultural background, gender or special needs. The test questions are developed by a network known as the IELTS item writers in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK and the US. They are based on real life sources (for example, advertisements, books, newspapers and company policies), so ensuring that they are always fit for purpose.

International partnersIELTS is owned by a global partnership of education and language experts: the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and the Cambridge English Language Assessment . These bodies are dedicated to academic excellence, cultural understanding, student recruitment and creating success worldwide.

International consultationIELTS has been developed in close consultation with academics, professional bodies and immigration authorities from around the world.

Choose from more than 800 locations worldwideIELTS tests are offered up to four times a month in over 800 test venues in more than 130  countries. The cost of taking the test is set locally and payable in the local currency, making registration more convenient for candidates. Results are issued to candidates 13 calendar days after the test. Official IELTS Test centres can send Test Report Forms directly to your organisation or institution (provided it has been nominated by the candidate), either by mail or as an electronic download.

IELTS | Test Takers - Test format

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IELTS is available in two test formats:Academic or General Training. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking modules but different Reading and Writing modules.
Listening, Reading and Writing must be completed in one day. Depending on your test centre, the Speaking test may be offered on the same day or up to a week before or after the other parts.

You have a choice of two versions of IELTS: Academic or General Training:

Everybody takes the same Listening and Speaking components. It is the Reading and Writing components that differ.

The test of four English language skills Listening Reading Writing Speaking

Listening 30 minutes You will listen to four recorded texts, monologues and conversations by a range of native speakers, and write your answers to a series of questions. These include questions which test your ability to understand main ideas and detailed factual information, ability to understand the opinions and attitudes of speakers, ability to understand the purpose of an utterance and the ablity to follow the development of ideas. A variety of voices and native-speaker accents are used and each section is heard only once. Section 1 A conversation between two people set in an everyday social context. Section 2 A monologue set in an everyday social context e.g. a speech about local facilities. Section 3 A conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context, e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment. Section 4 A monologue on an academic subject e.g. a university lecture. Back to top

Reading 60 minutes The Reading component consists of 40 questions. A variety of question types is used in order to test a wide range of reading skills. These including reading for gist, reading for main ideas, reading for detail, skimming, understanding logical argument, recognising writers' opinions, attitudes and purpose. IELTS Academic The Academic version includes three long texts which range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive and analytical. The texts are authentic and are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. These have been selected for a non-specialist audience but are appropriate for candidates entering university courses or seeking professional registration. IELTS General Training The General Training version requires candidates to read extracts from books, magazines, newspapers, notices, advertisements, company handbooks and guidelines. These are materials you are likely to encounter on a daily basis in an English speaking environment. Back to top

Writing 60 minutes IELTS Academic The Writing component of IELTS Academic includes two tasks. Topics are of general interest to, and suitable for candidates entering undergraduate and postgraduate studies or seeking professional registration.   Task 1 You will be presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and asked to describe, summarise or explain the information in your own words. You may be asked to describe and explain data, describe the stages of a process, how something works or describe an object or event. Task 2 You will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. Responses to both tasks must be in a formal style. IELTS General Training The Writing component of IELTS General Training includes two tasks which are based on topics of general interest. Task 1 You will be presented with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information, or explaining the situation. The letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style. Task 2You will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. The essay can be slightly more personal in style than the Academic Writing Task 2 essay.  Back to top

Speaking 11 to 14 minutes The Speaking component assesses your use of spoken English, and takes between 11 and 14 minutes to complete. Every test is recorded. The Speaking component is delivered in such a way that does not allow candidates to rehearse set responses beforehand. Part 1You will answer general questions about yourself and a range of familiar topics, such as home, family, work, studies and interests. This part lasts between four and five minutes. Part 2 You will be given a card which asks you to talk about a particular topic. You will have one minute to prepare before speaking for up to two minutes. The examiner will then ask one or two qiestions on the same topic to finish this part of the test. Part 3 You will be asked further questions connected to the topic in Part 2. These questions will give you the opportunity to discuss more abstract ideas and issue. The part of the test lasts between four and five minutes.    IELTS | Test Takers - Academic or General Training? The following definitions are to be used as a general guide only. Academic – Institutions of Higher and Further EducationThe Academic format is, broadly speaking, for those who want to study or train in an English-speaking university or Institutions of Higher and Further Education. Admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses is based on the results of the Academic test.  General Training – for school, work or migrationThe General Training format focuses on basic survival skills in broad social and workplace contexts. It is typically for those who are going to English-speaking countries to do secondary education, work experience or training programs. People migrating to Australia, Canada and New Zealand must sit the General Training test. It should be noted that certain professions require an Academic test result for registration and migration purposes.   Check with your organisationWhilst the IELTS Global Recognition System is committed to maintaining an up to date record of English language requirements, it is strongly recommended that you also check the English language requirements with the recognising organisation directly, by visiting their website. For more information, see Frequently asked questions or download the Information for candidates booklet (PDF, 935KB). IELTS | Test Takers - A reliable, secure test The IELTS nine (9) band score system grades scores consistently. It is secure, benchmarked and understood worldwide. Test materials are designed carefully so that every version of the test is of a comparable level of difficulty. IELTS Examiners are fully qualified and follow the IELTS standardised testing around the world. IELTS has a quality-controlled system of recruitment, training, benchmarking, certification and monitoring. IELTS markers are regularly monitored and tested every two years to retain their certification. Our test centres are managed by the British Council, IDP:IELTS Australia or by independent organisations that meet strict standards of quality, security and customer service. The free IELTS Test Report Form Verification Service enables universities and employers to authenticate test report forms and safeguards against fraudulent report forms. Fees for IELTS? INR 8900 for all test dates till 30th June 2013 INR 9300 for all test dates from 1st July 2013 How to register for IELTS ? You can register online by visiting the following link :   http://www.britishcouncil.in/ielts/ielts-international-english-language-testing-system Like us now to get more career updates : www.fb.com/starjobz Source : ielts.org  (Compiled by : Priya Sharma (STARJOBZ Recruitment, Training & Placement Consultants)

Interview DOs and DON'Ts.

 

 

 

 

• Know the exact time and location of your interview; know how long it takes to get there, park, find a rest room to freshen up, etc.

 

 

 

• Dress appropriately for the industry; err on the side of being conservative to show you take the interview seriously. Your personal grooming and cleanliness should be impeccable.

 

• Arrive early; 10 minutes prior to the interview start time [or earlier if the event or employer instructs you to do so].

  

• Treat other people you encounter with courtesy and respect. Their opinions of you might be solicited during hiring decisions.

                                           

• Offer a firm handshake, make eye contact, and have a friendly expression when you are greeted by your interviewer.

  

 

 

• Listen to be sure you understand your interviewer's name and the correct pronunciation.

 

• Even when your interviewer gives you a first and last name, address your interviewer by title (Ms., Mr., Dr.) and last name, until invited to do otherwise.

 

 

                                    

 

 

• Maintain good eye contact during the interview.

 

 

 

• Sit still in your seat; avoid fidgeting and slouching.

 

• Respond to questions and back up your statements about yourself with specific examples whenever possible.

 

 

 

• Ask for clarification if you don't understand a question. 

 

• Be thorough in your responses, while being concise in your wording.

  

• Be honest and be yourself — your best professional self.  Dishonesty gets discovered  and is grounds for withdrawing job offers and for firing. You want a good match  between yourself and your employer. If you get hired by acting like someone other than yourself, you and your employer will both be unhappy.

  

• Treat the interview seriously and as though you are truly interested in the employer and the opportunity presented.

  

• Exhibit a positive attitude. The interviewer is evaluating you as a potential co-worker. Behave like someone you would want to work with.

  

• Have intelligent questions prepared to ask the interviewer. Having done your research about the employer in advance, ask questions which you did not find answered in your research.

 

• Evaluate the interviewer and the organization s/he represents. An interview is a two-way street. Conduct yourself cordially and respectfully, while thinking critically about the way you are treated and the values and priorities of the organization.

 

• After the interview, make notes right away so you don't forget critical details.

• Do expect to be treated appropriately. If you believe you were treated inappropriately or asked questions that were inappropriate or made you uncomfortable, discuss this with a Career Services advisor or the director.

 

• Make sure you understand the employer's next step in the hiring process; know when and from whom you should expect to hear next. Know what action you are expected to take next, if any.

 

• When the interviewer concludes the interview, offer a firm handshake and make eye contact. Depart gracefully.

 

 

 

 

 Interview DON'Ts

 

• Don't make excuses. Take responsibility for your decisions and your actions.

 

• Don't make negative comments about previous employers or professors (or others).

  

• Don't falsify application materials or answers to interview questions.

  

• Don't treat the interview casually, as if you are just shopping around or doing the interview for practice. This is an insult to the interviewer and to the organization.

  

• Don't give the impression that you are only interested in an organization because of its geographic location.

 

 

• Don't give the impression you are only interested in salary; don't ask about salary and benefits issues until the subject is brought up by your interviewer.

  

• Don't act as though you would take any job or are desperate for employment.

  

• Don't make the interviewer guess what type of work you are interested in; it is not the interviewer's job to act as a career advisor to you.

  

• Don't be unprepared for typical interview questions. You may not be asked all of them in every interview, but being unprepared will not help you.

  

 

• A job search can be hard work and involve frustrations; don't exhibit frustrations or a negative attitude in an interview.

 

• Don't go to extremes with your posture; don't slouch, and don't sit rigidly on the edge of your chair.

 

• Don't assume that a female interviewer is "Mrs." or "Miss." Address her as "Ms." unless told otherwise. Marital status of anyone, male or female, is irrelevant to the purpose of the interview.

 

• Don't allow your cell phone to sound during the interview. (If it does, apologize quickly and ignore it.) Don't take a cell phone call. Don't look at a text message.

 

• Don't take your parents, your pet (an assistance animal is not a pet in this circumstance), spouse, fiance, friends or enemies to an interview. If you are not grown up and independent enough to attend an interview alone, you're insufficiently grown up and independent for a job. (They can certainly visit your new city, at their own expense, but cannot attend your interview.)

 

• Don't chew gum or smell like smoke or gutkha.

 

 

 (Compiled by : Priya Sharma, STARJOBZ)

 

 www.facebook.com/starjobz

 

 

 

21 Quick Tips to Clear IAS and IPS Interview

21 Quick Tips to Clear IAS and IPS Interview

 1. Start your Interview Preparation from January Onwards

First tip is start preparing from the start of the year. You will get at least 3 months to prepare. But I recommend to start preparing from one year onwards so that you get enough time. 

2. Give respect to the members who will take your Interview

Once you enter the interview room then give due respect to the members who will be going to take your interview. The board members will notice mannerism and decide whether you will be fit or not. So take mannerism seriously.

3. Do Not Forget what your wrote in your Mains Exam

You will only come for the interview after successfully clearing the written mains exam. So while you give interview you will be asked what you did in your mains. So remember and revise what you did there. 

4. Have Positive Views in Your Mind

Go for the interview with a positive mindset. Usually, it happens that negative thoughts would start coming to your mind. Especially, who are giving interview for the first time? So be positive and think right.

5. Have proper command on Your Language Skills

It does not matter what is your medium of the interview. Be it Hindi or English. It really does not matter. What matters is the command over the particular language.

6. It takes more courage to listen than to speak

You must listen to the interviewee before you answer anything. It is good to listen completely and then answer rather interrupting when they are speaking. 

7. First question why you want to join IAS?

Seventh interview technique would be to prepare for this question because you will be asked. This will be perhaps the first question that you have to answer. So prepare an honest reply beforehand. You will find it easy to answer.

8. Speak Your Heart and Do not lie Yourself

If you are asked with tough questions or questions that you would not like to answer then do not tell a lie. Never create a fake story to boost yourself just tell them truthfully it does not really matters.

9. Show Confidence talk to them not at them

You should always look into their eyes and then talk. This is very basic interview tip for a civil service interview. Do not look down or elsewhere and answer. If do then they might 
think you do not have self-confidence. 

10. For Serious Question give a Serious Reply

Although you should give a smile and give answers laughingly. But if you are asked a serious question then your answer should be serious too. You have to show them that you care about what they are asking.

11. Prepare what you’re going to Say for Hobby Section

This is again very obvious question that you will be asked in a civil service interview is about your hobby. You should answer this question in a light mood. The board members must get a chance to laugh at some point in time.
So make this answer entertaining as well as unique.

12. Take Your Additional Subjects Seriously

The additional subjects that you will choose for the civil service exams must be taken seriously. Normally, it is seen that candidates tend to neglect their additional subject. So when they are asked questions from it they are not prepared.
Therefore, do not neglect your additional subjects because they might ask some tough questions from it.

13. Your Views must be impartial and fair

In an interview, when your asked some questions which are very political in nature then you must present a fair and balanced opinion. You must not be biased about a particular subject or topic.
They must get a sense that you are very balanced in your approach. 

14. Be in Touch With Current Affairs and other Latest Developments

You will be asked a lot of questions about current affairs and state of the country. Thus keep updating yourself with the things going around the world. You must know what is happening in the country and around the world.

15. In Depth knowledge about the State, City and District you come from

Questions will be asked about the state, city and district you come from. So collect some knowledge about your state, city and district. They would like to know how much you care about the country.

16. Good General Knowledge Very Important

General knowledge is always a key to success in any interview. You should know about some great personality from India and around the world.

17. Keep Your Calm even when they Say you do not know about this Topic

If you are asked about a particular subject and you do not know but still giving some irrelevant and in the end interviewee says that you do not know anything about the subject. Then do not get angry and behave normally.

18. If do NOT know the answer then be Candid to Admit you don’t Know

Continuing from the last point, if you seriously do not anything about a topic you’re asked then admit it that you do not have any idea. You should hesitate to give a frank answer that you do know about this subject.
There is nothing wrong in admitting honestly.

19. Download Debates and Discussions from all India Radio & BBC Documentaries

This point is more to do with preparation just like the first point I made. You can download debates and discussions from various sources present online. You can search many such website which are offering downloads. 

20. Do Not Show anger or frustration if rejected

After the entire discussion, if you feel from the body language of the interviewers that you will not be selected then do not show anger or frustration at them. Just take it on your side.

 

21. Do NOT lose Heart

Finally, if not selected then do lose your heart. You can prepare for second. It is normal that candidates clear their interview in second or third attempt. So do not give up.
These 21 interview skills will come handy if you are appearing for civil service interview. 



Attributions : Priya N (getsarkarinaukri.co.in)

7 ways to get noticed at work

Do you suck at self promotion? Here are some tips on the subtle art of promoting yourself that invites others to take notice.

I suck at self-promotion. I think most of us do. Most people have a negative point of view about self-promotion. 

In fact, self-promotion has almost become a dirty word.

Here's are three reasons why:

• Most people equate self-promotion to being selfish.
• A lot of people think self-promotion is bragging.
• And finally, people generally don't feel good when they receive the promotion

We teeter between talking too little about ourselves or coming across as a flaming narcissist. Somewhere in the middle is the sweet spot -- the subtle art of promoting yourself that invites others to take notice.

Here are some tips on how to get to that sweet spot.

People care about what you've done, not what you're going to do. Who hasn't heard this a bazillion times? 

There is nothing quite like good old-fashioned results to get people's attention.

What problem have you solved? How much have you contributed to a project? 

How do you handle a crises? How often do you meet a deadline? 

Accomplishing something of value is how you earn the right to promote yourself.

Yes. You read it right! 

Talk about other people and their achievements, the more confident and connected they feel, and the more they will endorse you.

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

People will promote you if you promote them.

Whatever you believe -- about your business, about your goals and your dreams -- share those beliefs. 

Share your 'whys' because others who believe the same, will flock to you.They'll feel inspired to share their own ideas. Talking about what you believe gives a nod to your accomplishments without explicitly saying what they are.If people are really interested, they will ask.

Admitting failure is a sign of vulnerability, which is one of the greatest leadership skills.Failure humanizes the path to success. And when we feel connected to another person on a human level, we are much more likely to advance. 

 Authenticity and a little humility can take you far.Having learned from previous failures, you can probably even develop tools to alleviate the problems.

Hone the skills that differentiate you from the pack, then let others praise you. 


If you are too much of a bohemian, people will be confused about who you are and how to promote you.
Instead, they'll just say nothing. You need to figure out your super power -- what sets you apart -- and do it better than anyone else.  

Then you will have people knocking on your door.

Then there are times when you just have to brag about yourself a little bit. 

If you do something really great, you better talk about it. Just talk about it to the right people and make sure it is, in fact, remarkable. The right people will be energized by your success, not turned off by your obvious self-promotion.


(courtesy : toptalent.in)