IELTS Quiz: knowledge of the test	

1	How many parts are there in the IELTS test (academic version) and what are they?	
2	How many overall bands (scores) are there for the IELTS test? Which do you need to enter university in Hong Kong?	
3	In which part of the test do Hong Kong students score lowest according to past statistics?	
4	In what order are the different parts of the test?	
5	Which part of the test is the shortest?	
6	Can you write in pen, pencil or either?	
7	If you are a native speaker, you would normally get a grade 9 in IELTS. True or false?	
8	What would you always expect to see in part 1 of the writing test?	
9	What happens if you use bullet points in the writing test?	
10	You should spend an equal amount of time on Writing tasks 1 and 2. True or False?	
11	It doesn't matter if your writing task answers are a little short of the word count mentioned.
True or False?	
12	In what part of the test might you have to write your opinions about something?	
13	Which four areas do the examiners look at when they mark your writing papers?	
14	What happens in part 1 of the speaking test?	
15	True or false: it is a good idea to memorize a short speech about yourself for the speaking test?	
16	How long do you have to speak for in part 2 of the speaking test (the long turn or mini-presentation) and how long do you have to prepare?	
17	The listening and reading tests are multiple-choice. True or False?	
18	How many listening passages are there for the listening test? Which is most difficult?	
19	How many reading texts are there for the reading test?	
20	How many times do you listen to each passage in the listening test?	

Answers	

General questions about the IELTS test	
1	How many parts are there in the IELTS test (academic version) and what are they?
There are four parts to the IELTS test: listening, reading, writing and speaking.	
2	How many overall bands (scores) are there for the IELTS test? Which do you need to enter university in Hong Kong?
There are nine overall band scores, although band 0 is only used when a student is absent. The minimum IELTS score that universities ask for is usually 6, but some institutions may ask for more depending on the course.	
3	In which part of the test do Hong Kong students score lowest according to past statistics?
Writing. In 2011, Hong Kong means scores were: Listening - 6.7, Reading - 6.4, Writing - 5.9, Speaking - 6.2, Overall score - 6.4 (Source: IELTS.org)	
4	In what order are the different parts of the test?
Listening, reading, and writing are taken together in that order. The speaking test is done separately within seven days of the other papers.	
5	Which part of the test is the shortest?
The speaking test (11- 14 minutes). Next is listening (30 minutes), followed by the reading and the writing tests (60 minutes).	
6	Can you write in pen, pencil or either?
Pencil must be used for reading and listening; either can be used for writing.	
7	If you are a native speaker, you would normally get a grade 9 in IELTS. True or false?
False. Native speakers who are not familiar with the writing tasks and the format of the test may get marks lower than 9, which emphasizes the need for test preparation.	
Questions about the academic writing test	
8	What would you always expect to see in part 1 of the writing test?
A graph, chart, table, diagram, map or some other graphical representation of information.	
9	What happens if you use bullet points in the writing test?
You will lose marks. Writing task answers must be written in full sentences and paragraphed appropriately. Notes, numbered points etc. are not acceptable. 	
10	You should spend an equal amount of time on Writing tasks 1 and 2. True or False?
False. You should spend around 20 minutes on Writing task 1 and 40 minutes on Writing task 2.	
11	It doesn't matter if your writing task answers are a little short of the word count mentioned. True or False?
False. Answers that are under-length will be penalised.	
12	In what part of the test might you have to write your opinions about something?
Writing Task 2 is a short discursive essay on a topic of general interest in which you are asked to give your opinion and often, to comment on other opinions.	
13	Which four areas do the examiners look at when they mark your writing papers?
Task achievement (content); coherence / cohesion (organization/ linking); Lexical resource (vocab - how much, how it is used, is it appropriate?); grammatical range and accuracy (range of structures; how used; are they appropriate?)	
Questions about the speaking test	
14	What happens in part 1 of the speaking test?
An interview in which the examiner asks the candidate questions about his or her everyday life.	
15	True or false: it is a good idea to memorize a short speech about yourself for the speaking test?
False. Candidates are not asked to give speeches about themselves. The only time they give a speech is in part 2 (the long turn). However, this is an unseen topic and therefore cannot be prepared in advance. Examiners will quickly notice memorized language and mark it down.	
16	How long do you have to speak for in part 2 of the speaking test (the long turn or mini-presentation) and how long do you have to prepare?
Candidates are given one minute to prepare and a maximum of two minutes to speak.	
Questions about the listening and reading tests	
17	The listening and reading tests are multiple-choice. True or False?
False. Task types include multiple-choice, short answers, matching, sentence completion and others.	
18	How many listening passages are there for the listening test? Which is most difficult?
Four. They become progressively more difficult. The last passage is a monologue – often a lecture – in an academic context.	
19	How many reading texts are there for the reading test?
Three, of roughly equal length.	
20	How many times do you listen to each passage in the listening test?
Once only. It is, therefore, essential to maintain concentration. Miss one question and you could drop a whole IELTS band.