IELTS – On the day of the exam

Hello All,

This was my first attempt to appear for the IELTS exam, i just appeared yesterday and thought of sharing my experience. I opted for General Training, most of you might already know the format of IELTS, but there are a few things to learn before you get to the exam. I did not find any examination day experience anywhere as i was looking for some real time tips hence thought of sharing. I hope there could be for sure a few takeaways for everyone that one has to be familiar with before going to the examination hall.

I had the speaking test on the 25^th October, Wednesday at the hotel Chevron Orchards in Sadashivnagar. To reiterate on the format and the timings for the respective sessions, I have listed as below for your information:

·     Listening test = 30 minutes (1 PM to 1.30 PM) + 10 minutes are given to transfer the answers to the answer sheet. You can write your answers in question paper and transfer in the given 10 minutes

·   Reading test = 60 minutes (1.40 PM to 2.40 PM). There is no extra time given to transfer the answers to the answer sheet. Candidates must transfer the answers during the given time of 60 minutes only.

·     Writing test = 60 minutes (Task 1 = 20 minutes, Task 2 = 40 minutes) 

I was notified by email to report at the examination hall by 11.30 AM, to complete the formalities, while the exam actually starts at 1 PM. The address provided to me was RG Royal Convention Center, Yesvantpur. My exam day was Saturday, 28^th October 2017.

I reached the examination hall by 11.10 AM. There was a large queue entering the hall. At the first point, at the entrance, you are asked to submit your bags. All belongings such as wallet, wrist watch, mobile phones (switched off mode) have to be kept in the bag, you are given a token to collect the bag. Few things to take note of: 

• You are only allowed to carry your Passport, pencils, pens, sharpener, rubber (all stickers have to be removed). You don’t need to carry water bottles, as you are provided small Bisleri bottles at your desk. 
• You don’t need to carry color Xerox of your passport. Color Xerox copy of passport is only required during the speaking IELTS exam.

After the entrance, there are 2 halls, the first hall is where you are seated and your identity check is done. Once your identity check is done, you are allowed to move to the 2^nd hall which is the examination room. This was a convention hall converted into examination hall. To my assumption, I think it was a strength of over 500 candidates appearing for the IELTS exam on a single day. Most of the crowd was for the Academic training, as these are mostly young students applying for degrees & colleges outside India.

Note that you are allowed to go to the washroom here. Once your identity check is done, and you are seated into the examination hall, you are not allowed to come out till the listening test is over as instructed.

• You must ensure that you go washroom before, as the examination starts at 1 PM and finishes at 4 PM. You are seated at the hall by 12 noon, so it is 4 hours that you have to sit in the hall.
• If you wish to go to the washroom you are allowed only after the listening test but you have to raise hand and you will be escorted by the instructors. 
• There is no extra time provided between any of the 3 tests reading, listening and writing. If you move out to the washroom in between, you lose that few minutes from your allowed duration for the test. But it is wise to go, you could be back in 3 or max 5 mins, instead of holding and getting discomforted.
• Make sure that you have eaten your breakfast/meals before you enter the examination hall at 11.30 AM. I suggest that you carry some snacks in tiffin and have it there while you are seated and before your identity check begins, as you will not have time to eat anything for next 4 hours.

After finishing my turn of identity check, it was nearly by 12.00 noon I was seated inside the examination room. It is one long hour of waiting before the exam begins. You will tend to only drink water during this time which is kept on your desk. Hence, make sure that you do not drink too much water or you will feel to go to the washroom again.

The examiner starts the instructions by 12.50 PM mentioning about the do’s and don’ts and how the examination will proceed for 3 hours.

Listening test 

At first, your identity passport is checked again at your desk before 12.55 PM. At 12.55 PM, the instructor will start distributing the answer sheets and question paper. You are instructed over the mike on how to fill particulars on your answer sheet. You have to enter the following details on answer sheet:

• Your name in capital letters exactly as it appear on your passport
• Candidate number on the answer sheet, which is given on the sticky on your desk.

Once you fill in the answer sheet, instructors will distribute the question paper before 1 PM. You are not allowed to open the question paper until asked to do so. Sharp 1 PM, examiner will announce to open the question paper.

The clock runs on the projector on the stage. There is one thing that could be done better I felt is, by the side of the clock, there could be a stop watch that can run so that candidates can always see the time left. The reminders are given only before 5 minutes of the finishing of listening section. (Feedback)

I finished the listening section well and was able to finish the exam well in time. I quickly transferred the answers to the answer sheet in the given 10 minutes.

Reading test 

The same pattern was followed to distribute the answer sheets & question papers for the Reading test. Note that there is no extra time given after completion of listening or reading tests. I sincerely believe it would have been great if we are given 5-10 minutes break after completion of listening.

I started with the reading test by the given start time. However, after completing section 2, I started with the section 3. At this time, it urged me heavily to go to the washroom however I stretched further holding it, while I had only 10 minutes left. I asked the examiner if I could go to the washroom, I was told that I can go after the writing test paper is started. I somehow became very uncomfortable in the last 10 minutes of the reading test and could not concentrate to complete the last section. Section 3 is a bit tough where you have long passages and you have really to concentrate at this time. You have to practice to stay in examination room for 3 hours without any breaks, which I honestly didn’t do and it was a long time after that I was appearing for a 3 hours exam at a stretch.

Writing test

I started with the writing session and immediately took a quick break and was back to my seat in 3-4 minutes. Few others rushed with me at this time. I was comfortably able to finish the writing section also in the given time.

After the exam you are allowed to leave the examination room in a queue after you have distributed your question papers & answer sheets. The last queue then is to pick your bags and you are off then to wait for the exam results.

My exam results will be declared by 10^th November, however I believe I would lose marks in the reading section considerably. I sincerely feel I shall reappear if I do not score to satisfaction. Fingers crossed but I hope to score at least 7 band, though my target was to get to band 8.

All the very best to the other folks who appeared and who are planning to appear soon!!