IELTS Pretesting – Information for Candidates

What is pretesting?
Pretesting is one of the first stages in the IELTS question paper production process. All material that appears in IELTS tests has been pretested.
Why is pretesting important?
Cambridge ESOL pretests material in order to ensure that IELTS tests are fair and at an appropriate level of difficulty.

Who can take part in pretesting?
If you are following, or have recently followed, an IELTS preparation course then you can take a pretest. You must have an ability no lower than IELTS band 4.
What does pretesting involve?
Candidates usually take a Listening pretest and/or a Reading pretest (either Academic or General Training Module). Listening and Reading pretests are longer than the IELTS tests because they contain more questions. The Listening pretest takes 30-40 minutes. The Reading pretest takes 1 hour 15 minutes. Candidates may also occasionally take Writing pretests (either Academic or General Training Module). Writing pretests are the same length as the IELTS tests: 1 hour.
What are the benefits to you?
Pretesting provides you with valuable examination practice. It will give you an insight into what an IELTS test is like, and the types of questions that are asked. Participating in pretesting will also give you practice in working under examination conditions.

What kind of results will you get?
You will receive a raw score (i.e. the number of correct answers) for both the Listening and Reading pretests. Although you will not be given an IELTS Band Score for Listening and Reading, the raw score will give you some idea of your ability in these skills. (Your teacher may be able to calculate an equivalent Band Score for your raw score, but this will be very approximate and cannot be used as an official IELTS result.) For the Writing pretest, you will receive a Band Score, but again this cannot be used as an official IELTS result.

How will you get the results?
Your results will be sent to your language school.

When will you get your results?
Listening and Reading scores are available within two or three weeks of the pretest papers being received by Cambridge ESOL. It takes a little longer to return Writing scores because the scripts must by assessed by examiners. Writing Band Scores are usually available within 4 to 5 weeks.

Do you have to pay?
No. Candidates do not have to pay anything to take part in pretesting.
Source British Council