IELTS

1.  IELTS Preparation Course

1) IELTS Intensive Class
This course is designed to prepare RN students to achieve in a very short time an optimum score in the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) to get Visa Screen certificate. Shepherd School of Language Arts specializes in IELTS and students will get the best preparation for this test. Our qualified and experienced IELTS teachers help students get familiar with the examination format as well as specific examination techniques and strategies. The course provides four month intensive training, three hours a day, four days a week for the four parts of the Academic Module test: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. The minimum target IELTS overall grade for students is 6.5 with 7.0 in Speaking.

2) Course Schedule

- Course duration: 12 weeks - Lessons per week: 4 evenings, 3 hours per evening - Practice exams: 3 exams per one session

IELTS Course Schedule

Date Time	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu
6:00-7:30 p.m.	Speaking	Writing	Reading	Listening
10minutes break
7:40-9:00 p.m.	Speaking	Writing	Reading	Listening

 Trial Test Schedule

Date Time	Mon ~ Thu
6:00-6:30 (30min)	Listening
6:35-7:35 (60min)	Reading
7:40-8:40 (60min)	Writing
8:45-8:56 (15min)	Speaking
Total test time  :  2hours 45minutes

3) Shepherd Technology Tranining School

Address	695 South Harvard Blvd.  Los Angeles, CA  90005
Tel	213-365-9002
Fax	213-365-9454

2. General Information

1) What is IELTS?
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is designed to assess the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is the language of communication. IELTS is recognized by universities and employers in many countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

IELTS tests are administered at centers throughout the world - there are currently more than 270 centers, in over 110 countries. A full list of centers is available on the IELTS website: www.ielts.org

Candidates are tested in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking

Listening 4 sections, 40 items, 30minutes
General Training Reading 3 sections, 40 itemes 60minutes	Academic Reading 3 sections, 40 items 60minutes
General Training Writing 2 tasks (150 & 250 words) 60minutes	Academic Writing 2 tasks (150 & 250 words) 60minutes
Speaking 11 to 14minutes
Total Test Time 2 hours 45 minutes

- Academic and General Training The Academic Reading and Writing Modules assess whether a candidate is ready to study or train in the medium of English at an undergraduate or postgraduate level. Admission toundergraduate and postgraduate courses should be based on the results of these Modules. The General Training Reading and Writing Modules are not designed to test the full range of formal language skills required for academic purposes, but emphasise basic survival skills in a broads social and educational context. General Training is suitable for candidates who are going to English speaking countries to complete their secondary education, to undertake work experience or training programmes not at degree level, or for immigration purposes to Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

2) Characteristics of each section:

3) Test Form

Band 9 Expert User Has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.

Band 8 Very Good User Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.

Band 7 Good User Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriaciles and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.

Band 6 Competent User Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriateness and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.

Band 5 Modest User Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.

Band 4 Limited User Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.

Band 3 Extremely Limited User Converys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent

Band 2 Intermittent User No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty in understanding spoken and written English.

Band 1 Non User Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.

4) Test Dates for 2006 in CA

³¯Â¥	San Diego	San Francisco	Santa Monica	Portland
July	22, 29	22	29	22
August	5, 12, 26	12, 26	12, 26	12
September	2, 16, 23	16, 23	16, 23	23
October	14, 21, 28	14, 28	21, 28	14
November	4, 18	4, 18	4, 18	4
December	2, 9, 16	9, 16	2, 9	9

Test Dates for 2006 in U.S.A.  (www.ielts.org)

5) IELTS Test Center in California

ESL Language Centers (San Francisco) Address: IELTS Administrator 49 Powell St. 3rd Floor San Francisco, CA 94102-2849 Tel: (415) 288-1990 Fax: (415) 288-1996 Email: ielts-sf@els.edu ELS Language Centers (Santa Monica) Address: IELTS Administrator 1413 Second Street, Suite C Santa Monica, CA 90401 Tel: 310 451 4544 Fax: 310 451 7795 Email: smielts@yahoo.com Webpage ELS Language Centers (Portland at Concordia University) Address: IELTS Administrator c/o Concordia University, Portland 2811 NE Holman St, Centennial Hall Rm 3 Portland, OR 97211-6099 Tel: (503) 280-8552 Fax: (503) 280-8553 Email: por@els.edu Webpage International House (San Diego) Address: IELTS Administrator Suite 2M 2725 Congress Street San Diego, CA 92110 Tel: 1 (619) 299-2339 Fax: 1 (619) 299-0235 Email: ielts@ih-sandiego.com Webpage - Application fee       $140 ($130 test fee and $10 postage and handling fee) - Preparations for the test       Each candidate must have the same evidence of identity as the number entered on the       application form.       Candidates also need pencils and pens, a pencil sharpener, and an eraser, but must not take       into the test room any books, papers, cameras, mobile phones or tape recorders. - Cancellation and Postponement       If you cancel or postpone your test please request via e-mail or fax only. We will not accept       telephone cancellation/postponement requests.             :100% test fee refund if cancelled/postponed more than 5 weeks ahead of the confirmed             test date. Postponements are only allowed one time. There will be 0% test fee refund if             cancelled or postponed within 5 weeks of the confirmed test date.             :Failure to appear for the test without notification is considered a cancellation, so there will             be no refund. A new test date will require a new testing fee.             :Refunds will be issued within 15 business days.                       Shipping and handling fees are non-refundable. - Test Results       Results are available within two weeks and candidates will receive one copy of the Test       Report Forms are sent by test centers to the candidates and to the sponsor(s)/receiving       institution(s). Test centers are not permitted to give results out over the phone, nor by fax or       e-mail.       Additional copies may be obtained for $10 per form. We will also send Test Report Forms to       up to 5 Institutions / agencies as you request on the application form. Results will be available       within 10 business days from the date of the test. Please allow 3-5 additional business days       for delivery.  Next day domestic delivery postage is included in the fee.       Candidates who wish to receive their Test Report Form within 3 business days may choose to       pay an additional fee of $75 for speed marking.

 
6) Retrial
You are not allowed to repeat the test within ninety days.