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FAQ ABOUT IELTS TEST

General Info

There are two versions of the  IELTS test: Paper Based and On Computer. The two versions have the same content, score, level of difficulty and type of questions. The only difference is the medium used, paper for the Paper Based version and a computer provided by the test centre for the On Computer one. 

In both cases, the Speaking test is held in person with an IELTS examiner.

The price of the Paper Based test and the On Computer test is €254 + €2 stamp duty.

There are two types of IELTS test: ACADEMIC AND GENERAL TRAINING. Both have 4 papers corresponding to the 4 language skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.

The only difference between the two types of test is the subject matter of the Reading and Writing papers. 

    • Listening test: 30 minutes; the audio is played once only;
    • Reading test: 60 minutes;
    • Writing test: 60 minutes;
    • Speaking test: 11- 14 minutes.

The Speaking test takes place in two ways:

  • Face to face: Candidate takes the face-to-face interview in front of an IELTS examiner
  • Video Call Speaking (VCS): Candidate takes the oral interview in person via a live high definition video call with an examiner who is remotely located. The VCS mode is identical to the face to face version in terms of content, score, timing and question format.

Please note that candidates will be informed of the procedure for carrying out the oral exam in VCS mode, five days before the date of the selected IELTS session.

International House aim is to create optimal conditions so that all candidates can take the IELTS test to the best of their ability.

For this reason, candidates with special requirements can contact us to explain their circumstances and help us decide on the best special arrangements to put in place.

Remember that, to allow us to manage the test efficiently, candidates who require special arrangements must enrol at least 6 weeks before the date of the test.

Candidates must send full medical documentation to ieltssupport@ihmilano.it immediately after they have completed the enrolment procedure.

If we do not receive the documentation or if it is not sent in the times set, International House reserves the right not to grant the special arrangements.

Special arrangements can be requested only for the Paper Based test.

You can apply for compensatory tools by enrolling in an IELTS Paper Based or IELTS On Computer test.

Write to ieltssupport@ihmilano.it for more information.

The IELTS test is valid for two years. 

Go the page preparation courses where you will find information about the courses in the offing and about the free IDP:IELTS materials.

The terms and conditions, and all the other useful documentation, can be downloaded from the IELTS Test Centre page.

Before the IELTS test

You must enrol online. 

Choose the version you want – Paper Based or On Computer – at this address https://ihmilano.it/certificazioni-inglese/ielts-ufficiale/ and click on Academic or General Training on the date and for the venue you want to take the test at. You will be redirected to the page my.ieltsessentials.com for the Paper Based version or https://bx.prod.ielts.com/account for IELTS On Computer where you will be asked to create a new User. 

Before starting the enrolment procedure, make sure you have a colour scan of your documents (identity card and health card) in JPEG or PNG format at hand. The file must not be more than 1.5MB. Complete the enrolment by making the payment.

For more information, write to ieltssupport@ihmilano.it

You can enrol for the IELTS test using your identity card (Italian and EU citizens only) or your passport. The documents must be valid and also valid for travel abroad. They must not be damaged and the data and photograph must be clear. 

In the case of modifications or loss, contact us at ieltssupport@ihmilano.it.

Payment can be made by debit card, credit card or in cash at our schools in Milan and San Donato Milanese or online by Paypal or bank transfer (sending the receipt of the bank transfer to ieltssupport@ihmilano.it). 

The payment must be received within 48 hours following enrolment.   

You can pay for the test also using the 18APP or Carta del Docente (Teacher’s Card).

After the enrolment has been completed, you will receive an email confirming that the payment has been received and one confirming that the documents have been uploaded correctly. We check enrolments and payments manually so it may take a few days for us to send you these confirmation emails. 

You will receive this convocation with all the details 3 days before the date of the test. Candidates must arrive at the venue at least one hour before the time scheduled for the start of the test to complete the registration procedures. Remember that you will be denied entry it you arrive late.

The day of the IELTS test

On the day of the test, you will have to present the same document you used for the enrolment. 

On the day of the test, besides the document you used during the enrolment, candidates under 18 years of age must present this form Consent Form for a Minor to take an IELTS Test, filled in and signed by a parent or guardian.

For candidates registered for the IELTS On Computer mode, it will be necessary to upload the form independently during registration from your personal profile.

Your identity will be checked on the day of the test against the same document used during the enrolment stage. As a further security measure, a headshot will be taken which will appear on your IELTS Test Report Form (TRF). Finally, we will take a finger scan.

Before registration, you will be asked to leave all your personal belongings in the cloakroom. 

You can take only the identity document you used during registration and a transparent bottle of water (no label) into the test room.

Results

You can see your result online 13 calendar days following the date of the test in the case of the Paper Based test and 5/7 calendar days after the date of the test in the case of the On Computer one.  Click on this link and follow the instructions.

The results cannot be seen before these times. 

We are not authorised to communicate results by telephone, fax, email or sms.

Candidates who take the Paper Based test at the Milan venue can pick up the paper certificate (Test Report Form) from the second working day following publication of the results online. Candidates who have taken the Paper Based test at other venues can collect the TRF from the venue where they took the test around 10 days following publication of the results online. 

In both cases, you must present a valid identity document to pick up the certificate.

If you cannot go to the venue personally, make sure that the person picking up the certificate has signed authorisation to do so as well as a photocopy of the candidate’s identity documents besides their own valid identity document. 

Candidates who have taken IELTS On Computer, at any location, will be able to download their e-TRF from their personal account.

Candidates are entitled to a single copy of the certificate.

By regulation, each candidate is entitled to only one paper copy of their TRF (Test Report Form), available for collection at the location where you took the test.

There are no copies in PDF format and we are not authorized to communicate the results by email, SMS or telephone.

You can request up to 10 extra copies to send to universities or organizations. We ask you to send an email to ieltssupport@ihmilano.it with all the details (country, university, faculty, physical address, contact person if present) to carry out the necessary checks.

Extra copies do not incur additional costs. However, they will be sent electronically, if the university accepts this format, or by courier (at the expense of the candidate, both in terms of costs and organization) if a paper copy is specifically requested.

For candidates who have taken IELTS On Computer, it will be possible to enable the viewing of results

If you are not happy with the result you can ask that your test, or part of it, be re-marked at a cost of €110 (plus stamp duty of 2€). The request must be sent no later than 6 weeks following the date on which you took the test, filling in form EOR. IDP:IELTS will communicate the outcome of the re-marking within 21 days. 

For candidates who have taken IELTS On Computer, it will be possible to proceed with the EOR request independently from their personal profile.

If your score is changed, you will have to return the old certificate and you will receive a new Test Report Form and a refund of the re-marking fee paid, from which €2.00 for the stamp duty will be deducted. 

If your result is confirmed, IDP:IELTS will keep the fee.

You can take the IELTS test as many times as you want; there are no limits or restrictions. 

All the certificates in your possession are valid until their expiry date.

One Skill Retake

If you have recently taken an IELTS On Computer test, you can retake any of the four IELTS tests: Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking.

The format and timing of the IELTS One Skill Retake test are the same as a normal IELTS test.

You must book the IELTS One Skill Retake within 60 days of the original test date.

You will receive a new TRF, which includes your new IELTS One Skill Retake result but also those of the skills you did not repeat. This certificate will have the same date as your original IELTS Academic or General Training test.

You will have the option to choose whether to use the old or new TRF.

IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted by universities, professional bodies and the Australian Department of Home Affairs for most visa subclasses.

However, we always advise you to check directly with your university!

At the moment IELTS One Skill Retake is only available for the IELTS On Computer version.

The EOR involves the repetition of one or more tests of the IELTS test by a Senior Examiner while the IELTS OSR allows the candidate himself to redo only one test of the test in order to obtain a new score.

Both services are paid and the request must be made within 60 days of the test date.

Delays, cancellations and date changes

If you are unable to be present on the day of the test or if you enable to complete the test for medical reasons, you must fill in and send this form within 5 working days following the date of the test. Official documentation justifying your absence must be attached, such as:

    • Medical certificate;
    • Police report;
    • Death certificate.

You will receive a refund of the enrolment fee minus € 60.00 for administrative fees. Requests sent after these deadlines or without the necessary documentation will not be taken into consideration. 

You can change the date of your IELTS test up to 15 days before the date indicated on the enrolment form, subject to availability.

Fill in this form and send it to ieltssupport@ihmilano.it

A fee of €60.00 is charged for each date change.

You must choose an exam date, if available, within three months of your initial exam date.

We remind you that it is possible to transfer the same booking only once.

You can cancel your enrolment by filling in this form and sending it to ieltssupport@ihmilano.it

You will receive a refund of the enrolment fee minus € 60.00 for administrative fees only if the request is sent at least 5 weeks before the date of the test you have enrolled for.

Additionally, in some circumstances beyond the control of the test centre, we may be forced to cancel the test and move it to a later date. Such circumstances include, but are not limited to, extreme weather, natural disasters, civil unrest, industrial action, global pandemics or force majeure.

If the test is canceled or postponed due to other circumstances, such as technical failures, location or environmental factors, IH Milano will provide the candidate with as much notice as possible and give the candidate the opportunity to choose a transfer to a later examination.

Complaints

If you are not satisfied with any aspect of the service provided by International House Milan, you can send an email to the school describing the problem. If, instead, you are not satisfied with the running of the test, please fill in the Candidate Complaint Form on the day of the test. Complaints regarding the test day sent after the actual day of the test or made using other forms will not be taken into consideration.

FAQ ABOUT TEACHER TRAINING

CELTA

General

CELTA is certified by Cambridge Assessment English and is therefore recognised internationally. It is recognised by Ofqual al level 5 on the Qualifications and Credit Framework.

While CELTA does not count toward ‘abilitazione all’insegnamento’ and is generally not valid for ‘concorsi’, it provides a solid framework for teaching English and is therefore useful for teachers in the state school sector. 

Absolutely. Private language schools not only recognise CELTA, but many require it as an initial qualication.

IH Milan welcomes applications from its CELTA graduates and is committed to keeping candidates informed about job opportunities.

Course Structure

Every course consists of 120 contact hours plus a recommended minimum of 80 hours outside of the course for reading, research, assignments, tasks and planning. 

There are 6 hours in total of assessed teaching practice at two different levels (3 + 3 hours) – divided into a minimum of 8 separate lessons.

You will teach a minimum of two levels of students, one of which should be below intermediate level, in a group of no less than 5 learners. Normally the levels are Pre Intermediate and Upper Intermediate.

6 hours of which 3.5 may be filmed observations on f2f courses (or all 6 for online courses).

There are no differences. Every course consists of 120 hours. By offering more than one option, IH Milan aims to cater for all possible needs in terms of timeframe.

Syllabus and Assessment

  • Topic 1 Learners and teachers, and the teaching and learning context
  • Topic 2 Language analysis and awareness
  • Topic 3 Language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing
  • Topic 4 Planning and resources for different teaching contexts
  • Topic 5 Developing teaching skills and professionalism.

Component One: Planning and teaching

Component Two: Classroom-related written assignments (of which there are four in total).

The tutors observe the lessons and evaluate them, with group verbal feedback and individual written feedback.

Written assignments are assessed by the tutors. All assignments can be resubmitted once. A percentage of them are double-marked (30% approximately).

Candidates have to maintain and submit a portfolio of all coursework including all written assignments and all documentation related to teaching practice.

Assessment of other parts of the course is continuous and integrated.

  • adult learners and learning contexts
  • an aspect of the language system of English (analysis of grammar and vocabulary)
  • an aspect of language skills (reading based on an authentic text)
  • reflection on classroom teaching and the identification of action points

Absolutely. It is a requirement that such sources are used and properly reference. You can use a reference books and reliable online tools when completing your application form, as well.

No, CELTA is a continuous assessment course.

Pass, Pass B and Pass A and by the end of the course, candidates’ performance must match all of the descriptors at a particular passing grade in order to achieve that grade. Passes B and A exceed the minimum criteria. 

Pass candidates demonstrate a satisfactory understanding of ELT learning and teaching, can plan with guidance and can generally teach effective lessons. If a candidate fails one assignment, then they are not eligible for more than a Pass grade.

A Pass B candidate requires less guidance with planning and shows a good understanding of ELT and learning.

A Pass A candidate needs minimal guidance and demonstrates an excellent understanding of ELT and learning.

Awareness of the learners/analysis of language/self-reflection are important (see performance descriptors) at all levels.

Tutors support trainees throughout the course and mentor their progress in teaching. Though failing the course is a possibility, is very rare thanks to strict entry criteria and a thorough selection process.

CELTA is a very intense course, so for your own success, the answer is no absence at all. In case of unforeseen circumstances, tutors will liaise with the candidates.

Online and Face to Face

In the face to face course the tutors and trainees meet in school and the entire course is delivered in real time, including Teaching Practice. Observations of lessons are live and filmed, but all take place in a face to face environment.

In the online version, the entire course including Teaching Practice takes place online with trainees and tutors meeting on the Zoom platform. At the beginning of the course there is a presentation and mini workshop on using Zoom for teaching. Observations are a combination of filmed lessons (in both face to face classroom environments and in the virtual classroom environment) and live online lessons taught synchronously in the virtual environment.

Absolutely. The course syllabus is the same for both courses and therefore the skills and knowledge are transferable. 

While the certificate does not mention in which format the course was completed, as it is the same CELTA course content and qualification, IH Milan can issue a letter testifying to the type of course completed.

Mixed Mode CELTA

Absolutely. They course content, syllabus, input and assessment criteria are exactly the same on all CELTA courses.  The support you receive from your tutors is also exactly the same. Tutors will deliver all input sessions live, help you with lesson planning, give feedback on your teaching practice, and carry out 1-1 tutorials to discuss your progress. You will still complete the same modules and input as you would on a ‘one mode’ course with additional input to allow for some online technical training.

Not prior to starting the course, no! But in the teaching sector? Yes! Online language learning has increased dramatically due to the pandemic and to the improvement in online platforms, but face to face learning is alive and well. At IH Milan we expect our teachers to move seamlessly between the online and face to face learning environments. In fact, it’s a prerequisite to work with us.

Online Teaching Practice and Online input will be delivered via Zoom using secure educational licenses.

Stable and fast internet connection with a strong signal and a laptop or PC are essential for the course. A headset with a microphone is needed for teaching practice. We also recommend that you have a back-up solution in case of tech failure.

You will need to be in Milan for either the first or second three weeks of the course. Your availability will be discussed at interview.

For the part of the course when you are not in Milan, you can be anywhere provided you have reliable internet access.

Before any evaluation of your teaching is carried out you will have the opportunity to observe a live demonstration lesson in both formats. Unassessed teaching practice is also built into both parts of the course so that you can familiarize yourself with the different tools available.

Requirements and Registration

  • Proficient English language user (CEFR Level high C1 or above)
  • Educated to the standard required for entry into higher education
  • Age 18+

CELTA trainees need to be able to interact as proficient users of the language. Morever, assignments and lesson planning documentation need to be written in academic English.

Yes, if English is not your first language (you are not a native speaker nor bilingual), then you need to provide us with a certificate from an official examining board that shows you are a good C1 level.

The application form can be downloaded from the centre’s website. It needs to be completed (you can use reference tools/books to do this) and returned to teachertraining@ihmilano.it. The CELTA tutors will then review your application and if it is successful, you will be invited to interview for a place on the course.

Yes, you can. An admin fee of 20 euros for 18app and 35 euros for Buono Docenti will be applied.

Loans and scholarships are not available at this time.

30% of the amount is the deposit which guarantees a place in the offered course, the remaining 70% must be paid no later than 2 weeks prior to the starting date of the course.

When you are offered a place and have paid the deposit, the centre will send you a short recommended reading list (these texts are integral to the course and we recommend buying/having your own copies of them) and an optional Pre-Course Task (this is a practice task for language analysis).

Our center provides free shipping of certificates to destinations in Italy. The sending of certificates to destinations abroad is the responsibility of the student.

DELTA

General

The Delta consists of three different modules, Module One, Module Two and Module Three. It is modular and thus it is flexible: You can decide whether you would like to take each module independently at different times (and in no particular order, nor in the same place/with the same organisation), or simultaneously.  

However, do bear in mind that the study you do in Module One provides important background reading and input that will allow you to carry out Modules Two and Three more effectively.

It can be argued that the best order to take the modules is their chronological order. However, if you have an MA in Applied Linguistics or Education you might want/be able to work through the modules in a different order. Should you decide to do Module Two before Module One, then you need to be prepared to carry out an even greater amount of research and background reading, in all other cases.

This depends on the chosen course format. In order to complete all modules in their chronological order it may take anything from 2 months (full time, intensive format) to a year (part time over an academic year), to years (different modules completed independently and during different time periods). How you chose to take the course is entirely your own decision and should be based on your professional and personal needs. 

There is a separate certification for each module and once you have completed all three modules successfully you will become a qualified Delta teacher.

All three modules include a focus on theory and practice. 

Module One focuses your attention on theoretical issues which form the background to learning over a number of contexts. This knowledge is then tested in an exam (which can be taken on two separate occasions within a single year, the first Monday or Wednesday of June and December). 

The Delta Module One examination consists of two papers for a total of 3 hours and 30 minutes (Two 1½-hour papers with a 30-minute break in between). Paper 1 has five tasks and Paper 2 three tasks. All tasks are compulsory. You will be presented with ELT-related material and authentic texts. In Paper 1, the task types include labelling, short answers and longer written responses. In Paper 2, the tasks require longer, written responses.

We recommend applying for the course only if you are able to give a considerable amount of time and commitment to it. You will need to study outside of course time, too, otherwise you may risk failing the exam. 

In Module Two you will start by carrying out an informally observed lesson (diagnostic) which is not officially assessed but forms the starting point for your professional development throughout the course. You will be assessed via a portfolio of coursework, consisting in five assignments which are set and completed at regular intervals during the Delta course:

What exactly are the assignments? 

Two systems assignments and two skills assignments (LSAs – 2,000-2,500 words each). There are three formally observed internal lessons and background written assignments – internal LSAs – and one external formally assessed lesson observation and background assignment. Each assignment consists of a background essay, a lesson plan, the teaching practice of the lesson, a reflective piece of written work about the lesson and tutor feedback.

One two-part Professional Development Assignment (PDA – 2,000- 2,500 words each part). This two-part assignment is based on an action plan formulated at the beginning of the course. 

Part A – Reflection and Action – is a reflective assignment that you, the candidates, work on at different stages during the course, in line with the LSAs. 

Part B – Experimental Practice – is an investigation into an area of practice which is new for you, the individual teacher. This assignment includes observation and reflection on your own teaching as well as that of your colleagues on the course. 

It is advisable to be teaching your own classes whilst doing any of the modules and it is essential if you decide to take Module Two so that you can experiment with new techniques and approaches before being officially assessed on them.

For Module One the course work is all based on attending the course (live online) as well as reading, writing, study and doing coursework. 

For Module Two you teach a class set up especially for the course by International House Milan and San Donato (online). You will observe the same class (your peers teaching), you also teach for the required lessons. 

Delta Module Three is assessed by means of a 4,000 – 4,500 word extended assignment based on how you create and assess a specific course of English. There are different specialisations:

  • Teaching young learners/young adults 
  • English for Special Purposes 
  • English for Academic Purposes 
  • ESOL learners with clear specialist needs e.g. literacy needs 
  • CLIL-Embedded ESOL 
  • Teaching examination classes 
  • Teaching one-to-one 
  • Teaching monolingual classes 
  • Teaching multilingual classes 
  • Teaching in an English-speaking environment 
  • Teaching in a non-English-speaking environment. 
  • Business English

There is no set time limit for completion of the assignment, but it does have to be submitted through an approved Cambridge English Language Assessment Examination centre in time for the Centre to submit it to Cambridge English Language Assessment by the set submission date in either June or December. 

No, you do not need to take a course but having a mentor or advisor is recommended. 

Candidates must submit their assignments (including appendices) electronically to an authorised Exam Centre (Ih Milan and San Donato is an authorized centre) who will forward the work to Cambridge English Language Assessment.

There is no magic number, but it can be estimated at a minimum of about 14 hours a week for Module One, approximately 20 hours for each of the 4 LSA assignments, around 40 hours for the PDA assignment in Module Two and a minimum of about 70 hours for Module Three.

Module One Examination 8 questions over 2 exams Live online course and study
Module Two Coursework
  • Two-part PDA: 1 experimental practice assignment and 1 professional development assignment
  • 2 systems & 2 skills assignments one of which is externally assessed
Blended learning – online and f2f lessons
Module Three Extended assignment 4,000 – 4,500 word extended assignment F2F or online.

Module One at International House Milan and San Donato

Candidates take the Module 1 Delta course live online. 

The online option does not require attendance at the centre in person and can be taken from anywhere in the world. There are different input sessions designed to help you with the exam tasks and there are exam tasks to be completed over the course as homework. In addition to these exam tasks there is also a mock exam. The mock exam is three quarters of the way through the course. You will need a high speed internet connection to follow this online course. Classes are from 9 am till 1 pm (including a short break) on Thursdays. The content is always directly linked to the exam questions. The course starts in January and ends in May. 

You need basic computer skills such as the ability to use learning platforms – (we use Zoom), upload and download to a Cloud Storage, use email with attachments and know how to use Microsoft Word® or Open Office® word processing programs. Broadband internet is also advisable, as is a back up plan in case of connection problems. 

We provide one mock exam for both papers as part of the course timetable. It is a full mock with full tutor feedback. You can also access further mock exams at an additional fee of €100 per mock, this includes full feedback.

Please visit our site for a current list of fees.

The exam is always held at International House Milan and San Donato at the premises in Viale Brenta, on the first Monday or Wednesday in June and December.

Module Two at International House Milan and San Donato

For DELTA Module 2 courses International House Milan and San Donato offers a distance/face to face course that involves following webinars/seminars and observations of lessons for the practical application of theory course (from October to December). 

We arrange teaching practice for you at our centre in San Donato with a specially organised group of learners. Teaching Practice takes place on Friday mornings – from 9 till 1 pm (including feedback). 

If you are based in another Italian city or town, we hope that you will be able to teach the same group online (Cambridge still has to confirm this).

Otherwise, a tutor can come to assess YOUR class in YOUR school at a time that is mutually convenient. This option includes an extra cost to cover the tutor’s travel time and expenses. 

Yes, deadlines must be met in order to ensure that you do not have a work backlog over the duration of the course. 

Yes, you will have separate individual tutorials over the duration of the course. 

Please visit our site where you will find a current list of fees.

Module Three at International House Milan and San Donato

The general preference is to accept candidates who have already secured Module 1 and 2. However, if candidates have an academic qualification we assume that their academic writing skills are of a level which would enable them to take Module 3 at our centre. All candidates who have been interviewed successfully for any Module at our centre in a two year period ending on the start date of the course are exempt from interview for Module 3. 

Module 3 is delivered through consultancies. Candidates consult with the centre face to face, by email or Zoom regarding their assignment. A minimum of four hours of consultation must be followed. If a candidate prefers, we can proof- read and insert comments into candidates’ written work and record feedback for download from the web. Please let us know your preference during your interview. 

The minimum number of consultations is three and there is no maximum. However, the consultations are to guide you in your research of your specialisation, commenting on drafts and final proofreading. The centre does not act as a ghost-writer in any way for the candidates.

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