New Milestones Confirm IELTS as the World’s Leading Test of English for International Migration and Higher Education

The number of organisations accepting IELTS (International English Language Testing System) results has reached 10,000, cementing the test’s position as the world’s leading English language test for education and global migration purposes.

Global recognition is one of the reasons why the number of people taking IELTS continues to grow, with 2.9 million tests taken in 2016.

The growth in recognising organisations – which include universities, schools, employers, immigration authorities and professional bodies – is an indication of how these bodies trust and value IELTS results as a secure, valid and reliable indication of a test taker’s English language proficiency.

James Shipton, Head of IELTS at the British Council, said:

“The world-leading expertise of the three IELTS partners delivers ever-higher standards in test development and delivery, to ensure that IELTS continues to meet the needs of our customers worldwide.”

Warwick Freeland, Managing Director at IDP IELTS Australia, said:

“Around the world people are choosing to take IELTS to help achieve their lifelong learning, career and migration goals. We are committed to continually improving our customers’ experiences especially as IELTS is often taken at a significant juncture of their lives.”

IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world’s most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration with over 2.9 million tests taken in the last year. Over 10,000 organisations trust and accept IELTS as a secure, valid and reliable indicator of true to life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation. IELTS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment.

British Council is the United Kingdom’s international organisation for education and cultural relations. Dedicated to building trust through the exchange of knowledge between people worldwide, the British Council is represented in over 100 countries.

IDP: IELTS Australia is a subsidiary of IDP Education, one of the world’s leading international education organisations offering student placement in Australia, United States of America, Canada, New Zealand and United Kingdom. IDP Education is an ASX listed company that is 50% owned by 38 Australian universities and has more than 47 years’ experience in international higher education. IDP: IELTS Australia manages a network of more than 100 IELTS test centres in over 60 countries.

Cambridge English Language Assessment is the world’s leading provider of exams for learners of English. Each year these exams are taken by more than 5 million people in 130 countries.

IELTS USA is the American division of IELTS located in Los Angeles, California, responsible for US stakeholder relations, as well as the management and delivery of the IELTS test centre network throughout the United States.

About the test

Test takers are measured in listening, reading, writing and speaking. All tests are scored on a banded system from 1 (the lowest) through to 9 (the highest band).

IELTS offers a choice of two test versions, to serve both academic and non-academic purposes. IELTS Academic measures English language proficiency needed for an academic, higher learning environment. The tasks and texts are accessible to all test takers, irrespective of their subject focus. IELTS General Training measures English language proficiency in a practical, everyday context. The tasks and texts reflect both workplace and social situations. IELTS General Training is suitable for immigration purposes to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom and Ireland.

A sample of government and professional associations who recognise or require applicants to hold an IELTS test result include:

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection
UK Visas and Immigration
Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools and National Council of State Boards of Nursing, USA
International Monetary Fund

SOURCE: IELTS USA