The Worldwide English Language Testing System (IELTS) is without doubt one of the most distinguished international English language assessments and the one take a look at accepted by all 4 immigration authorities in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
In 2023, IELTS delivered a record-breaking 4 million assessments in additional than 100 international locations the world over, in response to its web site.
Within the UK, IELTS is certainly one of 5 assessments accepted by the federal government for visa and citizenship purposes, and at present has 17 take a look at centres throughout the UK which might be run by the British Council.
IELTS huge international operations are carried out by a collaborative partnership between the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English, with every organisation holding an equal one-third share within the partnership and contributing to numerous points, from take a look at improvement to international administration and advertising.
To the shock of the sector, the UK Residence Workplace introduced plans in August 2024 to maneuver away from the present SELT mannequin, launching a young for one supplier to design and ship a devoted Residence Workplace take a look at for an estimated contract worth of £1.13 billion.
The plans have triggered hypothesis about which SELT supplier may win the tender, in addition to questions in regards to the feasibility of such a mannequin and the massive monetary implications for the SELT market and take a look at operators.
As a result of British Council’s share in IELTS, it could be the logical alternative for Residence Workplace, although with the presence of so many different SELT giants – particularly Pearson, LanguageCert and ETS – it’s all to play for.
Right here, we dive into the collaborative framework behind IELTS and take a more in-depth have a look at the testing large’s international operations.
In a nutshell…
- Cambridge English, part of Cambridge College Press & Evaluation, is chargeable for the educational design and high quality assurance of the IELTS take a look at.
- IDP: IELTS Australia, part of IDP Schooling, developed the IELTS on-line take a look at and manages take a look at supply in Australia, India, Southeast Asia and components of the Center East.
- The British Council, the UK’s worldwide organisation for instructional alternative and cultural relations, works on a number of components of IELTS, most notably within the supply of assessments throughout the UK, Europe, Africa, the Center East and components of Asia.
Cambridge College Press & Evaluation
Cambridge English, a part of Cambridge College Press & Evaluation, is the educational spine of the partnership, chargeable for the take a look at design, evaluation and scoring, and high quality assurance.
Final 12 months, Cambridge College Press & Evaluation achieved £1bn income for the primary time, though being a part of Cambridge College, it’s a non-profit organisation.
Cambridge’s contributions to IELTS embody writing the take a look at questions and designing the listening, studying, writing, and talking elements, that are regularly up to date to mirror adjustments in language use and to include suggestions into take a look at methodologies.
Cambridge ensures that the take a look at stays legitimate, dependable and truthful for all test-takers, establishing scoring requirements and coaching and certifying examiners to make sure consistency throughout all take a look at centres worldwide.
Whereas the British Council and IDP: IELTS Australia largely deal with logistical operations, Cambridge abroad the manufacturing and distribution of take a look at supplies, making certain their safety and sustaining the integrity of the take a look at administration course of.
IDP: IELTS Australia
IDP: IELTS Australia, a part of IDP Schooling, leads on the event of IELTS on-line take a look at and delivers the take a look at in Australia, India and Southeast Asia.
Working an enormous community of take a look at centres in these areas, IDP handles candidate registrations and supplies buyer assist together with take a look at preparation sources and logistics.
IDP purchased the IELTS India enterprise from the British Council in 2021 for £130 million
IDP purchased the IELTS India enterprise from the British Council in 2021 for £130m and is the only administrator of IELTS in India, managing all points of supply from registration to buyer assist.
IDP actively promotes IELTS, highlighting its advantages for learning overseas, migration {and professional} registration, collaborating with instructional establishments and governments worldwide.
Notably, IDP has led the introduction of the on-line IELTS take a look at, offering extra flexibility, making certain sooner outcomes and enhancing accessibility for test-takers.
The British Council
The British Council’s contributions are multifaceted, taking part in a big position within the administration, supply and promotion of IELTS within the UK, Europe, Africa, the Center East and components of Asia.
Whereas IDP is chargeable for the Indian market, in China, IELTS is delivered by the British Council in partnership with the Nationwide Schooling Examinations Authority (NEEA), an company below the Chinese language Ministry of Schooling to make sure compliance with native rules whereas sustaining worldwide requirements.
The organisation works to make IELTS accessible in underserved areas and has been instrumental within the rollout of computer-delivered assessments.
The British Council is straight concerned within the logistics and day-to-day operations of take a look at supply, coordinating schedules, offering invigilators and sustaining the take a look at’s safety.
By in depth advertising efforts, the British Council promotes IELTS to potential test-takers, growing partnerships with universities and organisations to encourage the adoption of IELTS as a dependable measure of English proficiency.
Alongside Cambridge English, the British Council is concerned within the coaching and certifying of IELTS examiners, making certain international consistency.
