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

PR68019

LONDON, March 30, 2017 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

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.

Notes to editor

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  British Council (IELTS)