· IELTS tests can now be taken at 93 locations across the UK
· Expansion of testing network follows rise in demand for secure English language tests for higher education and global migration
· IELTS, jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) has increased its number of testing locations in the UK as demand for secure English language testing continues to grow across the country.
Reinforcing its position as the world’s most popular English proficiency test for higher education and global migration, students wishing to take IELTS in the UK will now be able to do so at one of 93 locations – an increase of eleven places in the past 12 months.
Accepted by over 9,000 organisations worldwide, more than 600 of which are in the UK, and an approved language test for UK citizenship and visa purposes, the announcement marks an exciting time for IELTS in the UK as the exam celebrates its 25th anniversary.
John Gildea, Head of IELTS at the British Council said: “The growth we’ve seen in demand for IELTS in the UK reflects the continuing popularity of the test for language proficiency assessment around the world. It is fantastic to be able to administer IELTS in more locations around the UK in order to bring IELTS closer to our test takers, as well as effectively meet the needs of the organisations that trust IELTS scores as an accurate indicator of a person’s ability to communicate in English.”
IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment.
www.takeielts.org
For more information, please contact Kristen McNicoll in the British Council Press Office on +44 (0)207 389 4967 or kristen.mcnicoll@britishcouncil.org
Notes to Editors:
The UK Home Office has recently introduced a number of additional requirements for all test centres in the UK which deliver secure English language tests for visa purposes. The IELTS UK test centre network remains unchanged and has in fact increased the numbers of locations at which IELTS test can be taken from 82 to 93, as a result of increasing demand across the UK.
More information at: http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/locations/united-kingdom
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world’s most popular English language proficiency test. Over 9,000 organizations 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. More information at www.IELTS.org
IDP: IELTS Australia, a subsidiary of IDP Education, is one of the world’s leading international education organizations offering student placement in Australia, the USA and the UK. IDP Education has 40 years’ experience in international higher education, placing more than 32,000 students every year.
Cambridge English Language Assessment is the world's leading provider of exams for learners of English. Each year the exams are taken by more than 4 million people, in 135 countries.
IELTS USA is the U.S. division of IELTS located in Los Angeles, CA, responsible for U.S. stakeholder relations, as well as the management and delivery of the IELTS test center network throughout the USA.
About the test
Test takers are assessed in listening, reading, writing and speaking. All tests are scored on a banded system from 1 (the lowest) through to 9 (the highest possible band score).
IELTS offers a choice of two 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. General Training is suitable for immigration purposes to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
A sample of government and professional associations who recognize or require applicants to hold an IELTS test result include:
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada
• Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC)
• UK Home Office – Border Agency (UKBA)
• Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools and National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), USA
• International Monetary Fund
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and build trust between them worldwide.
We work in more than 100 countries and our 7,000 staff – including 2,000 teachers – work with thousands of professionals and policy makers and millions of young people every year by teaching English, sharing the Arts and delivering education and society programmes.
We are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter. A core publically-funded grant provides less than 25 per cent of our turnover which was £781m in 2012/13. The rest of our revenues are earned from services which customers around the world pay for, through education and development contracts and from partnerships with public and private organisations. All our work is in pursuit of our charitable purpose and supports prosperity and security for the UK and globally.
For more information, please visit: www.britishcouncil.org. You can also keep in touch with the British Council through http://twitter.com/britishcouncil and http://blog.britishcouncil.org