Over three million take test

THE internationalisation of higher education and an increasingly mobile international workforce migration continues to drive demand for IELTS -- the world’s leading test of English for international migration and higher education. The number of IELTS tests grew to a record 3.5 million in 2018.

IELTS plays a leading role in international higher education. It is recognised for entrance to universities and colleges across the English-speaking world, including in Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), the United States and other countries.

It is also the most widely used test for visa and citizenship purposes in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK.

Introduced in 1989, IELTS has built its worldwide reputation on a combination of secure reliable testing backed by extensive research to ensure that it meets the needs of users across a range of sectors.

An IELTS test result demonstrates not just a passive knowledge of English, but also the ability to use it effectively in a variety of real-world contexts, and the skills needed for success in higher education, professional contexts and everyday life in Englishspeaking countries.

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).

British Council Head IELTS James Shipton said: “The 3.5 million tests taken last year is a testament to the ongoing trust by our partners and test takers around the world.”

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