British Council announces English testing winners
THREE outstanding International English Language Testing System ( IELTS) test takers in the Philippines have been selected as local prize winners of the British Council IELTS Prize. The winners are Maria Jorica Pamintuan, Granelli Anne De Vera, and Mirava Coree Macaraig.
IELTS is the world’s most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration with over three million tests taken in the last year. Over 10,000 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 Assessment English.
Winners attended a panel interview and were selected based on their organization and communication skills, ability to talk about their dreams and aspirations, and insight into how they plan to contribute to their home country after their studies. Since the launch of the IELTS Prize in 2011, the award has helped more than 200 students in East Asia pursue their dreams of studying abroad. This year, 30 local prize winners will be added to the list. Each of the local prize winners receives an award valued at P130,000. British Council also awards three regional prizes to top students in East Asia who will pursue higher education in their dream universities abroad in the coming September.
“Taking the IELTS has given me the confidence for clear and effective communication, which is necessary for living studying abroad. I now feel more comfortable about going overseas knowing that I have the capacity to convey my thoughts fluently to native speakers of English”, Jorica Pamintuan commented. “Winning the IELTS Prize brings me one step closer towards fulfilling my dream of studying in the UK.”
Regional Grand Prize winner Dinda Royhan, an advocate of human rights and humanitarian actions, believes that IELTS enabled her to secure a place in one of the world’s most competitive institutions to study her field. She notes, “After attending Bahasa Indonesian- medium public schools in Indonesia throughout my entire academic life, succeeding in the IELTS test boosted my confidence and affirmed my readiness to study abroad in English. My IELTS score significantly contributed to my successful Sciences Po application, helping me stand out from thousands of other applicants.”
“Through the IELTS Prize, we are pleased to support more high- calibre individuals who demonstrate the potential to contribute to society as a result of their undergraduate or postgraduate study”, said Steve Adams, Director Examinations, East Asia. “With over three million tests taken in 2017, IELTS is the world’s most popular high-stakes English proficiency test, helping test takers realise their dream to study, work and live overseas. It is trusted and recognised by more than 10,000 universities, schools, employers and immigration bodies.”
British Council provides full support in preparing students for the IELTS test, including its offering, Road to
IELTS, a collection of specially-designed online practice materials for registered students, and access to a range of preparation materials, such as practice tests. For convenience, test sessions are organized at least three times a month, which gives test takers flexibility when selecting sessions that best suit them.