IELTS stands for the International English Language Testing System. It is a test for people who intend to study or work where English is the primary language of communication.
Since we introduced it in 1989, IELTS has been widely regarded by both academics and students as the model of English language testing. In four central areas — experience, authenticity, quality and global reach — it has proved itself time and again. For millions of colleges, universities and companies around the world it is, quite simply, the best way to gauge the English skills of your students and staff.
IELTS is tried and tested: over the past 20 years, more than six million candidates have taken the test. Yet its development goes back to a decade before when a group of academics asked themselves how they could create a fair, accessible and effective test of English. Today’s exam, then, is the product of 30 years of our investment in development and fundamental research.
The fact that IELTS is so well-established means that stakeholders and candidates can rest assured that IELTS contains a huge and continually refreshed bank of resources, so avoiding unwanted repetition of materials. Ours is the test that is always innovating but — crucially — it is the test that is always trusted.
IELTS tests authentic skills for success. We recognise the central skill our stakeholders are looking for: the ability to communicate in real-life situations.
IELTS has always used face-to-face interaction in the speaking test because it’s by far the most realistic option. It generates the most natural performance from the candidate and, not least, the candidate feels more comfortable speaking to a real person rather than a computer.
This attention to authenticity extends to all four parts of the IELTS test: listening, speaking, reading and writing. IELTS tasks reflect real language proficiency for academic use and everyday experiences.
We pride ourselves on being the best at what we do. Each IELTS test is based on an exhaustive, ISO-compliant development process ensuring that the test material is of world-leading quality. We take every possible measure to guard against fraudulent test-takers and documentation while all IELTS test centres meet strictly audited standards of quality, security and customer service.
This expertise has not gone unnoticed: IELTS test scores are trusted and recognised by more than 6,000 universities and colleges around the globe. The rigorous way in which we recruit and train our examiners very much contributes to this. All of our examiners — of which there are more than 4,000 — mark to the highest quality and are constantly monitored both electronically and by the Professional Support Network which, overseen by chief examiners, manages and standardises recertification.
IELTS is the international test for international mobility. The test is taken by well over a million candidates each year in over 125 countries with each test centre offering unparalleled customer service and support.
This global reach means that IELTS understands both its clients and its clients’ markets: real-life questions are sourced by writers based in the UK, Australia, Canada, the United States and New Zealand. This internationalism also applies to the managing partnership of IELTS, which combines the missions of four international organisations dedicated to academic excellence, cultural understanding, student recruitment and creating success worldwide.
www.ielts.org
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