The British Council Italy is willing to make agreements with Universities and High Education Institutions with the aim to organise open or closed IELTS sessions in their premises with no extra costs. For any enquiry please contact Paolo Margari: +39 02 77 22 21 or ielts.milan@britishcouncil.it

«Before deciding to accept the IELTS as an alternative to TOEFL, I sat for the exam myself and can attest to the genuine rigor it represents. Candidates are tested not just on comprehension of written and spoken English but further on understanding and producing English of an academic nature. That there may be a perceptible slant towards British English in contrast to TOEFL's slant towards the North American brand did not strike me as a significant issue.»
James F Minter, Columbia University, New York

A real-life test for the real world

IELTS tests authentic skills for success.

• IELTS puts people first: the face-to-face interaction in speaking tests prompts the most realistic performance from the candidate.
• IELTS cares about candidates with special needs, with fairness to all candidates regardless of first language, gender, ethnicity, nationality or lifestyle.
• IELTS has always covered the essential skills for global mobility.
• IELTS real-life test tasks reflect real language proficiency for academic use and everyday experiences.
• IELTS recognises the skill our stakeholders are looking for: the ability to communicate in real-life situations.
• “The design of the IELTS test is customised and reflects the genuine English capability of test takers.”

IELTS is the test with a great track record.

ESTABLISHED

• Always leading, always innovating, always trusted
• IELTS innovates by looking at the scope of English around the globe: IELTS tests draw on a massive bank of learners’ English. The unique 32-million word Cambridge learner corpus helps to target IELTS more precisely.
• There have been more than 6 million IELTS candidates since 1989. IELTS is the fastest growing English language test in the world.
• IELTS is one of the most comprehensively researched tests ever. Today’s test is the product of 30 years of investment in development and fundamental research.
• IELTS contains a huge and continually refreshed bank of resources so avoiding unwanted repetition of materials.

We are the experts

IELTS is created by the world’s leading language experts.

• All IELTS test centres meet strict audited standards of quality, security and customer service.
• Each IELTS test is based on an exhaustive, ISO-compliant development process ensuring that the test material is of world-leading quality.
• IELTS is produced by the experts in language assessment: Cambridge ESOL has over 95 years of unparalleled experience in developing reliable and relevant English language tests.
• IELTS is valued: test scores are trusted by more than 6,000 universities and colleges around the globe.
• IELTS’ integrity is underpinned by strict test-day security and online technology. The IELTS Test Report Form (TRF) verification service enables universities and employers to authenticate Test Report Forms and to safeguard against fraud.
• IELTS is reliable: reliability of rating is assured through a combination of both technology and human skill: an electronic system constantly monitors candidates’ scores, and is overseen by chief examiners.
• All 4,000+ IELTS examiners 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. All examiners are fully qualified, graduate professionals in ESL.

We’re global

IELTS is managed, co-ordinated and recognised around the world.

• IELTS develops globally and delivers globally.
• IELTS is taken by well over a million candidates each year in over 125 countries around the world; each test centre offers unparalleled customer service and support.
• IELTS understands its clients and its clients’ markets.
• Real-life test questions are sourced by writers based in the UK, Australia, Canada, the United States and New Zealand, making IELTS truly international.
• The managing partnership of IELTS combines the missions of 4 international organisations dedicated to academic excellence, cultural understanding, student recruitment, and creating success worldwide.

• Cambridge ESOL Teacher Support for IELTS
• DOWNLOAD: Guide for Institutions and Organisations (2011)

FOR RESEARCHERS

All IELTS-related research activities are coordinated under a framework for ongoing test development and validation. Cambridge ESOL has responsibility for specific research and development, and IDP: IELTS Australia and British Council fund and support a research program. Test data is regularly analysed to ensure that IELTS remains fair and unbiased and that it encourages, reflects and respects international diversity. (IELTS.org)

Download IELTS Jointly Funded and Published Research Reports