IELTS or “International English Language Testing System” is an international standardised test of English language proficiency. It is jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council and IDP Education of Australia. It was established in 1989. It is the world’s proved English test. Many candidates take the test each year to start their journeys into international education and employment.
IELTS is recognised by more than 6,000 institutions in over 135 countries.
IELTS was one of the pioneers of four skills in English language testing over 21 years ago, and continues to set the standard for English language testing today.
More than 1.4 million test takers around the world trust and recognise IELTS as a secure, valid and reliable indicator of true-to-life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation.
There are two versions of the IELTS: the Academic Version and the General Training Version:
– The Academic Version is intended for those who want to enrol in universities and other institutions of higher education and for professionals such as medical doctors and nurses who want to study or practise in an English-speaking country.
– The General Training Version is intended for those planning to undertake non-academic training or to gain work experience, or for immigration purposes.
All candidates must complete four Modules – listening, reading, writing and speaking – to obtain a band score, which is shown on the IELTS Test Report Form (TRF).
The report of August 2009 revealed the annual test scores and the top English learners in 2008. Afrikaans and Eastern European speakers topped International English Language Testing System (IELTS) annual test scores. Indeed, out of the 1.2 million candidates who took an IELTS test in 2008, Afrikaans speakers achieved the highest average scores for listening, writing and speaking English. German, Romanian, Tagalog, Yoruba and Ibo speakers also performed well across the four components of the world’s leading English language test.
Zoom on Romania: Romania was classified third international English Language Testing System with the Afrikaans and Germans. The Romanian candidates obtained very high scores, placing them in the world Top three, with an average score of 6,39 points, on a scale from 1 to 9. This score showed very advanced linguistic skills of the Romanians, which explains their capacity to study sometimes complex subjects such as medicine, in universities taught.
2008 records the highest number of people around the world who chose to take an IELTS test, which 3/4 seeking to prove their English language ability for academic purposes. IELTS continues to be the world’s English language test for higher education, immigration and recruitment. A strong demand for IELTS was expected in 2010. The current global economic climate means that an increasing number of people are considering the opportunities presented by studying or working abroad. As a result, the organisation is also expecting to see the overall level of test scores rising and candidates from new countries beginning to enter the list of top performers.
Delphine, for Freelang
