The International English Language Testing System or IELTS is the world’s most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration purposes.
The IELTS exam is designed to assess the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is used as the medium of communication. The exam is required for entry to university in the UK and other English speaking countries like Canada, the USA and New Zealand.
IELTS is accepted by more than 10.000 organizations worldwide in over 130 countries, including Singapore. These include universities, schools, immigration authorities, government agencies, professional bodies and multinational companies.
IELTS is jointly owned and managed by the British Council, University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL) and IDP Education Australia. The British Council and the IDP host the IELTS exam, while Cambridge ESOL designs and prepares the exam. In this article, we will take a look at how the IELTS Exam is developed and how this process sets the IELTS exam apart from its closest competitors.
Who Designs The Cambridge IELTS Exam?
IELTS testing materials are written by international teams of expert writers from different English-speaking countries so that the content reflects real-life situations. This helps to ensure the test remains fair and unbiased for any candidate regardless of nationality, background, gender, lifestyle or location. Cambridge ESOL, the British Council and IDP education also hire similarly skilled writers to prepare their official IELTS preparation materials such as IELTS practice tests and other IELTS resources.
The Different Stages of The International English Language Testing System Exam Development
Every stage of test development undergoes close scrutiny and extensive research before moving on to the next stage of development. This is done so that every official test is of the same level of difficulty regardless of the country in which the test is being taken
The IELTS test assesses candidates on listening, speaking, reading and writing and due to the test’s strict nature, you can be assured that your results are a true reflection of your English language abilities.
Why is all of this information important?
The high standards and strict conditions under which the exam is developed ensures that the IELTS exam is not only accurate but also fair. For these reasons, the both the IELTS Academic and General training exams are the most trusted and globally accepted English language