（英文）

REVEALED: THE FUTURE FOR IELTS AND EXAM TAKERS IN CHINA

Date: Tuesday 22 April 2008 – for immediate release

Today, IELTS examinations’ experts revealed how IELTS will develop in China over the next year, as well as looking at IELTS global trends and reviewing IELTS past performance in China, at an IELTS conference in Beijing.

China has the largest number of IELTS test takers in the world and the numbers are still increasing. In the past year more than 200,000 candidates have taken IELTS tests in China and worldwide there have been nearly 1 million candidates. IELTS is recognised by more than 6,000 organisations globally, including 1,400 US higher educational institutions, as a reliable indicator of candidates’ ability to communicate in English.

At the conference IELTS strategists from IELTS global partners revealed the main future developments for IELTS, and showed IELTS’ commitment to innovation in ensuring that the test continues to be fit for purpose. The IELTS experts included Bhaskar Chakravarti, Director for English and Examinations, British Council; Tony Pollock, Chief Executive of IDP Education; Mike Milanovic, Chief Executive Cambridge ESOL; and James Shipton, Director Exams Services, British Council China.

Future IELTS developments include:

• Ensuring that IELTS reflects the variety of native-speakers’ English by employing test materials writers in the US. In addition to teams in New Zealand, Australia and the UK, there is now also a professional team based in the US to provide quality US content in test materials, reinforcing IELTS’ global credentials and commitment to minimising cultural and linguistic discrimination.

• The continued development of Computer based (CB) IELTS will give candidates the choice between paper based and computer based tests. From research among candidates, it was found that candidates do have a personal preference for either paper or CB tests. Candidates who prefer CB will have that option, which will also increase accessibility to IELTS. CB IELTS will have a key advantage over other internet delivered tests as the test will be downloaded from the internet securely in advance of the test and conducted offline, to ensure test performance is not affected by internet connectivity issues.

• More test centres will be opened to further decrease the waiting period for candidates while meeting the growing demand for IELTS in China. In 2007 three test centres were set up to meet the needs of candidates - second test centres in Beijing and Shanghai, and a new test centre in Taiyuan. In 2008, new test centres are planned for East China to meet the growth in that area.

James Shipton, Director Exams Services, British Council China, said:

“IELTS is now the world’s leading "high stakes" examination offering candidates truly life changing opportunities in education and employment all over the world. IELTS is known throughout China by its exceptional reputation for quality, and despite the enormous growth in demand we and our partners have worked hard to maintain this quality while also ensuring that waiting periods for candidates to take the tests are shorter than ever.”

Notes:

1. IELTS is jointly managed by the British Council – operating as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy in Beijing and Cultural and Education Section of the British Consulates-General in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing - IDP, IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

Speakers - see separate biographies:
• Bhaskar Chakravarti, Director for English and Examinations, British Council
• Tony Pollock, CEO, IDP Education
• Mike Milanovic, Chief Executive Cambridge ESOL
• James Shipton, Director Exams Services, British Council China

2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Since 1989 IELTS has been trusted by both candidates and institutions to provide a secure, global authentic test which measures true to life ability to communicate in English.

There are 30 test centres in 28 cities across China.

3. Future IELTS developments

Computer based IELTS - to be delivered through the internet
• Currently in development
• Candidates will have the choice between paper based and computer based tests.
• Tests will be downloaded from the internet, securely and in advance, and conducted offline to ensure test performance is not affected by internet connectivity issues.

4. IELTS profiles and trends

2007 IELTS candidate profiles – China
2007年中国IELTS考生情况
57% increase overall; 64% increase for Academic module
总数增长57%，其中学术类增长64%
Academic-General Training module ratio: 91%-9%
学术类和培训类考生比例：91% 比 9%
53% of candidates aged between 19 and 22
53%的考生来自19到22岁年龄段

IELTS candidature trends
IELTS 考生发展趋势
Majority remain university students pursuing master study overseas
大部分考生仍为考虑出国学习硕士课程的大学生
Increase from under 18 age group (high school students) will continue
18岁以下（高中生）考生人数将继续增加
Increase from other destination countries will continue, e.g. candidates who are US-bound
申请去其他国家的考生将继续增加，比如以美国为目的地的考生

What’s new about IELTS in China 2008?
IELTS最新消息
2008 test dates now open for registration
2008年考试日期现已公布，供考生报名
Continue maximizing capacity to meet market demand
一如既往地增加考试座位，满足考生报考需求
Opening new test centers in East China
在华东地区开设新考点


Tag标签：雅思，雅思考试，发展，考生，IELTS考试