RECOGNITION OF IELTS BY US INSTITUTIONS INCREASES BY NEARLY 30%

Date: 2008-05-26 for immediate release

Recognition of IELTS test scores by US academic institutions has increased from 1,400 universities to 1,800 in the first five months of 2008.

These new institutions, such as the University of Mississippi, Georgia State University and Kent State University, are following the path of premier Ivy League colleges, including Harvard, Yale and Princeton, who already recognise IELTS test scores. Seven of the eight Ivy League colleges recognise IELTS.

This increase of 28.5% shows the confidence institutions and students have that IELTS will provide them with the reliable, secure indicator of a candidate’ s ability to communicate in English. In addition, 90 % of the top 50 US universities (from 2007 ‘Rankings-Best Colleges’ by US News & World), welcomes IELTS scores. The ten US universities hosting the most international students all recognise IELTS scores.

Due to the wider recognition from US academic institutions, US-bound students’ confidence in IELTS has grown rapidly. This is shown by the growing number of IELTS test report forms (TRFs) sent to the US from China, which increased by 135% last year, accounting for 30% of TRFs sent to overseas institutions.

Students with high IELTS scores are in a c competitive position when applying for US universities and scholarships.

Du Lanlan, Binghamton University, USA, said:

“I was a PhD student in Tsinghua University. I took IELTS on October14th, 2006 and got IELTS score 7.5. With IELTS high score, I stood out from twenty-four candidates for a jointly education PhD program set by the US Fulbright Program. The design of IELTS test is customised and can reflect the genuine English capability of test takers. I really appreciated IELTS which brought me great opportunities and personal development.”

Candidate Cheng Xinying, accepted by the University of Georgia with a scholarship and exemption from tuition fees said:

“The main reason why I chose IELTS is because IELTS measures the ability of four skills to communicate in English. Another reason is because IELTS registration procedure in China is very quick and convenient. Candidates have many test dates to choose.”

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 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.

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

“IELTS is known throughout the world for its exceptional reputation for quality. We work hard to ensure students can trust IELTS and rely on its test scores to provide life changing opportunity in education and employment.

“This work has been rewarded through recognition by world class academic institutions which know that IELTS scores provide a secure and reliable indicator of a candidate’s ability to communicate in English.

“IELTS opens doors around the world.”