Students all across the world will soon be able to take IELTS Academic, the most widely used English language test for international higher education, from the convenience of their own homes or another acceptable location.

Early in 2022, IELTS Online will be available. It will have the same material and format as current IELTS exams delivered by pen and paper and computer, but it will be hosted on a secure remote proctoring test platform.

The new online IELTS provides a number of key benefits, including the ability to (1) broaden access to the exam by making it available to students who are unable to attend testing centers, and (2) provide students with test results even faster.

Students who take IELTS Online will have their English skills examined in the four IELTS Academic skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.

The upcoming launch will be of particular interest to colleges and universities in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, because IELTS is a highly respected test that was severely disrupted (along with all major English-language tests) when the pandemic struck, affecting thousands of students and educators worldwide.

Security and integrity are priorities

The platform will feature video call speaking software to “deliver secure English language tests to streamline the experience for test takers, examiners and proctors.” In addition, IELTS’ own proctors will be trained specifically for the new platform and will further ensure test integrity for IELTS Online. These examiners will deliver the real-time face-to-face speaking component of the test online and IELTS’ in-house staff will also mark students’ tests. On top of human oversight, AI monitoring is built into the platform “to flag any malpractice.”

Expanding access

Christine Nuttall, Managing Director of IELTS at Cambridge Assessment English, said,

“IELTS Online is the next step in enhancing the test taker experience around the world. It will give test takers greater flexibility in taking the IELTS test. It will also mean faster results for test takers, as validated results will be available as soon as three days after the test. By making the world’s leading test available online, we aim to empower even more people to take IELTS and follow their ambitions.”

Source: ICEF