Academically and Pursue Life-Changing Opportunities
-- A British Council survey conducted with 3,000 IELTS test takers from nine countries in East Asia
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(SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 2, 2016 PRNewswire=연합뉴스) The British Council IELTS has conducted a survey with over 3,000 former IELTS candidates who took the test between 2011 to 2013 across nine countries in East Asia, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The survey results show the different ways in which test takers feel that preparing for and taking IELTS have had a positive impact on their professional, educational and daily lives:
- 52% reported that IELTS empowered them to participate successfully in English-based academic activities such as lectures and written assignments.
- 63% noted that the experience of preparing for IELTS helped them perform better once they started their academic courses.
- 60% said that their English proficiency, as evidenced by their IELTS score, helped them along in their career paths and in applying for jobs.
- 63% expressed how the experience of preparing for and taking IELTS helped them survive in English in their everyday lives.
IELTS is a gateway to educational opportunities worldwide
IELTS is widely accepted by over 9,000 institutions in 140 destinations around the world. This recent survey shows that 67% of respondents in East Asia believe that IELTS scores, as a consistently proven representation of English language proficiency, have helped them enter an educational institution overseas, and for 68% of the respondents, IELTS has served as a passage into a candidate's preferred school, college or university. The empowering nature of the test, which allows candidates to access opportunities and dreams, resonates with many individuals who have taken the test and have pursued studies in 32 countries within and beyond the East Asia region, with the UK, Australia, Canada and USA listed as the four most popular study destinations. Seventy-nine per cent of IELTS test takers in South Korea used the results for study purposes, this proportion being the highest in East Asia. The most popular study destinations for Korean IELTS test takers were the UK (39%) and Australia (9%).
IELTS test takers feel empowered to do better on their course
Many test takers report that IELTS prepares learners to play an active role in their academic studies by fostering effective spoken and written communication, as well as by developing the important skills of reading and listening in a natural and reliable way. Fifty-two per cent of survey respondents expressed that IELTS empowered them to participate successfully in English-based academic activities such as lectures and written assignments. Furthermore, 63% of respondents noted that the experience of preparing for IELTS helped them perform better on their course. This shows the value of IELTS as both a globally recognised test and a tool to cultivate the skills necessary to excel in the academic environment.
More than just a university admissions score, IELTS also helps kick-start careers
In the professional arena, respondents noted that the wide recognition of IELTS by employers helped kick-start and boost their careers both domestically and overseas. Sixty per cent of test takers said that their IELTS score helped them begin their career paths and apply for jobs. Japan recorded the highest number of test takers taking IELTS for personal career purposes (24%), followed by Vietnam (18%), Singapore (12%) and the Philippines (12%).
The Philippines recorded the highest number of candidates using IELTS for immigration entry to work overseas (64%), followed by Singapore (35%) and Malaysia (26%). IELTS has been proven to be a good choice to demonstrate a test taker's English proficiency in the job market. "It is well recognised by numerous employers." (Hoi Yee Yau, IELTS score 7.5)
Other test takers felt that IELTS gave them a competitive advantage in kick-starting their careers by boosting confidence, achieving a promotion and/or higher pay at work, adding value to their CV, improving their interview skills and enhancing day-to-day communication at work.
IELTS acts as a bridge to global migration and prepares test takers to survive in English-speaking environments
In the survey, test takers mentioned that they have used IELTS scores to pursue their life goals in various ways. Sixty-three per cent of respondents expressed how the experience of preparing for and taking IELTS helped them survive and flourish using English in their everyday lives. The survey also illustrates that IELTS not only enables access to leading educational institutions and fosters important skills required inside the lecture theatre, but also prepares learners for challenges encountered in social and professional environments abroad. By developing communicative competence in day-to-day tasks, social challenges are overcome. By improving a candidate's ability to interact in the workplace, professional obstacles are dissolved. "I didn't want to study for a test in which it is impossible to get a high score without memorising useless jargon. IELTS gave me a chance to succeed with my everyday English. I think IELTS is a very valid test." (Chaelyeon Pak, IELTS score 7).
"The number of IELTS tests taken has increased year-on-year annually, with 2.7 million tests taken in 2015, and in addition to the usual study destinations such as the UK, USA, Canada and Australia, the percentage of domestic usage of IELTS is increasing sharply in some East Asian countries." said Greg Selby, Director Examinations, East Asia. He added "The survey reflects that IELTS is constantly fulfilling its mission to create more life-changing opportunities and have a positive impact on people's lives."
Test takers from South Korea scored an average of 5.9 on IELTS
The latest IELTS scores taken from 40 countries globally showed that test takers in Korea scored an average of 5.9 on IELTS in 2015, performing better than this average in the listening and reading tests, scoring 6.2 on average for both skills. Students in Malaysia and the Philippines tied for first place in Asia, with an average score of 6.8.
To view the mean overall and individual IELTS band scores by test takers (Academic Module) from Asia in 2015, click here [http://photos.prnasia.com/prnk/20161027/8521606959 ].
Notes to editor
About the British Council IELTS
British Council is the UK's international organisation for educational opportunity and cultural relations and is represented in 107 countries worldwide. British Council connects people worldwide with the learning opportunities and creative ideas from the UK and builds lasting relationships between the UK and other countries.
IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world's proven English language test. IELTS was one of the pioneers of four skills English language testing over 25 years ago, and continues to set the standard for English language testing today. It is trusted and accepted by more than 9,000 institutions worldwide.
IELTS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment.
Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20161101/8521606959
What IELTS test takers said
Source: British Council (IELTS)
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