IELTS Tips: History of the IELTS Test
Today we’ll have a little history lesson and will learn about the background and formation of the IELTS test which is one of the major English-language tests in the world!
The International English Language Testing System is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. It is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge English, and was established in 1989.
IELTS is accepted by most institutions and professional organizations in Canada and many other countries around the world. It also meets the language proficiency requirements for immigration is most English-speaking countries.
Now let’s look at some history! The first major standardized test for international students intending to study at universities in the UK was developed at the University in Birmingham in 1965.
However, the test only evaluated reading and listening, and did not evaluate speaking and writing skills which created a drawback because it didn’t accurately and comprehensively assess the test-takers’ skills.
In the 1970s, improvements were made in order to make the test structure more “communicative.” The test also included specific subjects like life sciences, social studies, physical sciences, technology, and medicine.
The IELTS test as we know it was developed in 1989 and the redesign was fostered by the partnership of the International Development Program of Australian Universities and Colleges (IDP), with Cambridge English Language Assessment and the British Council. This international partnership was reflected in the new name for the test, and this partnership exists until today.
Further updates were made to the test structure in 1995 and again in 2001, 2005, and 2015. In 2017, over 3 million tests were taken in more than 140 countries, and that number is likely to continue to rise!