IELTS announces at-home testing option

Test takers around the world will have the option to take their secure test online when IELTS Online starts global rollout early in 2022.    

IELTS Online is a new way to take IELTS Academic, the world’s leading test of English for international higher education. IELTS Online will allow students to take the test from their own home or another suitable location as they embark on their journey to achieving their study and career goals.    

The test will have the same content and format as the existing pen-and-paper and computer-delivered IELTS tests. This includes a real-time face-to-face speaking test, delivered online by trained IELTS examiners.     

Warwick Freeland, Managing Director IELTS Australia, 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.”    

IELTS Online will cover all four skills of IELTS Academic - Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. It will also have the same rigorous assessment by trained examiners, and a speaking test with a human examiner giving a true indication of the test taker’s ability to communicate effectively in English.     

“In developing IELTS Online, we are bringing all the existing benefits of IELTS for test takers and recognising organisations,” Freeland said.  “IELTS Online will provide flexibility and confidence, using cutting edge AI and state-of-the-art security features to complement the expertise of IELTS examiners.”   

IELTS has purpose-built a secure remote proctoring test platform with integrated video call speaking software to deliver secure English language tests to streamline the experience for test takers, examiners and proctors. The new online proctoring platform, combined with IELTS’ own proctors who are recruited, trained and managed directly, will ensure high standards of test integrity in the new format. 

IELTS (the International English Language Testing System) is the world’s most popular English language test for work, study and migration. More than 11,000 organisations trust IELTS as a reliable indicator of true to life ability to communicate in English. IELTS assesses a test taker’s English language proficiency across four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking.

IELTS on paper and computer are the only high-stakes language tests recognised for migration across Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. With a focus on human conversations, IELTS was a pioneer of four-skills English language testing more than 30 years ago. IELTS continues to set the standard for English language testing today.