Media Centre Archive 2011
Statement regarding ABC Radio program ‘Background
Briefing’ - May 2011
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s
Background
Briefing program on 22 May 2011 highlighted that candidates
are attempting to cheat in IELTS tests to gain higher band scores
needed for immigration and residency in Australia.
The program found no evidence that attempts to cheat had
been successful. This is despite a promotional trailer for the
program implying that ways to cheat had been
uncovered.
IELTS actively participated in the program to
send a message to candidates who may be considering attempts to
cheat. During the course of the full radio program it becomes
clear that the varied attempts to cheat will be foiled by the IELTS
security systems.
The program highlighted many of the features
of IELTS, including rigorous systems for recruiting, training and
managing IELTS examiners and the close working relationships with
the government departments and other organisations that use and
rely on IELTS scores.
IELTS clearly states:
- IELTS has highly effective security and quality control systems
to prevent and detect attempted fraud and cheating. Security
screening and procedures before, on and following test days are
designed to take account of a full range of techniques that could
be applied as part of a fraud attempt.
- Fraudsters claim to be able to help candidates to achieve
better results, or will try to sell fake question papers.
This is an attempt to exploit innocent candidates, leaving
them vulnerable to serious legal consequences. IELTS
collaborates actively with public authorities in many countries to
counter this criminal activity.
- The development of IELTS tests is based on extensive research
to ensure that each test is a valid and reliable measure of English
language proficiency for education, migration or professional
accreditation purposes. The test continues to be effectively
used for immigration purposes in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and
the UK.
- The test is of consistent difficulty wherever and whenever it
is taken – IELTS is not an easy test however it is designed to be
fair.
- Candidates cannot improve their scores simply by taking the
test over and over again within a short time period. To
improve their scores, candidates must improve their English
language skills. Improving language skills is a slow and
intensive process. This is important information that was not
addressed in Background Briefing.
IELTS is a high stakes test and life-changing
opportunities can depend on results gained in the test. Security is
a matter that IELTS takes very seriously. Participation in stories
such as Background Briefing is demonstration of the
commitment of IELTS to quality, integrity and
transparency.
IELTS Professional Development Workshop in New
Orleans
LOS ANGELES, February 1, 2011 – Join IELTS
International for an ESL teacher workshop on March 15, 2011 in New
Orleans, LA. As the world’s leading English language proficiency
test, IELTS is used to provide evidence that non-native speakers
have the English skills required for academic success. IELTS is
trusted by over 6,000 organizations around the world, including
over 3,000 institutions and programs in the U.S. IELTS tested over
1.5 million candidates globally in 2010. Registration for the
workshop is free.
The IELTS professional development workshop
will be held on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 from 1:00 - 5:00 pm at the
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, one day prior to the opening of
the TESOL 2011 Annual Convention. The free workshop will provide an
introductory overview for ESL teachers who are interested in
developing an IELTS test preparation course, and offer
complimentary copies of IELTS resource and preparation materials.
Participants will examine the basic test format, task types,
writing and speaking test samples, and learn how to integrate IELTS
preparation into academic course curricula.
“More and more international ESL students
studying in the U.S. want to take IELTS and are asking their
teachers for information,” said Richard Halstead, U.S. Regional
Manager for IELTS International. “We hope the information and
resources provided will allow teachers to advise students about
IELTS and successfully prepare them to do well on the test.”
Participation, refreshments and resources
are complimentary. Due to limited space, interested teachers are
asked to RSVP their name, title, institution, phone number and
email to ielts@ieltsintl.org on or before
March 1, 2011.
For more information on IELTS, please visit
www.ielts.org/usa.
