IELTS Research Reports

1 An impact study into the use of IELTS byprofessional associations and registrationentities: Canada, the United Kingdomand IrelandAuthorGlenys MerrifieldGBM & AssociatesGrant awarded Round 13, 2007This study examines the history and rationale for selection of IELTS as a language benchmarkingsystem for professional associations, and explores the main competitors to IELTS in global testingfor professionals, in Canada, the UK and Ireland.ABSTRACTIELTS was originally designed to assess English language skills for entry to courses of academicstudy. However, the use of IELTS for professionals seeking registration or membership of professionalassociation has been growing over the past decade. This study was designed to examine languagetesting for professionals in three global markets: one relatively new market, Canada, and twotraditional markets, the United Kingdom and Ireland.The key objectives of the study were to examine the history and rationale for selection of IELTS as alanguage benchmarking system for professional associations, to explore the main competitors to IELTSin global testing for professionals, to determine the minimum band scores being used as criteria forregistration or membership of professional associations, the decision-making policies and the perceptionof its fitness for the purpose. This was a qualitative study which included desk research of alternativeexaminations and assessment systems and the targeted associations, and identification of key contacts,followed by semi-structured interviews conducted face-to-face, by telephone and by email.The study found that the range of assessments accepted by professional associations varied accordingto the country. In the UK, eight out of ten associations listed IELTS as the only acceptable assessmentsystem of English language competency, and association staff tended to be well-informed about IELTSand familiar with the band scores.In Canada, the range of testing systems used was more diverse, with some nationally-producedbenchmarking systems also accepted. The majority of registering bodies, however, reported that mostapplicants presented with either the IELTS or the Educational Testing Service’s (ETS) tests. The mainchallenge to IELTS’ market share is the roll-out of iB TOEFL, which tests integrated skills and haslargely replaced TOEFL, particularly in Canada where ETS is highly respected.The UK and Ireland, as members of the EU, are bound by legislation which prevents them from askingfor a language assessment from professionals of the EU. Accordingly, the responsibility for ensuringthat individuals have the appropriate language skills to operate in an English-speaking context hasIELTS Research Reports Volume 1121