IELTS Research Reports

An impact study into the use of IELTS by professional associations and registration entities:Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland5.4 General outcomes5.4.1 Main competitors to IELTSThe major competitor to IELTS in the countries included in this study was the TOEFL, and inparticular the iB TOEFL. Canadian associations have been using TOEFL in its various forms for manyyears and are familiar with ETS, the organisation offering the tests. Past forms of the TOEFL havebeen limited by the fact that there was a limited network of testing centres and the test did not includean integrated speaking component, and so candidates were obliged to take a separate oral test, whichwas inconvenient and time-consuming.With the introduction of the iB TOEFL, access to the test in countries with the required technologywas improved, and all skills were covered in one test. However, from the point of view of professionalassociations, IELTS has maintained an advantage over iB TOEFL to date for the following reasons:■■■■■■IELTS has a very extensive network of available testing centres, and test dates arefrequent so that it is easily accessible to candidates. The iB TOEFL has not yet reachedthe same level of accessibility.IELTS has a high level of security, and the online results verification service is seen as amajor positive factor. However, this will also become available for users of the iB TOEFLfollowing the launch of a similar service in late 2009.IELTS has a face-to-face interview which is seen by many professional associations assuperior to communication on a computer interface, as is the case with the iB TOEFL.It is the last of the above points which continues to constitute a significant marketing advantage forIELTS. Despite the spread of electronic communication, there remains a strong scepticism aboutclaims that communicative competency can be assessed through an electronic interface with the sameaccuracy and authenticity as a person-to-person exchange. This will no doubt be further tested whenthe Pearson Test of English, which has no person-to-person communication, becomes more widelyrecognised. In the meantime, conducting interviews as real time conversations with an interlocutor is avaluable marketing point for IELTS in maintaining or increasing its market share.It was interesting that in the United Kingdom, most organisations accepted the IELTS test exclusively.The Cambridge ESOL tests are also internationally available, and yet only one user listed these testsin their standards. There was a suggestion from some associations that if European legislation shouldbe amended so that European professionals from non-English language backgrounds were requiredto demonstrate English language competency, this may prompt a broadening of the range of testsaccepted, including the Cambridge tests.Of the other tests discussed earlier in this report, the national ones such as the CanTEST and theCELBAN are clearly serving a need in Canada. The CELBAN for nurses has the advantage of beingprofession-specific and is currently accepted by ten provinces. However, the disadvantages are that:■■■■It is available in nine cities throughout Canada, but is currently unavailable as anoffshore pre-departure testIt can be taken a maximum of three times, with a three month waiting timebetween re-sittings.IELTS Research Reports Volume 1157