IELTS Research Reports

Glenys MerrifieldThe main strategies used to establish and review minimum standards of IELTS are set out inTable 9 below.Decision-making processNumber of associationsCanada UK IrelandConsulted IELTS administration 0 0 0Consulted an expert in the field 2 2 0Conducted a formal inhouse research project 3 4 2Board/Council aligned levels with other similar organisations 2 2 1Table 9. Decision-making strategies for establishing minimum levels in IELTSFour Canadian associations have reviewed IELTS standards since establishing them, includingNAPRA, two have not conducted a review, and four do not know. Of the four which reviewedstandards, three left them unchanged and one increased the band scores by 0.5 in the productive skills.In the UK, three associations have reviewed IELTS levels required, three have not, and four do notknow. Of those which reviewed standards, one made a decision to no longer accept the GeneralTraining Module, and increased the scores by 0.5 to 7.0 in all skills. One changed from a single overalloutcome to minimum standards in all four macroskills, and one left them unchanged.One Irish association has reviewed the levels, increasing them by a full band score, to 7.0 overall and7.0 in each of the macroskills. One left the standards unchanged at 6.5, and one does not know.Although none indicated that the association had made direct contact with IELTS administration, anumber said that they had received an informative information package.5.4.4 Consideration of IELTS as fit for the purposeThe fact that associations are reviewing standards and making decisions on increasing minimum levelsfor individual skills, as pointed out in 5.4.3 above, is an indication that knowledge of the test and theband scores is growing, and there is confidence in the testing system.Respondents were in general very satisfied with the IELTS test and its fitness for the purpose.Although the health professions in particular would prefer some content relating to the profession,IELTS is clearly meeting the needs of the organisations involved in this study.5.4.5 General feedbackNone of the associations interviewed received a great deal of feedback about the English languageassessment. Some individual candidate comments were as follows:A minimum assessment of 6.5 or 7.0 in each of the skills is deemed to be too high by some applicants,especially in one sitting of the test.A small number have expressed a preference for the TOEFL test, which some applicants perceive asbeing easier than IELTS, but this test is not currently acceptable to many of the associations interviewed.60 www.ielts.org