Crisis, Collaboration, Recovery: IELTS and COVID-19

ABSTRACT

The sheer scale of the IELTS testing infrastructure and its unique position in the world of international education dictated some of the particular challenges that the IELTS Partners (British Council, IDP Education and Cambridge Assessment English) faced after the closure of test centres during the COVID-19 pandemic. Decisions taken would have an impact on millions of test-takers globally, and it was imperative that these decisions addressed a range of international stakeholder needs. Maintaining trust in IELTS, by involving key stakeholders at each stage of decision making and remaining transparent, was central to this. This paper explores how decisions were made around aspects including test construct, timelines, platforms, remote proctoring and the role of empirical research to support migration to an at-home test. Finally, the dedication of cross-partner teams working collaboratively under extreme pressure to construct and roll out an alternative test offering in highly unusual circumstances is described.

Notes

¹ https://www.ieltsindicator.com/.