IELTS launches online search tool

MUSCAT — More than half-a-million international students can now see where their IELTS test score can take them around the world. This is following the launch of an exciting new tool by the IELTS partnership of British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge ESOL. Called the Global Recognition System (GRS) this search tool helps candidates to find out where their IELTS test band score results can be used, it is interactive and is available for free on the internet for candidates.

The new tool is located on the popular IELTS global website at www.ielts.org. The site is the main reference location for the more than half a million candidates that take IELTS tests each year. The search function allows a candidate to type in a particular institution (educational, professional and even government agencies) and find out what IELTS requirements that institution has for their individual faculties or as an overall band score for their institution. Searches can be tailored to select a country, a region, an institution, a group of institutions such as colleges, universities and so on. The search results will list the band scores for all elements of the search. For candidates this is ideal for finding out what band score is required for their desired course or university. If the candidate already has their band score then the search function allows a candidate to enter their band score and where they want to study and it will list all of the options open to them.

This is a wonderful tool designed to help candidates gain a better understanding of where they can use their band score. Added to the new search tool is a section devoted to band score requirements for professional bodies and for government agencies such as immigration for Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The GRS search tool means that organisations will be able to review their details, and also send through updates/amendments through to IELTS quickly and easily. “This is a great online search tool for all our IELTS candidates. At the click of a button they can immediately see where their IELTS band score might take them. It’s really going to help our candidates plan ahead and will also raise their awareness of all the options open to them,” explains Sonya Storey-Webb, British Council Oman exams manager