IMPORTANT IELTS UPDATE – IDP acquires British Council India
IDP Acquires British Council’s IELTS business in India.
All IELTS tests in India will now be delivered by IDP from 25 July 2021.
IDP and British Council, two partners of IELTS, the world’s most popular high-stakes English language proficiency test, announced today that British Council will sell all of its IELTS business in India to IDP. This means that all IELTS tests in India will now be delivered by IDP. Under the terms of the agreement, IDP is set to acquire 100 per cent of the British Council’s India IELTS business for £130 million on a debt-free, cash-free basis.
The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, is the world’s most popular English language test for study and migration and is trusted by more than 10,000 organisations around the world as the most secure and reliable indicator of English language proficiency.
One of the key benefits of this sale is that customers will see continuity of the test they know and trust.
Read on to find answers for your Frequently Asked Questions:
- IELTS will continue to be available in all key cities and locations across the country through IDP only.
- The British Council’s test locations in India will gradually be rebranded to IDP IELTS.
- The test itself remains unchanged.
- The last paper-based test from British Council IELTS, India will be 10 July 2021.
- The last computer-delivered test from British Council IELTS India will be 24 July 2021.
Why is this happening? – Following the disruptions of the last 18 months, the British Council and IDP have been exploring new ways of working. A single test distributor in India will help provide a seamless and consistent customer experience for IELTS, the world’s most trusted high-stakes test.
Will this change make the test more difficult/easier? – The IELTS test is the same, regardless of where you take it anywhere in the world and all IELTS test takers can have confidence in their result.
When will this agreement be finalised? – We anticipate the agreement will be finalised in August 2021. At this time, the British Council IELTS and IDP teams in India will come together.