Nigeria (Commonwealth) _ The cost of the English Language Testing System (IELTS) exams has yet again increased by 29%, as reported by the British Council in Nigeria.
The Council said that as of February 1, 2024, Nigerians would have to pay N139, 000 for the Computer Academic and General Training Modules. The exam that many Nigerians now pay N107, 500 for in order to travel overseas has seen a price increase.
Five months have passed since the Council approved a previous increase. In September of last year, the IELTS fee—which had previously ranged from N80, 000 to N90, 000—went up to N107, 500.
The Council noted that the increase in exam delivery expenses in Nigeria was the reason for the increase in a statement it posted on its website. This is what the announcement says: We would like to let you know that our IELTS costs have been reviewed. Registrations for the IELTS test range provided by the British Council beginning on or after February 1, 2024, will be subject to the amended pricing list.
The following will be the new prices: IELTS for General Training and Academic Computer Modules: ₦139,000 ₦134,000 for IELTS Academic and General Training Modules on Paper; ₦149,000 for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI); ₦130,000 for Life Skills; O.S.R. (One Skill Retake): ₦87,570
The pricing adjustment is a result of rising expenses related to providing our tests. This will make it possible for us to keep providing a vast array of services and all-encompassing assistance to help you reach your objectives.We appreciate you selecting the British Council.
Non-native English speakers use IELTS extensively over the world as proof of their language ability. For anyone looking for work, education, or visa clearance in the UK, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, the British Council, Cambridge English Language Assessment, and IDP Education Australia have partnered to provide this service.
Many Nigerians are forced to take this exam in the aftermath of the country’s ongoing “japa” trend in order to obtain a visa to any of the countries that have deemed it necessary. The most recent increase drives up the price of “japa,” which has skyrocketed due to the depreciation of the Nigerian naira.
For non-native English speakers, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a globally standardized assessment of English language ability. It was founded in 1989 and is jointly administered by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English. One of the most important English language exams in the world is IELTS. There is one extra test in addition to the two modules.
Approximately 3,000 educational institutions in the United States, as well as several professional organizations worldwide, recognize the IELTS exam. These institutions include the majority of Australian, British, Canadian, European, Irish, and New Zealand academic institutions.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has authorized IELTS as a Secure English Language Test for applicants seeking visas from both inside and outside the country. It also satisfies standards for immigration to New Zealand and Australia, where the Pearson Test of English Academic and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are approved. The immigration authorities in Canada recognize the IELTS, TEF, or CELPIP.
To pass the test, there is no minimum score needed. Every test taker who receives a score between “band 1” (meaning “non-user”) to “band 9” (meaning “expert user”) is given an IELTS result, or Test Report Form; the cutoff point varies depending on the institution. A “band 0” score is also available for people who didn’t take the test. It is recommended that institutions disregard reports that are more than two years old, unless the user can provide evidence of their efforts to stay at the same level.
Test numbers increased from 2 million in 2012, 1.7 million in 2011, and 1.4 million in 2009 to over 3 million in 2017 across more than 140 countries. For the first time ever, IELTS delivered more than a million exams in a single year in 2007, solidifying its position as the most widely used English language test for immigration and higher education worldwide.
2019 saw over 508,000 overseas students study in the UK, making it the most popular location for UK ELT students worldwide. Of those students, more than half (54%) were under the age of 18.
