Tuesday 12 April 2016

Over £60,000 available for students in East Asia   

12 April 2016 (Singapore) – The British Council IELTS Prize 2016/17 is now open for applications from students who are planning to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or overseas in the academic year commencing in 2017.  This year, local prizes in Singapore amount to S$12,000, while prizes for regional winners in the East Asia region* come to S$110,000.  Since the launch of the IELTS Prize in 2011, over 50 winning students are studying or have completed their studies at their dream universities in different countries, including the UK, USA, Canada etc. 

“The British Council is thrilled to be able to assist and encourage talented young people from a variety of backgrounds in different countries to pursue their studies at their chosen universities, and see these students return with new knowledge, improved confidence and fresh skills,” said Greg Selby, Director  Examinations British Council, East Asia. “IELTS continues to play a critical global role in language testing for educational and career purposes, with its recognition by more than 9,000 organisations around the world.  In 2015, over 2.5 million people around the world took IELTS, making it the world’s most popular test of its kind. IELTS is set to go from strength to strength in helping more people realise their aspirations and gain access to international educational opportunities.”

Cassandra Tam, a British Council IELTS Prize 2015 Regional Winner, is now a student at the London School of Economics and Political Science. “I am relishing the experience of living and studying in one of the world’s most vibrant cities: London.  Winning the IELTS Prize has given me the opportunity to further my learning of Social Policy.  The rigour of the course has pushed me to challenge myself intellectually, enhancing the breadth of my knowledge as well as deepening my understanding in my area.”

Application for the IELTS Prize 2016/17 is now open to students currently living in Singapore who will begin undergraduate or postgraduate study abroad in 2017 and will attend a higher education institution that accepts IELTS as part of its admission requirements.  Applicants need to hold a minimum band score of 6 in each of the four component of a test taken with the British Council from 1 April 2016 onwards.  The deadline for applications is 31 December 2016.  For details, please visit http://www.ieltsasia.org/ielts-prize/singapore 

As an IELTS official test centre, the British Council provides full support to students preparing for an IELTS test, including a 30-hour free online practice resource 'Road to IELTS' for registered students.  Furthermore, test sessions are organised three to four times a month, giving students flexibility.  For more details, please visit https://www.britishcouncil.sg/exam/ielts 

*The East Asia region includes Hong Kong/Macau, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam

Notes to Editor

Media Contacts:
Serene Lim (Assistant Marketing Manager, Examinations)
Tel: 6470 7185
Email: Serene.Lim@britishcouncil.org.sg

Abraham Cheah (Examinations Business and Partnerships Manager)
Tel: 6470 7208
Email: Abraham.Cheah@britishcouncil.org.sg


About International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world’s most popular English language proficiency test with two million tests taken in the last year. Over 9,000 organisations trust and accept IELTS as a secure, valid and reliable indicator of true to life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation. IELTS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment. As an international English proficiency test, more than 2.5 million IELTS tests were taken in 2015 in over 140 countries.

About the test 

Candidates are tested in listening, reading, writing and speaking. All tests are scored on a banded system from 1 (the lowest) through to 9 (the highest possible band score). 

IELTS offers a choice of two versions, to serve both academic and non-academic purposes. IELTS Academic module measures English language proficiency needed for an academic, higher learning environment. The tasks and texts are accessible to all test-takers, irrespective of their subject focus. IELTS General Training module measures English language proficiency in a practical, everyday context. The tasks and texts reflect both workplace and social situations. The General Training module is suitable for immigration purposes to English-speaking countries.

 

About the British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and build trust between them worldwide. 

We work in more than 100 countries and our 8,000 staff – including 2,000 teachers – work with thousands of professionals and policy makers and millions of young people every year by teaching English, sharing the arts and delivering education and society programmes. 

We are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter. A core publicly-funded grant provides 20 per cent of our turnover which last year was £864 million. The rest of our revenues are earned from services which customers around the world pay for, such as English classes and taking UK examinations, and also through education and development contracts and from partnerships with public and private organisations. All our work is in pursuit of our charitable purpose and supports prosperity and security for the UK and globally. 

 

See also