（中文）

IELTS考试及中国考生的未来发展趋势

（2008-04-22）于今日在北京召开的IELTS记者招待会上，IELTS考试专家透露了IELTS考试2008年的中国发展计划以及全球发展趋势，并回顾了IELTS考试在中国所取得的成就。

中国拥有世界上人数最多的IELTS考生，这个数字还在不断增长。在过去一年中，全球IELTS考生将近100万人，而中国的IELTS考生数量超过了20万。作为一项衡量考生英语交流能力的可靠指标，IELTS考试得到了全球6,000多家机构的认可，这其中包括超过1,400所美国高等教育机构。

在此次会议上，来自IELTS全球合作伙伴的决策者们透露了IELTS未来的主要发展趋势，并表达了将IELTS不断创新与发展的决心。这些IELTS专家包括英国文化协会（在中国大陆作为英国使领馆文化教育处运作）全球英语教学及考试业务总裁Bhaskar Chakravarti（柴世杰）、IDP澳大利亚教育国际开发署总裁Tony Pollock、剑桥大学考试委员会ESOL考试部总裁Mike Milanovic和英国文化协会考试部中国业务总监James Shipton（史哲明）。

IELTS考试未来发展趋势包括：

• 通过聘用来自美国的命题团队以确保IELTS考试内容的国际化。除了在新西兰、澳大利亚和英国的专业团队之外，现在美国也设立了专业命题团队，提供高质量的考试材料。此举强化了IELTS考试的全球认可度，同时可最大程度上减少文化和语言的差异性。
• 开发IELTS机考（CB-IELTS）将使考生可以在纸笔考试的基础上多一个选择。通过对部分考生的调研，IELTS专家发现考生对纸笔考试和机考各有倾向，那些偏爱机考的考生将可以选择这种考试形式。与其他通过互联网进行测试的考试相比，IELTS的机考有一个重要优势，即试题是在考试前通过互联网下载下来的，可确保其安全性。然后考生在线下答题，这样可以保证考生的发挥不受网络连接问题的影响。
• IELTS考试将在中国开设更多的考点，以进一步缩短中国考生的报名排队时间，同时也满足不断增长的考试需求。2007年IELTS在中国开设了三个新的考点，分别是在北京和上海开设的第二考点以及在太原开设的新考点。为满足华东地区对IELTS考试不断增长的需求，2008年该地区将计划开设新的考点。

英国文化协会考试部中国业务总监James Shipton（史哲明）说：

 “IELTS考试目前是世界领先的英语语言考试，这一考试帮助考生在全世界范围内接受教育和实现就业，从而切实改变其生活。”

 “IELTS考试因其高质量的考试内容而受到广泛认可，在中国享有极高的声誉。我们与合作伙伴密切合作，努力保持考试的高水准，并满足不断增长的考试需求，同时也确保考生的报名排队时间比以前有所缩短。”

其它说明：

1、IELTS考试的主办方为英国文化协会、澳大利亚教育国际开发署（IDP）和英国剑桥大学ESOL考试委员会。

此次记者招待会的发言者包括（按发言顺序）：
• Bhaskar Chakravarti, 英国文化协会全球英语教学及考试业务总裁
• Tony Pollock, IDP澳大利亚教育国际开发署总裁
• Mike Milanovic, 剑桥大学考试委员会ESOL考试部总裁
• James Shipton, 英国文化协会考试部中国业务总监

2、国际英语语言测试系统（IELTS）

自1989年以来，IELTS考试通过提供全球权威的英语水平测试，衡量考生在真实场景中的英语沟通能力，得到了考生和教育机构双方的信任。

目前在中国28个城市设立了30个考试中心。

3、IELTS未来发展趋势

IELTS计算机化考试形式
• 目前正在开发中
• 考生将可选择纸笔考试或机考
• 试题是在考试前通过互联网下载下来的，可确保其安全性。然后考生在线下答题，这样可以保证考生的发挥不受网络连接问题的影响

4. IELTS考试更多信息和发展趋势

2007 年中国IELTS考生情况
总数增长57%，其中学术类增长64%
学术类和培训类考生比例：91% 比 9%
53%的考生来自19到22岁年龄段

IELTS 考生发展趋势
大部分考生仍为考虑出国学习硕士课程的学生
18岁以下（高中生）考生人数将继续增加
申请去其他国家的考生将继续增加，比如美国

IELTS 2008最新消息
2008年考试日期现已公布，供考生报名
 一如既往地增加考试座位，满足考生报考需求
 在华东地区开设新考点

（英文）

REVEALED: THE FUTURE FOR IELTS AND EXAM TAKERS IN CHINA

Date: Tuesday 22 April 2008 – for immediate release

Today, IELTS examinations’ experts revealed how IELTS will develop in China over the next year, as well as looking at IELTS global trends and reviewing IELTS past performance in China, at an IELTS conference in Beijing.

China has the largest number of IELTS test takers in the world and the numbers are still increasing. In the past year more than 200,000 candidates have taken IELTS tests in China and worldwide there have been nearly 1 million candidates. IELTS is recognised by more than 6,000 organisations globally, including 1,400 US higher educational institutions, as a reliable indicator of candidates’ ability to communicate in English.

At the conference IELTS strategists from IELTS global partners revealed the main future developments for IELTS, and showed IELTS’ commitment to innovation in ensuring that the test continues to be fit for purpose. The IELTS experts included Bhaskar Chakravarti, Director for English and Examinations, British Council; Tony Pollock, Chief Executive of IDP Education; Mike Milanovic, Chief Executive Cambridge ESOL; and James Shipton, Director Exams Services, British Council China.

Future IELTS developments include:

• Ensuring that IELTS reflects the variety of native-speakers’ English by employing test materials writers in the US. In addition to teams in New Zealand, Australia and the UK, there is now also a professional team based in the US to provide quality US content in test materials, reinforcing IELTS’ global credentials and commitment to minimising cultural and linguistic discrimination.

• The continued development of Computer based (CB) IELTS will give candidates the choice between paper based and computer based tests. From research among candidates, it was found that candidates do have a personal preference for either paper or CB tests. Candidates who prefer CB will have that option, which will also increase accessibility to IELTS. CB IELTS will have a key advantage over other internet delivered tests as the test will be downloaded from the internet securely in advance of the test and conducted offline, to ensure test performance is not affected by internet connectivity issues.

• More test centres will be opened to further decrease the waiting period for candidates while meeting the growing demand for IELTS in China. In 2007 three test centres were set up to meet the needs of candidates - second test centres in Beijing and Shanghai, and a new test centre in Taiyuan. In 2008, new test centres are planned for East China to meet the growth in that area.

James Shipton, Director Exams Services, British Council China, said:

“IELTS is now the world’s leading "high stakes" examination offering candidates truly life changing opportunities in education and employment all over the world. IELTS is known throughout China by its exceptional reputation for quality, and despite the enormous growth in demand we and our partners have worked hard to maintain this quality while also ensuring that waiting periods for candidates to take the tests are shorter than ever.”

Notes:

1. IELTS is jointly managed by the British Council – operating as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy in Beijing and Cultural and Education Section of the British Consulates-General in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing - IDP, IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

Speakers - see separate biographies:
• Bhaskar Chakravarti, Director for English and Examinations, British Council
• Tony Pollock, CEO, IDP Education
• Mike Milanovic, Chief Executive Cambridge ESOL
• James Shipton, Director Exams Services, British Council China

2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Since 1989 IELTS has been trusted by both candidates and institutions to provide a secure, global authentic test which measures true to life ability to communicate in English.

There are 30 test centres in 28 cities across China.

3. Future IELTS developments

Computer based IELTS - to be delivered through the internet
• Currently in development
• Candidates will have the choice between paper based and computer based tests.
• Tests will be downloaded from the internet, securely and in advance, and conducted offline to ensure test performance is not affected by internet connectivity issues.

4. IELTS profiles and trends

2007 IELTS candidate profiles – China
2007年中国IELTS考生情况
57% increase overall; 64% increase for Academic module  
总数增长57%，其中学术类增长64%
Academic-General Training module ratio: 91%-9%
学术类和培训类考生比例：91% 比 9%
53% of candidates aged between 19 and 22
53%的考生来自19到22岁年龄段

IELTS candidature trends
IELTS 考生发展趋势
Majority remain university students pursuing master study overseas
大部分考生仍为考虑出国学习硕士课程的大学生
Increase from under 18 age group (high school students) will continue
18岁以下（高中生）考生人数将继续增加
Increase from other destination countries will continue, e.g. candidates who are US-bound
申请去其他国家的考生将继续增加，比如以美国为目的地的考生

What’s new about IELTS in China 2008?
IELTS最新消息
2008 test dates now open for registration
2008年考试日期现已公布，供考生报名
Continue maximizing capacity to meet market demand
 一如既往地增加考试座位，满足考生报考需求
Opening new test centers in East China
 在华东地区开设新考点