IELTS Malpractice Procedure
The IELTS Test Partners (British Council, IDP Education Ltd and Cambridge English) have a responsibility to test takers, test centres and other stakeholders to ensure the highest confidence in IELTS test results. Robust measures are therefore in place to detect and prevent instances of test taker or test centre malpractice which may damage the security and integrity of the IELTS test.
Types of Malpractice
Malpractice is any action which gives, or aims to give, unfair advantage to a test taker or causes disadvantage to other test takers. Malpractice includes, but is not limited to:
- attempting to cheat in any way, including using notes of any kind from any source
- helping another test taker to cheat
- impersonating another test taker or or having another test taker impersonate you
- copying the work of another test taker
- disrupting the test in any way
- reproducing any part of the test in any medium
- attempting to alter the data on the Test Report Form
IELTS test takers are warned of the consequences of committing malpractice when they register to take the test, in the ‘Notice to Candidates’ and the Test Terms, i.e. that their result will not be issued (or if previously issued, will be cancelled) and that a five-year ban may be imposed.
Detecting Suspected Malpractice
Cases of suspected malpractice may be reported
- by test centre staff on test day
- by examiners in the Speaking test
- by markers and examiners during marking
- by statistical analyses of test taker performance conducted before results are released
Statistical Malpractice Analyses
In line with best practice, we identify suspected malpractice by carrying out a range of statistical analyses on individual test taker results, on pairs and groups of test takers in test venues and the results profiles of all the test takers from one test administration or across administrations.
These analyses may include, but are not limited to:
- comparing the similarity of response patterns, or marks, between two or more test takers
- comparing the performance of a test taker in one component of the test to their performance on the other three test components
- comparing the performance of a test taker on one test date to their performance on a previous test date
- assessing the likelihood of certain responses and scores given the overall ability of a test taker
Investigating Suspected Malpractice
Once identified, suspected malpractice cases are withheld for investigation. The test centre notifies the test taker that their result has been withheld for investigation and invites them to make a statement.
Investigations are conducted by the dedicated investigations teams of the British Council, IDP Education Ltd and IELTS USA, who follow a rigorous, standardised investigative procedure. This procedure is designed to ensure that all investigative outcomes are consistent, fair and based on the fullest information available.
The teams review all evidence relating to the case, including, but not limited to, test taker identity documentation; responses given in the four parts of the test; reports from test centre staff; cctv footage from test centres; computer logs (for the computer-delivered test); the test taker’s statement; and statistical data on test version and test taker performance.
Investigation Outcomes
Following the investigation, a decision is made either to release or permanently withhold the result (or to cancel the result if previously issued). The test taker may also be banned from taking IELTS for five years.
Results decisions are made using the evidence available and are based on levels of confidence in the result and/or in compliance with regulations. It is not about proving malpractice has happened – rather it is about ensuring that only results we are confident in are released. If there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a result is not a reliable indicator of a test taker’s ability, or if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that test regulations have not been complied with, the IELTS Test Partners believe it is in the interests of all test takers that the result is permanently withheld.
Notifying the Test Taker
If it is decided that a result can be released, the test centre notifies the test taker and issues the Test Report Form.
If it is decided that a result should be permanently withheld, the test centre notifies the test taker that they will not receive a result. If a result has been previously issued, the test centre notifies the test taker that the result has been cancelled. The test centre also notifies the test taker of any test ban.
The test centre also informs the test taker that they may appeal against a decision to permanently withhold their result (or against a ban) via the IELTS Appeals Procedure. Information about the procedure can be found here.
The IELTS Test Partners may share malpractice information with Recognising Organisations, including governments (including visa processing authorities) and regulatory authorities.