One of my students had an IELTS Speaking exam today. He travelled all the way from Faridabad to Gurugram to give the exam, which is almost 80 kilometers a day. I talked to him about the exam, and he said that the exam was conducted online with the help of video conferencing. This left me with a lot of questions, which are still unanswered.
Why Can’t IELTS Speaking Test Be Given From Home?
The first one is when the IELTS Official can look for the convenience of the examiner, who can take the test from the comfort of their home or from a place that is convenient to him or her. Why can’t IELTS give this privilege to the test taker also? They can also join the test from home.
High Fee but No In-Person Speaking Test
When a student pays Rs. 18,200 for a simple test, why can’t IDP deploy examiners to take the test live? After all, in-person interviews are always more effective, and the test taker has better eye contact and interaction in one.
Technical Issues Affecting IELTS Speaking Test
My student also complained that he could not understand the few questions well, as the speech clarity was not there with the device they used or the volume of the system.
Cutting costs and making the interview online is not a great choice. Someone who is not technology savvy or has a cam phobia will always be hesitant about doing it virtually. He chose a pen and paper test, unlike PTE, TOEFL, or Duolingo, for the simple reason that he is more familiar with the conventional test format.
A Call for Fair and Transparent IELTS Speaking Test
I would request that the IELTS Official look into this with immediate effect so that the test can be fairer and more transparent.
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FAQs About IELTS Speaking Test Going Online
Q1. Can IELTS Speaking tests be given from home?
No, currently IELTS candidates are required to travel to the test center even if the speaking test is conducted online through video conferencing.
Q2. Why is the IELTS Speaking test conducted online instead of in-person?
IELTS may conduct speaking tests online to manage examiner availability and reduce costs, but many students feel in-person tests are more effective.
Q3. How does the online IELTS Speaking test affect students?
Some students face technical issues like poor audio clarity or low volume, which can affect their understanding of questions and overall performance. Others may feel anxious due to camera phobia or lack of familiarity with technology.
Q4. Why do students prefer the pen-and-paper IELTS test?
Many students choose the pen-and-paper format because they are more comfortable with traditional test methods, unlike computer-based tests such as PTE, TOEFL, or Duolingo.
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