A sudden change in the IELTS exam format on February 22 has caused a stir among test-takers in Vietnam.

Candidates expecting the standard test version were surprised when all three sections - Listening, Reading, and Writing - were drawn from the “red package,” a backup test set.

Some speculate that the change was due to leaked test materials and cheating attempts, forcing the cancellation of the original test version. The British Council, which co-owns the IELTS exam, has now addressed these concerns.

Candidates shocked by unexpected test difficulty

Hoang Anh, a high school student in Hanoi, was taken aback by the unexpected test version.

“I was shocked by how difficult the test was. I had prepared extensively, but facing all three backup test versions threw me off. I couldn’t complete many sections and will have to retake the test in the summer for my university application,” she said.

She also noted that in IELTS study groups, she had seen advertisements selling test answers for the “paper-based last chance” exam.

“The price for cheating is too high. Even if someone memorizes answers and gets a high score, it’s meaningless. A person who earns an IELTS 8.0 without actual skills won’t benefit from the certificate in university or the real world.”

British Council responds to test change and cheating concerns

Speaking to VietNamNet, the British Council emphasized that strict security measures are always in place to protect the integrity of the IELTS exam.

“In certain cases, backup test versions are used to ensure fairness and security for all test-takers. These decisions are mandated by Cambridge Assessment and must be followed by all test providers,” a British Council representative stated.

The organization also acknowledged a recent increase in fraudulent activities, including the online sale of leaked test answers and fake materials targeting IELTS candidates.

“We urge test-takers to remain vigilant. The IELTS exam is highly secure at every stage - from preparation to post-exam processing - to ensure accuracy and reliability. There is zero tolerance for any form of cheating,” the representative added.

Candidates caught engaging in severe violations, such as purchasing leaked test materials, risk having their scores canceled, being banned from retaking the IELTS for up to five years, and being blacklisted by global institutions that recognize the certification.

Upcoming changes to IELTS testing in Vietnam

The February 22 exam was one of the last opportunities for candidates to take the IELTS on paper. From March 29 onward, all IELTS exams in Vietnam will switch to a computer-based format.

Unlike the paper-based test, where all candidates receive the same questions for the Listening, Reading, and Writing sections, the computer-based format will randomly generate different test versions for each candidate from a secure question bank.

The British Council also reported a significant increase in the number of Vietnamese test-takers in recent years, particularly among students applying for university admissions and study abroad programs.

Thuy Nga