IELTS banks on human touch, AI amid growing competition

Amid growing competition in the local English language assessment industry, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is differentiating itself by maintaining human intervention in its examinations while integrating artificial intelligence (AI), according to the British Council, a co-owner of IELTS.

“With IELTS, what we’re really proud of when it comes to the service and the test that we offer is that there is still human intervention,” Danica Tuliao, senior exams marketing manager at British Council Philippines, said in an interview during the organization’s annual exams partner gathering.

“In our speaking test, we have a live human examiner that test takers speak with because that’s actually the best measure of how you communicate with people,” she added.

Ms. Tuliao said the English language assessment landscape locally has become increasingly competitive in recent years, with providers offering specialized examinations for industries such as healthcare, as well as fully AI-based tests that do not require interaction with a human examiner.

Despite these developments, she said IELTS continues to adopt a hybrid approach by integrating AI features while preserving human assessment in key components of the examination process.

“We really feel strongly that the IELTS (approach) can definitely address the purpose of each test taker and help them achieve their dreams and goals,” Ms. Tuliao said in mixed English and Filipino.

The British Council has incorporated AI-powered tools into its IELTS Ready Premium preparation platform, allowing test takers to track their progress and receive automated support while preparing for the examination.

The global English proficiency testing market is estimated at $3.1 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $5.5 billion by 2032, according to market research firm Metastat.

This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5% between 2025 and 2032.

Ms. Tuliao said English language assessments such as IELTS remain crucial for individuals seeking opportunities overseas, particularly for studying, working, and migrating to countries that require proof of English proficiency.

Different institutions, professions, and countries impose varying score requirements depending on the level of English language competency required. — Edg Adrian A. Eva