Notice to candidates for planned increase in IELTS test fee

　　6 September 2004 – The British Council, which operates in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy, is giving candidates notice that the candidate test fee for IELTS will increase from 13 September 2004. The price rise from RMB 1250 to RMB 1450 represents an increase of RMB 200, the first price increase for IELTS in 3 years. The price increase will be in effect to the IELTS test of 13 November 2004 and onwards. Candidates who register for any IELTS test prior to 13 September 2004 or register October test after 13 September will not be affected by the price rise. The price increase will reflect the rise in costs since the last price rise. There will be no changes to the actual test itself.

　　The price rise will cover increased costs of test development, production and delivery in the UK and China. This includes the rise in the exchange rate of Pound Sterling to RMB of 12% over the last year, increase in inflation and an increase in the cost of travel by test administration and assessment staff to test centres in China.

　　“The cost for running IELTS test keeps increasing in recent years, but we still want to maintain our high-quality services. This is the first price increase for IELTS in 3 years. We are trying our outmost to provide the best customer experience for our IELTS candidates, so they can concentrate on scoring well in the test,” said Brendan McSharry, Director of Examinations Service for the British Council in China.

　　Those candidates wanting updated information on test dates or other IELTS information can check the following website: www.britishcouncil.org.cn

　　For further information, please contact Tracy Driscoll on 6590 6903 Ext. 248 or e-mail tracy.driscoll@britishcouncil.org.cn or Liu Jia on 6590 6903 ext. 323 or e-mail liu.jia@britishcouncil.org.cn