IDP vs British Council | Full form | Which one should I choose while taking IELTS Test?

Ann Smith,

Updated On Sep 13, 2021

IDP vs British Council | Full form | Which one should I choose while taking IELTS Test?

Contents

1 IDP vs British Council
2 History of IELTS

IDP vs British Council

Sreyas wants to write the IELTS exam. But he doesn’t know whether to take the test from the British Council or IDP.

There are many such people who don’t know if they are actually different. Also, there is a common belief that certification through IDP is valid only in Australia and certification through BC is valid only in the UK.

So, which is best for IELTS, IDP or British Council? To be honest, there is no difference in writing the exam through British Council or IDP. The marking criteria are exactly the same in both. The test is valid in countries like Canada, Newzealand, UK, USA and many countries irrespective of whether the test is taken through IDP or BC.

What is the full form of IDP and BC?

IDP full form: International Development Program
BC full form: British Council

History of IELTS

IELTS came into existence in 1980 and was initially known as the English language Testing Service. It was launched by Cambridge English Language Assessment (then known as UCLES) and the British Council. It had new ideas and was focused on the use of English as a communicative language and also ‘English for specific purposes’. The work items in the test were centred around use of English in real-world situations.

Initially, there was less number of test-takers (4,000 in 1981 rising to 10,000 in 1985). There were some practical difficulties in organizing the test. So a revision project was setup for redesigning the test. In order to evoke international participation in the redesign, the International Development Program of Australian Universities and Colleges (IDP), now known as IDP: IELTS Australia, joined Cambridge English Language Assessment and the British Council to form the international IELTS partnership.

Is there any difference between IDP and British council? Is British council better than IDP? You will find the answer as you read further.

Nature of the test

The questions in the test are framed by the Cambridge English Language Assessment. So there is absolutely no difference, whether you take the test from the British Council or IDP.

IELTS Examiners

Examiners for both IDP and British Council get trained in the same manner. The Listening and Reading tests are based on correct or wrong answers. You are evaluated based on the number of correct answers.

So, there is no special role for the examiner in these cases.

Whereas, the examiner plays a major role in the Writing and Speaking tests. Examiners for BC and IDP complete the same course and their marking criteria remains the same. Also, they are checked regularly on how they evaluate.

Accents used

Though BC is British and IDP is Australian, they remain indifferent when it comes to IELTS. The examiner could be from any country and use any accent. In the same way, the test taker can use any accent.

How do you decide between BC and IDP?

Proximity

The test centre which is closer to the home needs to be chosen. You can report well in advance and concentrate on other important things rather than choosing some centre (of your preference) which is far away and end up getting exhausted on reaching the test centre.

Availability of equipment

Most test takers prefer using headphones for the Listening test because they can concentrate more. Check the availability of equipment in the test centre before going for it.

Availability of test date

Choose the centre based on the availability of dates. You must take the test when you are well prepared and confident. You should decide the date based on it. So choose a centre which offers you the date, you want.

Fee and format

The fee for the exam remains the same whether you register via IDP or BC. There is no difference in fee for both IDP and BC, whether it is Academic or General version and if it is pen-and-paper based or computerized.

Booking

You can book an IELTS test in British Council through their official website.

You can book an IELTS test in IDP through their official website.

Checking Results

You can login to the official website of IDP or British Council and check IELTS exam results online.

Also check :

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the IELTS test be difficult if I register via British Council?

It is the same whether you register for the IELTS test online through the official website of IDP or the site of the British Council. You'll see no change in the difficulty level of the IELTS test.

Is there any difference in the IELTS test fee if booked through IDP or British Council?

There's absolutely no difference in the IELTS test fee whether you book via IDP or British Council. But, the difference in test fees will vary from country to country. There will be no difference in the amount you will be paying through any of these websites. But what you will pay to take the IELTS test in India will be different from what you will pay to take the test in UAE.

Is the marking system different in IDP or British Council?

Of course not! The marking system in IDP is in no way different from the British Council. Your band score entirely relies upon a lot of factors, namely, --> Preparation level, --> Guidance, --> Test date, --> The exam center you chose Thus, prepare yourself with such confidence that it should reflect on your band score, and always choose a convenient exam center that will not cause any distraction.

Which should I choose, British Council or IDP?

You can book your IELTS test from either of them. But before booking for the IELTS test, make sure to follow these instructions, --> Choose a test center near your home (proximity) --> Check if the speakers or headphones are allowed in the Listening test (availability of equipment) --> Check for the convenience of the test dates and choose the test center (availability of test date). To sum up, there's no difference between IDP or British Council. You can choose anyone of them according to your convenience.

Do the IDP listening tests contain recordings with various accents, or is it no different from British Council listening tests?

The Listening tests and the other IELTS modules are created and compiled by Cambridge English Language Assessment, not by IDP or British Council. All the IELTS tests have a mixture of accents. Therefore, the aspirants are required to get used to different accents before attempting the test.