June 2026 Edition
Your monthly roundup of IELTS developments, testing industry news, and migration policy updates
IELTS Developments
IELTS Test Report Forms to Feature Ofqual Branding from 17 July
From 17 July 2026, all IELTS Test Report Forms (TRFs) issued worldwide will carry the official logo and qualification title of Ofqual, the regulator for qualifications, examinations, and assessments in England. The update, announced on the official IELTS website, applies to both digital and paper TRFs and reflects IELTS’s status as a fully regulated qualification under Ofqual’s oversight.
Crucially, there is no change to the status, validity, or recognition of any existing IELTS results. All TRFs issued before 17 July remain fully valid for university and visa applications. Candidates who received a TRF between June 2024 and 16 July 2026 may request an updated version featuring the new branding at no charge, though this is entirely optional and does not alter or reset the validity period of the original result.
| For IELTS candidates: You do not need to take any action. Your existing TRF remains valid and accepted. If you would like an updated version with the Ofqual branding, you can complete a simple form on the IELTS website and a new TRF will be issued after 17 July, free of charge. |
IELTS Partnership Strengthens Quality Safeguards
In June 2026, Ofqual published the outcome of an enforcement action relating to an automated marking error that affected IELTS Listening and Reading components between August 2023 and September 2025. The issue involved a small proportion of computer-based tests in which predefined answer keys contained errors in the marking system.
Cambridge English, which manages the marking systems on behalf of the IELTS Partnership, self-identified the issue and promptly reported it to Ofqual. Of the approximately 7.7 million tests taken during the affected period, 62,794 individual candidates received corrected results — the vast majority of which were upward adjustments of just half a band. All affected candidates have been contacted, and refunds or free resits have been offered.
Importantly, only four cases were identified where a test result may have affected a UK visa eligibility decision, and in each case the candidate subsequently resat and met the required standard. The IELTS Partnership has invested over £6 million in remediation, compensation, and new safeguards to prevent recurrence.
In its statement, the IELTS Partnership noted: “IELTS is regulated by Ofqual globally and that holds us to the highest standards. This regulation provides independent oversight and accountability, and we welcome the scrutiny that comes with it.”
| For IELTS candidates: This episode demonstrates the rigorous regulatory oversight that underpins IELTS. Ofqual recognised that Cambridge English showed full cooperation, self-reported the issue, and took comprehensive action to support affected candidates. The updated TRF branding (above) is part of the broader quality assurance measures now in place. IELTS remains the only major English language test subject to this level of independent regulatory scrutiny. |
Writing on Paper: Registration Now Open
Further to our May report on the new “Writing on Paper” delivery option, registration is now live in selected markets. Industry reporting confirms that early July test dates are available in both Canada and Nepal, with this option expected to expand to additional markets in the coming months.
As a reminder, Writing on Paper allows candidates taking the computer-delivered IELTS to complete their Writing task by hand on paper, while the Listening and Reading components remain on-screen. The format of the Writing task itself is unchanged — the question appears on screen while candidates write their responses on standard answer sheets. This option is not available for IELTS for UKVI.
It has also been confirmed that the Writing on Paper option will not be offered in China, where the transition from paper-based to computer-delivered IELTS is scheduled for 1 September 2026.
IELTS Explores Hybrid AI Approaches in Assessment
The IELTS Partnership has published a new article titled “What automarking means for language test validity and integrity,” building on last month’s exploration of conversational AI in speaking assessment. The article examines both the potential benefits and the limitations of automated scoring systems in high-stakes language testing.
The authors advocate for a hybrid model that combines AI-driven efficiency with robust human oversight, stating that “for the time being, a hybrid approach is essential to ensure scoring efficiency and reliability – and safeguard test validity.” IELTS currently uses human examiners for all Speaking and Writing assessment, and the article signals a thoughtful, research-led approach to any future integration of AI-assisted tools.
| For IELTS candidates: Any future developments in AI-assisted assessment would be designed to complement, not replace, the human expertise that underpins IELTS scoring. The Partnership’s emphasis on a hybrid model with strong human oversight reflects its commitment to fair and accurate assessment. |
English Language Testing Landscape
HOELT Faces Parliamentary Scrutiny
The Home Office English Language Test (HOELT) — the UK Government’s proposed fully remote English test for visa applicants — was the subject of a House of Commons debate on 3 June 2026. Several MPs raised significant concerns about the security and integrity of a remote-only approach.
Blake Stephenson MP (Conservative, Mid Bedfordshire) argued that remote tests are vulnerable to organised fraud, noting that safeguards can be overcome with readily available technology. He drew comparisons with other high-stakes assessments, observing that remote-only testing is not permitted for driving theory tests, “Life in the UK” tests, or GCSEs.
Labour MP Daniel Zeichner (Cambridge) questioned whether the Home Office had consulted the National Cyber Security Centre on threats including AI-enabled cheating, impersonation, and cross-border cyber risks. He also asked why the Government was pursuing remote-by-default testing when other assessment bodies were moving in the opposite direction.
Immigration Minister Mike Tapp confirmed that the HOELT procurement is in its “technical demonstration and evaluation” phase and that any appointed provider would be required to demonstrate best-in-class anti-cheating capability. A separate report from PublicTechnology noted that the Home Office expects the remote testing model to generate income, underpinned by a different financial model from the current concession-based system.
The IELTS Partnership withdrew from the HOELT tender in March 2026, citing concerns that fully remote testing could not maintain the standards of security, quality, and integrity required for immigration-level decisions. The parliamentary debate reinforces those concerns and underscores the value of IELTS’s established, supervised test-centre approach.
Cambridge Signals Evolving Position on Remote Testing
A new editorial by Cambridge University Press & Assessment’s Francesca Woodward in The PIE News suggests a notable shift in tone on remote testing. The piece argues that remote assessment can be fit for high-stakes purposes such as immigration — provided it meets stringent conditions including rigorous security, human involvement, fairness, and comparability with other delivery modes.
This represents a more nuanced position compared to Cambridge’s earlier submission to Parliament in January, which stated that a fully remotely proctored approach “cannot be appropriate when the security and integrity of the immigration system is at stake.” The shift suggests that Cambridge may be considering a broader range of delivery options for future assessment products.
US Healthcare Worker English Requirements Updated
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) published updated English language proficiency requirements for foreign healthcare workers seeking to work in the United States, effective from 12 May 2026. The changes affect nurses, therapists, audiologists, and other regulated healthcare professionals.
Key changes include increased score requirements for several tests, with particularly significant increases for PTE Academic speaking scores. The TOEIC test is no longer accepted. Notably, the updated requirements no longer distinguish between IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training scores, allowing healthcare workers to submit either format. IELTS continues to be a fully accepted test for US healthcare worker credentialling.
Canada Rejects Duolingo’s Immigration Bid
Reporting by The Globe and Mail has revealed that Duolingo lobbied Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in 2025 to have the Duolingo English Test (DET) accepted for immigration applications — but was unsuccessful.
Federal lobbying records show that Duolingo representatives met with IRCC officials five times between August and December 2025, discussing the use of the DET for the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) programme and for federal immigration programmes more broadly. According to the report, government officials had concerns about the integrity of Duolingo’s online tests, specifically around identity verification.
IRCC’s current rules require in-person testing at designated centres for immigration purposes. The three English tests currently accepted by IRCC are IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, and PTE Core. The Duolingo English Test remains unaccepted for any Canadian immigration programme as of June 2026.
| For IELTS candidates applying to Canada: IELTS General Training remains one of only three English tests accepted by IRCC for immigration. Canada’s continued insistence on in-person, supervised testing validates the approach that IELTS has always taken. |
TOEIC Continues to Decline
ETS has published its 2025 Report on Test Takers Worldwide for the TOEIC Listening and Reading test, revealing a continued downward trend. Approximately 3.02 million candidates took the test in 2025, down from 3.23 million in 2024 and well below the peak of around 5.23 million in 2014.
Japan, the test’s largest market, recorded approximately 1.8 million test takers in 2025 — a significant decline from the 2.6 million peak in 2015. The TOEIC’s removal from the US HRSA approved test list (noted above) represents a further contraction of its market footprint.
ETS Leadership Changes
The Educational Testing Service has appointed Ruma Mukerji as its new Chief Financial Officer. Mukerji joined ETS in 2024 from the private sector, succeeding Jeffrey Melnick.
The composition of the ETS Board of Trustees also changed in May, with Ms. LaVerne Srinivasan taking over as Chair from Dr. Earl Lewis. New co-vice chairs are Kevin M. Guthrie and Dr. Barbara M. Jenkins. The leadership transition comes at a time when ETS is pursuing expansion of its student assessment programmes in the United States through its “Skills for the Future” initiative.
International Migration News for IELTS Candidates
United Kingdom
Student Visa Compliance Rules Now in Effect
New student visa compliance rules for UK universities took effect on 1 June 2026. Under the updated Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA) framework, universities are now rated on a sliding scale based on visa refusal rates, course completion, and student attendance metrics. Institutions with weaker compliance records face tighter restrictions on their ability to sponsor international students.
Higher English Requirements Confirmed for Settlement
The UK Government has confirmed that from 26 March 2027, applicants for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) on most visa routes will need to demonstrate English at CEFR B2 level — up from the current B1 standard. This follows the January 2026 increase to B2 for new Skilled Worker, Scale-up, and High Potential Individual visa applicants.
Immigration Minister Mike Tapp indicated in a June 2026 interview that the broader “earned settlement” reforms — including a proposed extension of the qualifying period from five to ten years — are expected to be enacted in the autumn.
Graduate Visa Duration Reduction from 2027
The Graduate visa will be reduced from 24 months to 18 months for applicants from 1 January 2027 (PhD holders will retain a 36-month duration). Current Graduate visa holders are unaffected.
| For IELTS candidates targeting the UK: The upward trajectory of English language requirements across visa routes makes achieving a strong IELTS score more important than ever. Candidates planning to settle in the UK should aim for at least Band 6.5 overall to meet the B2 standard now required for work visas and, from March 2027, for settlement. |
Canada
International Mobility Program Language Testing on the Horizon
IRCC’s proposed regulation to require language test results from certain International Mobility Program (IMP) work permit applicants continues to advance. Consultations with provinces and territories (February 2025) and private-sector stakeholders (November 2025) have been completed, and a draft of the proposed rules is expected in the Canada Gazette, Part I in spring or summer 2026, followed by a 30-day public comment period. Implementation could follow in early 2027.
The IMP facilitates a significant number of temporary work permits in Canada. In 2025, there were approximately 153,000 new arrivals under the programme, plus more than 434,000 extensions issued to existing permit holders. If language testing is extended to additional IMP streams, it could generate substantial new demand for English tests accepted by IRCC — which currently includes IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, and PTE Core.
IRCC has not yet confirmed which IMP streams will be affected, nor whether extensions will require a test. A TOEFL Essentials designation was announced in August 2025 but has not yet been formally activated.
IRCC Consolidates Language Requirements Guidance
On 23 June 2026, IRCC updated and consolidated its language requirements guidance into a single page, merging several previously separate internal guidance documents. The update is primarily administrative but provides a clearer single reference point for applicants and processing officers.
United States
New Healthcare Worker English Requirements
As noted in the testing landscape section above, updated HRSA requirements effective from 12 May 2026 have raised English proficiency score thresholds for foreign healthcare workers in several categories. IELTS remains a fully accepted test, with the updated rules no longer distinguishing between Academic and General Training formats. Healthcare professionals planning to practise in the US should verify the current requirements for their specific occupation.
For IELTS candidates: June 2026 brings several significant developments. The new Ofqual-branded TRFs reinforce IELTS’s position as the world’s most rigorously regulated English language test. Writing on Paper is now available for registration in Canada and Nepal. In the UK, rising English language requirements across visa routes make strong IELTS scores increasingly valuable. In Canada, IELTS remains one of only three tests accepted for immigration, and the potential expansion of language testing to IMP streams could create new opportunities for IELTS candidates. As always, we recommend checking the official IELTS website for the latest information on test formats, dates, and availability in your region.