British Council widens IELTS, English test access

The British Council is expanding access to English assessment services across the Philippines through a growing network of education institutions, review centers, recruitment agencies, migration consultancies, language schools and corporate partners.

The organization now works with more than 300 partners nationwide as demand grows for internationally recognized English qualifications used for study, employment and migration.

The Philippines ranked 28th out of 123 countries and second in Asia in the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index. While English proficiency remains relatively strong, formal certification is often required for overseas study and work.

“Our partnerships allow us to reach more Filipinos and support them in developing the skills and gaining the qualifications they need to pursue opportunities, whether that is further study, professional development or employment here in the Philippines or overseas,” British Council Philippines country director Lotus Postrado said.

The partner network was recently recognized during the British Council’s annual Exams Partner Gathering, which also introduced its first business-to-business networking activity for partner organizations.

9.0 Niner English Corp. was named National Partner of the Year 2026, while the Centre for Premier International Language Studies and World English Reviews were among the organizations recognized as Partners of the Year.

The British Council is also working with the National Teachers’ College on its first English and Exams research project in the Philippines. Funded by the Department of Education, the initiative will assess around 500 teachers and explore how English assessment and micro-credentials can be incorporated into teacher education and professional development.

Access to IELTS has also expanded following the shift to a fully computer-delivered format, now offered in more than 20 locations nationwide. Additional testing centers are expected to open, including a new venue in San Fernando, Pampanga.

The British Council has also introduced three new assessment products: the Primary English Test for elementary students, the Secondary English Test for teenagers and EnglishScore, a mobile CEFR-aligned assessment.