UPT Bahasa (the Technical Implementation UNIT of Languages) of the University of Bengkulu (UNIB) successfully held the first International English Language Testing System (IELTS) pre-testing in Bengkulu Province, on Thursday (24/8/2023).
This activity took place at the Integrated Services Building (GLT) of UNIB and the success of this pre-testing was thanks to the good collaboration between UPT Bahasa and the British Council Indonesia Foundation which is based in Jakarta.
“We have collaborated and are trusted as the Registration Center Partner of the British Council Indonesia Foundation in Bengkulu Province for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test. “One of our programs is carrying out pre-testing as carried out today and Alhamdulillah, this first pre-testing activity in Bengkulu Province has been successful,” said the Head of UNIB Language UPT Dr. Wisma Yunita, S.Pd, M.Pd.
As explained by Dr. Wisma, this pre-testing is a form of simulation of the actual IELTS test and consists of three skills, namely listening, reading, and writing. This activity aims to provide participants with experience in the IELTS test process.
For participants, previously UPT Bahasa proposed a 100 quota to the British Council Indonesia Foundation. This proposal was granted and all participants in the first IELT pre-testing in Bengkulu Province were free of charge.
The participants were lecturers and students from various faculties around UNIB, as well as lecturers from other universities in Bengkulu Province such as UIN Fatmawati Soekarno, Dehasen University, Open University, Bengkulu Muhammadiyah University, Ministry of Health Polytechnic and STIT Al-Quraniyah Manna. Then, there were also participants from high school and Bengkulu Provincial Government employees.
“Yes, all participants are free of charge. “Apart from gaining experience on how to carry out the actual IELTS test, participants also received an information book about the IELTS test whose license is held by the British Council in collaboration with IDP Education and Cambridge Assessment English,” explained Dr. Wisma.
What is even more encouraging is that this pre-testing activity was carried out to coincide with the completion of the IELTS course held by UPT Bahasa for July 2023. In this way, the course participants who were delegate lecturers from several faculties around UNIB further honed their abilities through this pre-testing and made it easier to take the IELTS test on 30-31 August 2023.
“So, after the course, they immediately take the pre-test in the hope that their abilities will become more qualified and easier to face the actual IELTS test on August 30-31. “Hopefully it will be easier for them to realize their hopes of carrying out further studies abroad,” said Dr. Wisma.
To ensure that the first pre-testing activity in Bengkulu was successful, the British Council Indonesia Foundation sent one of its management staff, Asep Kurniawan, to carry out pre-testing. Then, taking advantage of this moment, Asep Kurniawan was also invited to visit UPT Bahasa building and see the various existing facilities so that it is hoped that UPT Bahasa has the potential to become a Testing Point Partner in the future.
“With this visit from the management of the British Council Indonesia Foundation and with the full support of the leadership and all UNIB academics, it is hoped that UPT Bahasa will continue to be a good collaborative partner for the British Council,” said Dr. Homestead.
IELTS Scores are Increasingly Needed
In another part of her statement to the Public Relations Team, the Head of UPT Bahasa, Dr. Wisma explained that the current trend is that IELTS scores are increasingly needed. For this reason, UPT Bahasa since 2022 has continued to strive to establish good cooperation with the British Council Indonesia Foundation.
The IELTS test score is important because it is a prerequisite for applying for various scholarships for further study in various countries, especially in Europe and Australia. Most scholarship management institutions require an IELTS score, such as the LPDP scheme.
Apart from that, the IELTS score is also one of the requirements to take part in the domestic scholarship administration selection as well as to take part in the Talent Scouting or IISMA Kemdikbudristek program.
“In response to the increasing need for IELTS scores, we continue to collaborate with the British Council Indonesia Foundation. Now as a Registration Center, it is hoped that in the future we will be even higher, namely as a Testing Point Partner for IELTS On Computer Test or Computer Delivered IELTS (CDI) in Southern Sumatra. These efforts are in line with our mission to create a Superior UNIB,” said Dr. Wisma. [Report: UPT Bahasa. Editor : Purna Herawan/PR]