Photo: yuz.uz
As of July 11, written IELTS exams in Uzbekistan will be suspended due to reports of test material leaks circulating online, Gazeta.uz reports.
The Edu-Action Centre announced that IELTS partners operating in Uzbekistan — including IDP and the British Council — have halted paper-based tests citing “operational reasons.” Candidates already registered for the written format are being offered the option to take the exam electronically or receive a refund.
Test centers had previously reported incidents of test questions being sold. Edu-Action Centre described the situation not only as a legal violation but as a betrayal of educational integrity and future aspirations. In response, anti-fraud measures have been strengthened: exam takers now face stricter ID checks, pocket searches, and even toilet escorts. Additionally, the retake ban for rule violations has increased from two years to five.
Both the British Council and IDP confirmed fraudulent activity, stating that all IELTS tests conducted in Uzbekistan on June 7 were deemed “suspicious” and sent for review by higher educational authorities abroad. If irregularities are confirmed, the test results will be annulled, and candidates will be notified.
According to Gazeta.uz, numerous Telegram channels offer IELTS test materials and answer keys for specific dates, with user comments suggesting a high rate of accuracy between purchased content and actual exams.
Test organizers say they are actively monitoring such online offers and working to combat fraud. While unusually high scores have surfaced in the past, centers report a significant increase in recent months.
