Thread by @KunleBajo

I spent the past couple of days interrogating the IELTS test and why Nigerians, as well as citizens of other English-speaking countries, have to write it to travel. Here are the interesting things I discovered. #Thread

icirnigeria.org/ielts-nigerian…

#EndIELTSNow #IELTSinNigeria

@EbenezarWikina @ThisIsAfricaTIA @BritishCouncil @ChidiOdinkalu @PressBritish @ieltsng @_iBarelyTweet @Adunni_Achebe @Chxta @TheICIR One, British Council says IELTS proves English lang. skills in most countries where it is the main lang. But then, English is also the main lang. in Nigeria (official language, used for academic instructions), which 2019 EF English Proficiency Index ranks 29th best in the world.

@EbenezarWikina @ThisIsAfricaTIA @BritishCouncil @ChidiOdinkalu @PressBritish @ieltsng @_iBarelyTweet @Adunni_Achebe @Chxta @TheICIR Second, unlike most exams, IELTS results expire after only two years. British Council blames this on a phenomenon called "second language attrition". It doesn't matter if you have a perfect score. After 2 years, you have to make sure your grasp is still splendid. #IELTSinNigeria

@EbenezarWikina @ThisIsAfricaTIA @BritishCouncil @ChidiOdinkalu @PressBritish @ieltsng @_iBarelyTweet @Adunni_Achebe @Chxta @TheICIR Third, #IELTS tests are actually super-difficult, even for native speakers of the English language. They're not only testing comprehension skills and proficiency; they're also designed to test logical thinking, attention to details, accent, etc.

#IELTSinNigeria #EndIELTSNow

@EbenezarWikina @ThisIsAfricaTIA @BritishCouncil @ChidiOdinkalu @PressBritish @ieltsng @_iBarelyTweet @Adunni_Achebe @Chxta @TheICIR Fourth, the IELTS is an enormous money-making machine for the UK govt. With 11 test centres in Nigeria, at least four tests conducted in a month, and an average of 120 people writing on each day, Nigerians pay a minimum of N5.15 billion for applications every year. #EndIELTSNow

@EbenezarWikina @ThisIsAfricaTIA @BritishCouncil @ChidiOdinkalu @PressBritish @ieltsng @_iBarelyTweet @Adunni_Achebe @Chxta @TheICIR Here's a fun fact. Annually, the UK govt. spends N12.7bn to fund 1500 Chevening Scholars through masters programmes. And in 2018, @BritishCouncil generated N228bn from exams alone. That's times eighteen (18), folks! Not immoral; just eye-opening.

#EndIELTSNow #IELTSinNigeria

@EbenezarWikina @ThisIsAfricaTIA @BritishCouncil @ChidiOdinkalu @PressBritish @ieltsng @_iBarelyTweet @Adunni_Achebe @Chxta @TheICIR Good day, bosses. I reckon you might find this thread interesting. (I apologise in advance if you don't. 🤧)

@TosinOlugbenga, @TundeTASH, @OgbeniDipo,
@hannytalker, @iefamharris, @AfricaFactsZone, @SmithVinci, @Wana____, @aghedoprincewi4, @AskMeWhatIWant, @AntoLecky, @ChinweikeE

I finally got a response from the British Council to email enquiry. I'll pay them a visit as requested and keep you guys updated.

Thank you all for sharing the report and engaging with this thread. 🙌🏾

*to my email enquiry. 😪