IELTS LIVE : News

Manjoorans Group, the promoters of IELTS LIVE has tied up with the Linguaphone Group to provide Direct English products in India. The Linguaphone Group is the world's leading provider of assisted learning and distance learning language training solutions, operating under the internationally recognised Pingu's English, Linguaphone and Direct English brand names.

As part of the tenth anniversary of IELTS in 1999, the IELTS partners - British Council, IELTS Australia and University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations - established an annual award of £1,000 for the Master's-level dissertation or thesis in English which makes the most significant contribution to the field of language testing.

Each year the IELTS Research Committee, comprising members of the three partner organisations, reviews submissions for the award and shortlists potential winners. Submissions must be for a dissertation/thesis written in partial or total fulfilment of the requirements for a Master's degree or its equivalent, and must be supported by a letter from the applicant's academic supervisor. The work should be language testing focused but need not be IELTS-related.

A full copy of all shortlisted dissertations/theses is then requested and a further reference may be sought. Shortlisted items are reviewed and evaluated by the IELTS Research Committee according to a set timetable and established criteria. The Committee's decision is final.

June: Deadline for submission of dissertation/thesis extracts and reference to Cambridge ESOL
August: Deadline for submission of full copy of short listed dissertations/theses
October/November: Meeting of IELTS Research Committee
November/December: Announcement of award
The award is normally presented in public at a major language testing event during the following year, e.g. at the annual Language Testing Research Colloquium (LTRC), and the IELTS partners sponsor the award winner's attendance at this event for this purpose.