Wellington's largest ever IELTS test underway in Wellington's Westpac Stadium.
It took a venue the size of Wellington’s Westpac Stadium to hold the recent International English Language Testing System (IELTS) “mega-test” – the largest ever held in Wellington.
The test is the most respected English competency test used in the English-speaking world and Massey’s Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) unit administers the test on the University’s three campuses: Auckland, Manawatū and Wellington. But, due to demand at the end of March, PaCE had to move the test to a larger venue.
PaCE testing coordinator Bronwyn Lipsham said it was a hugely successful event.
“It was very impressive to see over 300 candidates seated in a room that curved around the stadium with the pitch below,” she said. “The candidates did well and many will go forward into tertiary education, hopefully at Massey University.”
The team that managed the 'mega-test'.
The demand for IELTS is growing in New Zealand
The test is designed to assess the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is used. Massey recognises it as an indicator that a prospective student has the ability to study at tertiary level.
There has been huge growth in the demand to sit the test in New Zealand since the end of 2016 and PaCE is now planning to conduct another mega-test in Wellington in July.
“We would like to thank IDP Education’s IELTS head office in Melbourne for supporting us in organising this event, Ms Lipsham said. “Thanks also to the PaCE staff members who facilitated the registration of all the test candidates.”