About IELTS Prize 2023

Supporting peace and prosperity is at the heart of everything we do at the British Council. We do this by building connections, understanding, and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.

IELTS Prize 2023 Theme

For the IELTS prize this year we want to hear how you are undertaking similar activities in your local communities.

So, for example you might want to tell us about:

  • how you’ve solved a problem
  • community initiatives you’ve started
  • what you’ve done to support an environmental or educational programme
  • any voluntary or charity work you regularly take part in
  • a local project you are involved in and proud of
  • or how studying abroad and taking IELTS will help your community in the future.

How the IELTS Prize 2023 application works

The IELTS Prize 2023 application has two phases:
Application phase one – Start writing! You’ll start your IELTS Prize application by filling out a detailed form.
Application phase two – Get filming!

Application phase one – Start writing!

You’ll need to add:

  • Your name and contact details
  • A 500-word personal statement that answers the question:
    What have you done to support and improve your local community over the last year?
  • Answers to supporting questions which we will use for promotional purposes (no more than 150 words per question):
    1. How was your experience of taking IELTS with the British Council?
    2. How will IELTS help you achieve your personal or professional goals?
    3. Which country have you chosen to study in and why?
  • A photograph: Your photo should be a portrait headshot, with your head and shoulders clearly visible. Please make sure your photo is well lit and in focus, but it does not have to be taken professionally.
  • Your official British Council IELTS documentation
  • An official university letter of acceptance.

Don’t have all the information you need? Not a problem: you can save the form and come back to it later.

Deadline for this phase: 15 September 2023 – 11:59 pm BST.*

*Except for Colombia – deadline for this phase: 31 October 2023 – 11:59 pm GMT.

Application phase two – Get filming!

Twenty five people from each participating country will be selected by our panel of judges and invited to submit a one-minute video presentation. Your video should explore the topic:

“How will taking IELTS and studying abroad or locally help you make an impact on your community in the future.”

Once you’ve made your video you should upload it to one of the following platforms:

  • Instagram using the hashtag #IELTSPrize2023 and tag us @takeieltsofficial
  • TikTok using the hashtag #IELTSPrize2023 and tag us @britishcouncilenglish
  • Facebook using the hashtag #IELTSPrize2023 and tag us @Take IELTS Official and respective British Council country pages

Deadline for this phase: 15 October 2023 – 11:59 pm BST.*

*Except for Colombia – deadline for this phase: 15 November 2023 – 11:59 pm GMT.

We will send you further details about this phase and how to create a quality social media video if you pass phase one.

IELTS Prize 2023 winners will be announced in November 2023.*

*Except for Colombia – winners will be announced in December 2023.

Start your application

Sign up now to start your application, or sign in if you have already started working on one.

IELTS Prize Rules and Requirements

To apply for the IELTS Prize 2023, you must:

  • Be 18 years or above
  • Be a resident of the country you’re applying from*
  • Have taken IELTS with the British Council between 1 April 2022 and 31 August 2023
  • Be able to produce a valid IELTS score if selected as a winner
  • Have a minimum overall IELTS band score of 5.5 or above
  • Be applying to an educational institution, anywhere in the world, that requires IELTS as part of its admission process
  • Begin undergraduate or postgraduate studies in academic year from January 2023 to March 2024
  • Provide the letter of acceptance from your university by October 2023 (Except Colombia – November 2023)

*Eligible countries/territories are: Bangladesh, Colombia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. (For 2023 China IELTS prize, please click here)

Register for IELTS

Have you booked your IELTS test yet? Register now.

How phase one applications are scored

Our team of IELTS Prize judges will score and evaluate applicants on the following criteria:

  • Inspiration: How well do your answers inspire and engage the reader?
  • Impact: Do your answers show you want to make a positive impact on your community?
  • Aspirations: Have you sufficiently expressed what you hope to achieve in the future and why?
  • Logic and organisation: Do your answers convey your ideas in a clear and easy to understand way?

Answers are weighted equally. Scores are based on a 10-point classification system and averaged to give a percentage. The top 25 applications in each country will be shortlisted and proceed to phase two (the video).

Only applications that meet all requirements will be eligible for evaluation.

Contact us

Have questions on the IELTS Prize? You can check our Frequently Asked Questions, or contact us on one of the following e-mail addresses:

Start your application

Sign up now to start your application, or sign in if you have already started working on one.