Evidence of IELTS cheating uncovered in Bangladesh, China: The Telegraph

Evidence of organised cheating has been uncovered in Bangladesh, China and Vietnam, where leaked IELTS test papers were allegedly sold to candidates seeking UK visas, reports The Telegraph.

The findings come alongside the disclosure that up to 80,000 IELTS candidates worldwide may have received incorrect results due to a marking error, raising concerns about the integrity of the test system.

According to The Telegraph, criminals in Bangladesh and China provided advance copies of IELTS exam papers to candidates, allowing them to memorise answers before sitting the test.

In Bangladesh, police arrested two individuals accused of selling leaked papers for between £1,000 and £2,500, the UK daily said.

The British Council in Vietnam also cancelled a scheduled exam at short notice earlier this year and replaced it with a backup version amid speculation of leaks.

The Telegraph further noted that cheating attempts have increased, prompting several UK universities to suspend recruitment from Bangladesh and Pakistan because of concerns over visa-related abuses.

This follows a separate issue identified by IELTS in which an estimated one per cent of all tests taken between August 2023 and September 2025 were incorrectly marked due to what the organisation described as "a technical issue" affecting some listening and reading components.

Although IELTS said more than 99% of results were accurate, the affected proportion still amounts to roughly 78,000 tests.

The error was detected only weeks ago. IELTS has since contacted all affected candidates to provide updated results and offer support.

Because the discrepancy remained unnoticed for more than a year, many individuals who received inflated scores are likely to have secured study or work visas in the UK despite failing to meet the English-language requirement, The Telegraph reported.

Concerns have also been raised about the wider implications for public services.

Coroners in the UK have warned that inadequate English language proficiency among some NHS and social care workers has put patients at risk.

In one coroner's case cited in the report, a care worker who had never taken an English test was said to have confused the words "breathing" and "bleeding" in an emergency call.

The issue has drawn political responses as well. The Telegraph quoted Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp as saying that individuals who obtained visas without genuinely passing the test "must be removed".

He said the situation pointed to a "catastrophic failure" in maintaining standards.

IELTS, jointly run by the British Council, Cambridge University Press and Assessment, and IDP, administers around 3.6 million tests each year.

The British Council, which is facing significant financial strain, including a £197 million pandemic-era loan, could also face further difficulties if compensation claims arise from the marking errors, the report added.

In a statement, an IELTS spokesperson said the organisation had taken steps to address the marking issue, contacted all affected candidates, and introduced measures to ensure it does not recur.