2015年CRI IELTS Authority Urged to Explain Cancelled Test Results

 

More than a thousand Chinese who took the International English Language Testing System test in July and August have been told their results would be delayed or permanently¹ withheld².

The cancellation³ affects examinees mainly based in Changsha, Hunan Province and Nanjing, Jiangsu Province.

The test operator, the British Council accused them of "breaching⁴ IELTS test rules and regulations," but without further explanation.

A student from Nanjing, surnamed Song, is among the accused.

"I have no idea what I've done against their regulations. Even if I had breached⁵ the rules, I should be told what mistakes I made. You know the exam is expensive for a student."

Song has joined a Wechat group formed by the affected⁶ examinees.

The group has more than a hundred members. All of them have tried to get an explanation from the test operator, but all in vain.

An unnamed Shanghai student says he doesn't know what he can do now.

"Over the past two months, I have to think it over how to communicate with them every day. I've made phone calls and sent emails to any one that may help, but all in vain. I told the test organizer in my email that I would like to take an interview or a re-examination to prove my English capability⁷. But they replied nothing but letting me wait."

Over a month after the test, the examinees still see no progress.

It's reported the examinees' results were cancelled mostly because of their different performace in two consecutive⁸ exams.

However, some Chinese experts warn the rash decision may wrong test takers.

Xiong Bingqi with the 21st Century Education Research Institute.

"It's not a reliable way to say a student cheats in the test only based on their performance in the exam."

Xiong Bingqi suggests the IELTS authority should fix loopholes in its scoring system rather than parrying the problem.

The IELTS test is organized by the University of Cambridge along with the British Council to verify candidates' proficiency⁹ in English.

It is an examination that one has to appear before applying to study or work in most of English-spoken countries.

Around two million people take the exam globally every year.

More than 600 thousand Chinese sat the test last year.

1 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

2 withheld   

withhold过去式及过去分词

参考例句：

• I withheld payment until they had fulfilled the contract. 他们履行合同后，我才付款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There was no school play because the principal withheld his consent. 由于校长没同意，学校里没有举行比赛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 cancellation   

n.删除，取消

参考例句：

• Heavy seas can cause cancellation of ferry services.海上风浪太大，可能须要取消渡轮服务。
• Her cancellation of her trip to Paris upset our plan.她取消了巴黎之行打乱了我们的计划。

4 breaching   

攻破( breach的过去式 )； 破坏，违反

参考例句：

• The company was prosecuted for breaching the Health and Safety Act. 这家公司被控违反《卫生安全条例》。
• Third, an agency can abuse its discretion by breaching certain principles of judge-made law. 第三，行政机关会因违反某些法官制定的法律原则而构成滥用自由裁量权。

5 breached   

攻破( breach的现在分词 )； 破坏，违反

参考例句：

• These commitments have already been breached. 这些承诺已遭背弃。
• Our tanks have breached the enemy defences. 我方坦克车突破了敌人的防线。

6 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

7 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

8 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

9 proficiency   

n.精通，熟练，精练

参考例句：

• He plied his trade and gained proficiency in it.他勤习手艺，技术渐渐达到了十分娴熟的地步。
• How do you think of your proficiency in written and spoken English?你认为你的书面英语和口语熟练程度如何？