TOEFL and TOEIC are shut down in the UK

It is shocking news. TOEFL and TOEIC are no longer available for immigration to the UK.

The PIE NEWS: ETS tests no longer accepted by UK visa authorities

It was originated in a TV program. The BBC reported two cases of trick in TOEIC performed in the UK. In one case, several fake examinees participated in the fraud. In the other case, answers were provided to examinees unjustly. Received the information, the UK government made a decision to suspend accepting the results of TOEFL and TOEIC of UK residents.

Mirror: BBC Panorama investigation finds English visa tests were FAKED - with answers read out for students

Hot House Media: UK suspends Toefl & Toeic pending fraud probe

Educational Testing Service (ETS) is an NPO in the US which organizes several examinations including TOEFL and TOEIC. Finally, it abandoned extending the license agreement with the UK.

The administrator of ETS made a comment about its decision on the websites of both TOEFL and TOEIC. The main content of them are similar, but in TOEFL side, it is clearly described that this case of fraud was limited to TOEIC.

TOEFL: Update on TOEFL® Testing in the U.K.

TOEIC: Update on TOEIC® Testing in the U.K.

It is critical that the cases of cheating seem to be performed systematically, not by an individual. This kind of organized crimes has a potential to destroy the whole reliance to the security of an examination. It is possible that similar cases occurred in another place undetected.

By the way, I am so sympathetic to candidates who have an intention to stay in the UK. They have to take IELTS or other English tests for applying a visa. In fact, whoever can achieve a good score in TOEFL must be a good English user. But for most examinees, it is tough to change the strategy to get a high mark in another type of examination.