Unauthorized IELTS certificates in Vietnam still 'recognized by the world,' claims IDP

Inspectors of the Ministry of Education and Training on Wednesday announced the result of an investigation into the organization and issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates by IDP Vietnam, which showed that the education firm had organized exams since early 2022, before it was approved to do so by the education ministry starting Nov. 17, 2022.

The firm and another organizer of the IELTS test in Vietnam on Thursday said the certificates issued in 2022 were still recognized by over 12,000 organizations globally.

IDP said it would continue to cooperate with the Ministry of Education and Training to satisfy all requirements of the authorities.

However, the organization has yet to provide a solution to resolve issues regarding candidates who used their IELTS certificates for graduating high schools and entering universities.

It means that 56,200 IELTS certificates issued by IDP in 2022, before Nov. 17, were done so against regulations, the ministry said.

The move came following the suspension of IELTS examination in Vietnam back in November 2022.

In accordance with governmental regulations, the issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates needs to be approved by the education ministry. However, not until July 2022 did the ministry issue instructions requiring exam-organizing units to submit documents to the ministry for approval.

As several units failed to provide the documents appropriately, the ministry made them suspend a slew of foreign language proficiency exams, including the IELTS, TOEFL, HSK and TOPIK.

Thousands of students were affected by the decision, as their certificates could not be accepted for the purpose of entering universities or graduating high schools.