British Council in Singapore IELTS Prize Helps Students to Make Their Mark through International Study

The British Council, the UK’s international organisation for educational and cultural opportunities has announced the winners of the 2020 IELTS Prize. In its ninth year, the IELTS Prize has supported more than 270 students in East Asia to date; helping them pursue their dreams of studying abroad. This year, 29 prize winners in East Asia are added to the list, including three outstanding IELTS test takers in Singapore who have been awarded the IELTS Prize 2019/20 local prizes.

The British Council received over 1,400 applications and interviewed over 100 high flying individuals, whom not only excelled at their IELTS test, but explained their intentions to contribute to the society locally or abroad after study.

Three top test takers in East Asia has won the regional IELTS Prizes

Three regional IELTS Prizes valued up to GBP 58,000 were awarded to top students in East Asia who will pursue higher education in their dream universities either in academic year 2020/21 or 2021/22. There were 26 winners from countries and territories in East Asia who were also awarded local prizes, up to GBP 129,000 in total.

Commenting on her award, Regional Grand Prize winner Hyunah Kim said, “Studying in the UK is something I wanted to achieve, and I wasn’t going to let the recent disruption stop that. Now I am heading to the UK, to study at the London School of Economics. Receiving the IELTS Prize will help me fulfil my education and career ambitions, and it gives me a lot more certainty, at what is a very uncertain time.”

Local IELTS Prizes are awarded to three outstanding test takers in Singapore

Three local prize winners in Singapore are Bryan Kio Jia Sheng, Ho Hui Jun and Andrea Evangeline Lim.

Local 2nd Prize winner Ho Hui Jun feels that the prize acts as a catalyst to allow her to interact and collaborate with a global community, and open her heart and mind to a range of new ideas, perspectives, competencies and skills and develop respect and trust between people. She also said, “The IELTS prize will also support my studies at the top education institute in the world, where I hope to be able to learn the best practices of the UK Education system, and in turn, to share some of Singapore’s best practices as well…. With the tensions arising from the COVID-19 crisis, which some call the end of globalisation, the need for understanding, respect and trust between people all over the world is greater than ever.”

The Covid-19 Pandemic has disrupted study plans of millions of students who had planned to study abroad to further their academic and career prospects. East Asia is one of the largest markets for students wishing to study in the United Kingdom, North America and Australia. IELTS, the world’s most popular high-stakes English proficiency test, has been a crucial part of students’ entry requirements. Steve Adams, Director Examinations, for the British Council in East Asia said, “The IELTS Prize recognises those high performing students that demonstrate the academic excellence and commitment to excel during international study. More importantly, they show the determination to take what they learnt during their time abroad and use it to benefit their communities when they return home. It is our privilege to help these talented individuals mark their mark in the world that is rapidly changing. International study is one way they can prepare themselves to thrive in the future.”