As mentioned before, while a full-scale analysis of the validity of IELTS’ Listening
Module is well beyond the scope of this review, I would nonetheless like to briefly
introduce statements and research that both support and question how well IELTS can
predict the suitability of a candidate for study at English medium universities. This is
done within IELTS’ own assertion that correlations between academic success and
IELTS scores are “often relatively weak” due to the complex relationship between all
factors involved in academic success
While the Assessment Coordinator at the University where I teach responded that
IELTS does “reasonably well” in determining candidates’ suitability for study, I focus
specifically on the Listening Module below.