Of all the countries where the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is administered, the UAE has the biggest percentage of test-takers opting for the new, digital format, an official from the British Council has said.
And the openness of the UAE residents to embrace change is the key reason why the country has become a "fast adopter" of the computer-delivered IELTS.
"The UAE now has the highest conversion rate in the world - bigger than China, India or any other country," said Deep Adhikari, director for examinations, Gulf South cluster, British Council.
"Dubai has one of the highest rates, with 24 per cent of applicants opting for the new format."
The IELTS is one of the major English language tests in the world, designed to assess the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is the language of communication.
"This test helps youngster prove their English ability and unlock their future aspirations if it's for their studies or to migrate to another country. "The first computer-delivered IELTS exam was done during the last week of November 2018.
We used to offer four paper tests a month. With the computer-delivered platform, there are now more dates, options, and venues to choose from. Candidates can now take the test seven days a week at different slots," Adhikari said.
