Pursuing their dreams

WITH the aim of connecting people with learning opportunities, the British Council launched the IELTS Prize in 2011. Since then, it has helped a total of 170 students in the East Asia region gain entry into universities around the world.
This year, three students from Malaysia won the local IELTS Prize. One of the local winners, Mohamed Aizuddin Hilmi Mohamed Anuar accepted an offer from the University of Oxford and commented that winning the IELTS Prize is a testament to the rigorous assessment of English proficiency. The other winners are Kristen Chin Yan Han and Dr Joyce Hong Soo Synn. All three received a prize valued at RM12,000 each towards their tuition fees.
Chong Sue Yen, the regional grand prize winner from Malaysia, received multiple offers from UK universities and thinks that IELTS enabled her to accomplish her goals and embark on new challenges.
"'Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined winning a big scholarship that would enable me to further my studies overseas. This prize means so much more to me than just relieving a financial burden, but helping me to bridge my aspirations and reality. I am extremely grateful to the British Council for granting me this priceless opportunity of pursuing architecture abroad," said Sue Yen, who received a prize valued at RM236,000 as a subsidy towards the first year of tuition fee.
As an IELTS official test centre, the British Council provides full support in preparing students for the IELTS test, including Road to IELTS, specially designed online practice materials for registered students, and the access to different preparation materials.