The International English Language Testing System, which assesses listening, reading, writing and oral skills, is used worldwide for assessment of English proficiency for study and work purposes. It is scored on a nine-band scale. A candidate who scores a nine is considered an 'expert' while one achieving band five is rated a 'modest user'. The University Grants Committee has adopted the system as the exit test for 14,500 university students graduating every year. The government is also considering whether to recognise the results as a reference point for vacancies in the civil service. The test is administered by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, the British Council and IDP Education Australia. John Fry, deputy director of the British Council's English Language Centre, said Hong Kong would be the first place in the world to adopt the system as an English exit test for university students. The test fee is about $1,300. A total of 4,265 people in Hong Kong took the English test in 2001, compared to 3,393 in 2000. Gary Cheung
