Unifying the global IELTS experience into a single, trusted platform for learners.

By 2020, IELTS was operating 28 separate regional websites, each with its own design, content structure, and accessibility standards. Over time, this led to duplicated information, inconsistent visual styles, and uneven usability across regions, which diminished trust in the official IELTS experience. In user interviews, we heard the same concern repeatedly. Learners weren’t sure which site to follow, how to book a test, or where to find reliable preparation materials. Different journeys and conflicting information created confusion at the moments when clarity mattered most. The challenge was clear: consolidate the experience into one global platform that is consistent, accessible, and easy to navigate.

We took a human-centred approach, combining research, workshops, and analytics to understand how users moved through the system.
Regional teams helped identify overlaps and gaps, while collaborative design sessions aligned everyone on a shared language of content and interaction. To accelerate decision-making, we led a focused three-day design sprint that shaped the first MVP of the mobile app and validated early user journeys. Through prototyping and iterative testing, we built a single design system that simplified navigation, improved accessibility, and unified the brand across platforms.
The result was one website and mobile app working together, familiar in structure and distinct in purpose.

The new IELTS experience now connects learners, educators, and test-takers across the world. • 1M+ app downloads within the first months • 28% higher engagement across web and app • Clearer navigation and stronger accessibility compliance What was once a scattered network is now a single, trusted platform for learning and progress.