Sitting for an international exam comes with a lot of pressure, but candidates usually trust that the process will be handled with fairness and professionalism.
In Kenya, the IELTS exam has become a major step for students and professionals who dream of studying or working abroad. Many spend months preparing and invest large sums of money to secure a chance at success.
With such high stakes, the events of 6th September 2025 at IELTS IDP Kenya in Euro Towers, Muthithi Road, left candidates deeply frustrated and questioning the reliability of the test organizers.
The trouble started right from the listening paper, which is the first test of the day.
A technical failure disrupted the audio, and candidates quickly raised their hands to alert supervisors. Instead of stopping the process and resolving the issue, the staff ignored the signals and allowed the recording to keep playing.
When the audio ended, the supervisors attempted to fix the mistake but only replayed a small section from Questions 7 to 10. This left out key instructions and content for Section B, Questions 11 to 15, meaning candidates missed important parts of the test.
Many said this ruined their concentration and left them mentally unsettled for the rest of the exam.
The problem had a ripple effect on the remaining papers. The reading and writing tests followed, but by then many candidates were already distressed.
Some said their confidence collapsed before they even began, while others admitted they were unable to focus at all.
What should have been a fair chance to demonstrate ability turned into a draining experience of stress and confusion.
The conduct of the staff added to the frustration. Instead of acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, candidates reported that supervisors dismissed their concerns and simply instructed them to continue. This response angered students who had travelled from far regions like Kitale and Kirinyaga and had spent heavily to register for the test.
For them, the lack of accountability was both insulting and discouraging. Even after the test ended, the frustrations did not stop. Candidates were told to submit their feedback online, but many received no acknowledgement.
By 19th September, the IELTS Kenya website was still inaccessible, and results had not been released. Communication only began a day later, and even then, responses came after repeated phone calls and pressure from candidates.
Considering that each person had paid KES 41,580, the silence from IDP Kenya left many suspecting poor management and lack of transparency.
Those affected are now demanding accountability. Some are calling for a free resit, while others want a full refund, arguing that they paid in good faith but were denied a fair process.
Others have warned that if the issue is not addressed openly, they may seek legal action. The incident has also raised larger questions about how IELTS exams are managed in Kenya and whether proper oversight exists.
For an exam that carries international weight, candidates expect fairness and professionalism. What happened on 6th September showed the opposite.
Unless the irregularities are addressed and candidates compensated, trust in IELTS as a reliable pathway for Kenyans seeking opportunities abroad will continue to weaken.
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