Petition to IDP Australia: Reduce the IELTS Exam Fee for Iranian Test-Takers

The recent surge in the IELTS exam fee in Iran—from 135,000,000 Rials to 228,786,250 Rials, equivalent to approximately USD 162 to USD 275, has placed an enormous financial burden on Iranian students, university applicants, job seekers, and their families. In addition, hundreds of IELTS instructors are now facing the threat of unemployment due to the sudden drop in demand.

This issue is further aggravated by a new policy introduced by Sazmane Sanjesh, the national partner of IELTS in Iran, which sets a floating, weekly-changing exam fee based on currency fluctuations. This unpredictability has caused considerable stress and planning difficulties for all those involved.

If this situation remains unchanged, thousands of Iranian candidates will be deprived of international educational and professional opportunities — not due to their language proficiency, but because of an unfair financial barrier. Moreover, hundreds of Iranian IELTS instructors may lose their livelihoods. This is not just an economic crisis — it is a crisis of access, equity, and hope. IDP Australia must recognize its role in ensuring equitable access to the IELTS exam across all regions.

We respectfully call on IDP Australia to:

1.    Publicly disclose the base fee it charges Iranian partners or test centers for delivering the IELTS exam;

2.    Reduce the final exam fee specifically for Iranian nationals residing in Iran — in a way that ensures fairness while avoiding cross-border distortions (e.g., preventing test migration from neighboring countries).

This situation demands urgent action. The futures of countless students and teachers are at stake. We urge IDP to demonstrate its commitment to fairness, transparency, and access to education by addressing this crisis immediately.