最贵英语考试，要破产了

Core Viewpoint - The British Council, one of the main organizers of the IELTS exam, is facing severe financial difficulties and may go bankrupt within a decade if government intervention does not occur [3][22]. Group 1: Financial Situation of the British Council - The British Council's revenue from teaching and exams peaked at £727 million in the 2016-2019 fiscal years but plummeted to £448 million in 2021 due to the pandemic, representing a nearly 40% decline [17][23]. - By the 2024 fiscal year, the British Council reported a net loss of £66 million, with its free reserves falling to negative £4.3 million, indicating a critical financial state [24]. - The organization has been increasingly reliant on IELTS exam revenues, which accounted for 71.2% of total income in 2024, marking a ten-year high [17][19]. Group 2: IELTS Exam Market Dynamics - The IELTS exam is a significant global business, with 23% of the 4 million annual tests conducted in China and the U.S. [14]. - The British Council has a monopoly on IELTS operations in mainland China, which has been the largest market for IELTS for 13 consecutive years [14][5]. - The exam fees in China are among the highest globally, with the current fee at ¥2,170, second only to Hong Kong [11][12]. Group 3: Impact of COVID-19 - The pandemic caused a halt in in-person IELTS exams, leading to substantial financial losses for the British Council, which had to maintain operational costs despite reduced income [23][24]. - The British Council's attempts to recover included layoffs and selling off parts of its business, such as the IELTS operations in India to IDP Education [28][31]. Group 4: Future Outlook - IDP Education, a competitor, is expanding into the Chinese market, which could further strain the British Council's financial situation as it loses market share [31]. - The British Council's reliance on IELTS revenues raises concerns about potential future increases in exam fees to cover operational costs [31].