, Dec. 9 -- Thousands of migrants may have received UK study and work visas despite failing mandatory English tests due to a marking error, The Telegraph reported.

Up to 80,000 candidates taking IELTS exams administered by the British Council between August 2023 and September 2025 received incorrect results, with many wrongly given passing marks.

The error affected listening and reading sections, though only about one per cent of tests were impacted. IELTS has since contacted affected candidates with corrected scores and support.

Compounding the issue, evidence of cheating has emerged in Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam, where leaked test papers were sold, enabling some migrants to secure visas without adequate English proficiency. As a ...