1989 ． IELTS (the International English Language Testing System) first became operational, and globally managed by the British Council, IELTS Australia and Cambridge ESOL. International English Language Testing System (IELTS, 國際英語語言測試系統)開始投入運作，國際上由英國文化協會, 劍橋大學考試委員會和澳大利亞國際教育開發署三方共同合作、管理。

　　1995 ． Modifications to IELTS were introduced: Academic and General Training modules were adopted for both Reading and Writing sections; measures implemented to gather data on test performance and candidate background to ensure fairness and effectively monitor users.推出一系列重要的改革措施：將閱讀與寫作部分精簡為學術類和培訓類兩種類別；引入措施來收集、監測考生的個人信息和測試表現，以確保考試的公平性。

　　1999 ． Immigration offices from Canada, Australia and New Zealand start to use IELTS as language requirement for immigration. 加拿大、澳大利亞以及新西蘭移民局均采用IELTS作為其移民申請的語言要求。

　　2001 ． The revised format of the Speaking test was successfully introduced world-wide in July 2001. 2001年7月，口語部分采用新題型。

　　． Over 200,000 candidates sat for IELTS test world-wide. In China, candidature number reached 57,000. 全球考生數超過200,000, 中國考生數突破57,000。

　　2003 ． Online verification service was launched for receiving institutions. 雅思考試認可和接收機構可以在線查詢申請者的IELTS成績.

　　2004 ． IELTS official website www.ielts.org was launched to provide information and resources to candidates and teachers. IELTS全球官方網站 www.ielts.org 正式上線。

　　． On behalf of China IELTS Network, British Council and China National Educational Examinations Authority signed an agreement to jointly manage IELTS tests in China. 英國文化協會代表中國雅思網絡與中國國家教育部考試中心正式簽署了在中國合作舉辦IELTS考試的協議。

　　2005 ． New assessment criteria for the Writing Test became operational from January 2005. 2005年1月，寫作部分推出新的評分標準。

　　． NEEA and British Council introduced online test registration and national call centre. 教育部考試中心和英國使館文化教育處聯合推出雅思考試網上報名系統和全國服務熱線。

　　． Computer-based IELTS test is introduced in a few countries world-wide. 雅思考試的機考模式在全球一些國家推出。

　　2006 ． Candidates are able to send the TRF through electronic extra TRF services. 雅思成績的接受機構將可以通過電子形式接受考生額外成績單。

　　． IELTS global recognition system launched. IELTS全球認可機構搜索引擎啟動, 方便考生查詢認可機構及分數要求。

　　． Rules that prevented candidates from re-taking IELTS within 90 days were removed. 取消“90天不得重考”的規定。

　　2007 ． To make IELTS Band Score more informative, half-band for writing and speaking introduced. 雅思考試引入寫作、口語的半分制, 更加精確和客觀地反映考生英語水平。

　　2008 ． Introduced revised speaking pronunciation assessment scale. 推出新的口試考試發音評估量表，更精確地反映考生發音水平。

　　． Including the Ivy League schools, there are over 2,000 institutions in the US that recognise IELTS. 獲得8所美國常青藤聯盟名校的認可, 共有超過2000所美國院校認可雅思成績。

　　． More than 1.2 million candidates sat IELTS globally and the candidature in mainland China reached over 260,000; becoming the leading English test in China and the world for overseas study, work and immigration. 全球超過1,200,000考生參加雅思考試, 中國考生數超過260,000。雅思考試成為留學, 海外就職和移民類英語考試的領跑者。