"A transparent approach to communications and decision-making is central to policy adjustments such as this, in addition to involving stakeholders in the process."

Thus reads the beginning of IELTS' proud research article[1] touting their much-anticipated IELTS "One-Skill Retake" roll-out. This was published in November 2022, and the program was thenceforth rolled out in Australia. IELTS' promoters also claimed that the program would be rolled out worldwide "throughout 2023." Yet unless I'm mistaken, we're more than halfway through 2023 and the availablility is still only in Australia. And IELTS hasn't made a peep since. Talk about "bias for best", most L2 English learners in Australia are already well enough off to be able to afford to live there. Do IELTS test-takers in Australia really need this much of a head-start on poor people in developing countries? Is this just the economic jump-start this beloved former British colony needs from its ancient motherland?

[1] Tony Clark, Emma Bruce, and Jamie Dunlea. IELTS One Skill Retake: A Bias for Best Model. Available on ResearchGate and on the IELTS.org website.