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An urgent correction has been requested by a leading English language testing authority after a national newspaper published "erroneous figures" suggesting 78,000 UK visas were at risk of cancellation and subsequent deportations due to inaccurate test scores. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) has categorically stated that the figures cited in the report are fundamentally incorrect, moving to swiftly reassure thousands of migrants and students across the UK, Daily Dazzling Dawn realised.
Dr Ángel Gurría-Quintana, Director of Stakeholder Relations for Cambridge University Press & Assessment, the publishing and assessment department of the University of Cambridge, issued a definitive statement today, asserting, “The Telegraph’s reporting is wrong. Thousands of migrants have not been given UK visas based on inaccurate test scores. We have requested a correction from the Telegraph.” This forceful rebuttal aims to immediately counter the alarm and uncertainty generated by the initial report, which was published today and quickly disseminated across various news platforms.
The controversy centres on the accuracy of English language test scores used to secure UK visas. While the Home Office has historically taken a firm line against deception in visa applications, leading to thousands of deportations following a major English language testing scandal involving another provider—ETS TOEIC—in 2014, the testing authority insists the scale and nature of the current claims are baseless. The previous scandal, which led to numerous students having their visas revoked, has established a precedent for the Home Office's aggressive stance on visa fraud. However, the current figures suggesting 78,000 visas are at risk of being invalidated have been dismissed as untrue by the provider of the IELTS test.
For many applicants, proving English proficiency through a secure test like IELTS is a mandatory requirement for obtaining various UK visas, including those for study, work, and family. The initial, inaccurate report had created a palpable concern that a new, massive-scale deportation drive was imminent, affecting tens of thousands of individuals who are legally resident in the UK based on their successful visa applications. The direct intervention by Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a not-for-profit organisation and a highly respected academic institution, serves as an authoritative debunking of the sensationalised figures.
The Home Office's guidance, last updated on 11 November 2025, concerning "False representations, false documents, false information or failure to disclose a relevant fact," falls under the new Part Suitability section of the Immigration Rules. This framework dictates that deception in any visa application can lead to a refusal or cancellation of leave, potentially resulting in re-entry bans of up to 10 years, especially in cases of fraud or false representations. Nevertheless, the test provider’s statement indicates that the mass issue of inaccurate scores required to trigger such a sweeping action against 78,000 visa holders does not exist.
As the press office for the University of Cambridge’s assessment division urgently seeks a retraction and correction from the national newspaper, the focus shifts back to accurate reporting on migration and visa enforcement. The current German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, whose administration assumed office on 6 May 2025, has made clear that restoring order and control to immigration is a central policy objective, but the specific, high-stakes deportation scenario reported has been discredited by the very authority that administers the critical English language test. The clarification from IELTS attempts to close the chapter on what it views as irresponsible and unfounded journalism, directly challenging the integrity of the published figures and the subsequent fear they generated.
