Like many others, Adi Wijaya's journey in Australia started with taking the IELTS test.
Coming from Surabaya, Indonesia, to Melbourne, Australia, he won the acclaimed Caroline Clapham IELTS Masters Award, and gained further success in the field of international language.
Read on to hear his story.
A journey of hard work and determination
Rahmad Adi Wijaya’s story is one of dedication and success. He travelled from Surabaya, Indonesia, to Melbourne, Australia, to pursue his dreams. His efforts paid off when he won the 2024 Caroline Clapham IELTS Masters Award, an important recognition for his research in language testing.
A love for language and learning
Adi grew up in Malang, East Java, a city surrounded by mountains. From a young age, he was interested in languages and studied English Language Education at Universitas Negeri Malang, graduating in 2017. After completing his degree, he worked as an English and Indonesian teacher, translator, and even started his own translation agency.
But he wanted more. In 2020, he applied for and received a scholarship from the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP). This gave him the chance to study Applied Linguistics at the University of Melbourne, a dream he never thought possible.
The IELTS test: A key to his future
To study in Australia, Adi needed to take the IELTS Academic test. Even though he was already good at English, he had to prepare carefully to understand the test format. He practised by using online resources and focused on improving his writing skills. Thanks to his hard work, he achieved an overall band score of 8.0, higher than the required 7.5.
Adi believes that preparing for IELTS helped him succeed in his studies and daily life in Australia. He said the test improved his confidence and prepared him for academic tasks like research and writing.
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IELTS helped prepare Adi for academic success
Reflecting on his experience, Adi shared how IELTS played a key role in preparing him for his studies:
“What I learned in IELTS was quite relevant because my programme was writing-oriented and research-focused. Many aspects of academic writing in IELTS were useful, such as being concise, clear, addressing the main topic, and providing strong supporting details. These skills helped me approach academic writing more effectively during my Master’s programme.”
- Adi Wijaya
This highlights how IELTS goes beyond just being a test—it provides essential skills for real-world academic success.
The value of Speaking to a human examiner
Adi also shared his thoughts on the IELTS Speaking test, which is conducted with a human examiner instead of a computer:
“I personally prefer human interaction because, in real-world communication, we talk to other people, not machines. Having a conversation with a real person in a test makes it more relevant to how communication happens in daily life. While AI-based tests may be efficient in scoring, the human interaction in IELTS better reflects actual communication skills.”
- Adi Wijaya
For Adi, the human-led Speaking test was a key advantage of IELTS, making it a more realistic and useful test for students preparing to study abroad.
Winning the Caroline Clapham IELTS Masters Award
While studying in Melbourne, Adi became interested in language testing and assessment. His research focused on the Test of Indonesian Proficiency (UKBI), which is used in Indonesia. He studied how the test is designed and whether it is fair and transparent. His work was so impressive that his professors encouraged him to apply for the Caroline Clapham IELTS Masters Award—and he won!
What’s next for Adi?
After completing his Master’s degree, Adi has been working to share his research with policymakers in Indonesia. He wants to help improve language testing and make it fairer and more transparent.
He also plans to pursue a PhD, possibly returning to Melbourne to continue his research. In the meantime, he will present his work at the Language Testing Research Colloquium (LTRC) in Bangkok, where he will meet experts in his field.
Advice for students who want to study abroad
For those planning to study overseas, Adi advises choosing the right English test. He personally recommends IELTS because it is widely accepted and helped him succeed in his studies and daily life. He encourages students to research their university’s requirements, practise for the test, and be well-prepared.
A story of hope and inspiration
Adi’s journey is proof that hard work and determination can lead to success. The first in his family to attend university, he has come a long way from working in a lamp factory to winning an international research award. His story is an inspiration for students everywhere, showing that dreams can come true with effort and the right opportunities. Adi shared how proud he is of the opportunity to study in Australia.
"Growing up, university seemed impossible. After working for three years to save up, I realised the value of education and its opportunities. Receiving a scholarship to study at the University of Melbourne was a huge achievement, and it sparked my interest in language testing, which I hope to explore further."
- Adi Wijaya
Now, as he continues his research and prepares for his PhD, Adi hopes to make a lasting impact on language testing and help students and educators in Indonesia and beyond.
Like Adi, millions of other test takers have transformed their dreams into reality with IELTS.
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