IELTSku – AI-Enhanced Test Preparation

Project Overview

IELTSku was born from a clear need: many talented Indonesian students were missing international education opportunities due to language testing barriers. Traditional test preparation was expensive, geographically limited, and often failed to address the unique challenges faced by Indonesian English learners.

Our mission was to create an accessible, effective, and culturally responsive platform that would democratize access to quality IELTS preparation, particularly for students from underserved regions.

The Challenge

We identified several key challenges that needed to be addressed:

• Geographic barriers limiting access to quality preparation resources
• High costs of traditional coaching making preparation unaffordable for many
• Limited personalized feedback in existing digital solutions
• Cultural and linguistic gaps in materials designed for global audiences
• Test anxiety and motivation issues affecting performance

Research & Discovery

Our approach began with extensive research, including:

• Interviews with 200+ Indonesian IELTS test-takers across different regions
• Analysis of common error patterns specific to Indonesian English learners
• Consultation with experienced IELTS examiners and educators
• Review of learning science literature on language acquisition and testing
• Technical assessment of AI capabilities for language feedback

This research revealed that Indonesian learners faced specific challenges with certain aspects of the test, particularly writing and speaking, and that social-emotional factors played a significant role in test performance.

Design Process

Based on our research, we developed a platform with several key features:

1. AI-powered writing feedback that provides immediate, detailed guidance on essays
2. Speaking practice with accent-aware speech recognition that understands Indonesian English accents
3. Social-emotional learning integration with features to manage test anxiety and build resilience
4. Offline-first architecture to accommodate limited internet connectivity in rural areas
5. Culturally relevant practice materials that resonate with Indonesian contexts

We employed an iterative design process, testing prototypes with students from diverse backgrounds and regions to ensure the platform was intuitive and effective across different contexts.

Technical Implementation

The platform was built using a stack that prioritized accessibility and performance:

• Next.js for the frontend, optimized for low-bandwidth environments
• Custom-trained NLP models for Indonesian English learners
• Progressive Web App (PWA) capabilities for offline access
• Serverless architecture to manage costs while maintaining scalability
• Integration with WhatsApp for areas with limited internet access

One of our key technical innovations was developing a lightweight AI feedback system that could run partially on-device, reducing dependency on constant high-bandwidth connections.

Results & Impact

Since launching in 2020, IELTSku has achieved significant impact:

• Served over 25,000 students across all 34 Indonesian provinces
• Average score improvement of 1.5 bands for students completing the program
• 80% success rate in helping students achieve their target scores
• Scholarship placement rate of 65% for program graduates
• 450% year-over-year growth in the second year of operation

Beyond the numbers, we've seen transformative stories from students in remote areas who previously had no access to quality preparation resources and are now studying abroad.

Lessons Learned

Throughout this project, we learned several valuable lessons:

1. Technology must be adapted to local contexts, not the other way around
2. Social-emotional factors are as important as academic content in test preparation
3. Offline capabilities remain essential even as connectivity improves
4. AI feedback is most effective when it complements rather than replaces human guidance
5. Community features significantly impact motivation and persistence

Future Directions

Looking ahead, we're expanding the platform in several directions:

• Adapting the model for other standardized tests beyond IELTS
• Developing more sophisticated AI coaching for speaking practice
• Creating pathways for successful students to become mentors
• Building deeper integration with scholarship and university application processes
• Expanding to other Southeast Asian countries with similar needs

IELTSku represents our vision of technology that genuinely serves educational equity—not by simply digitizing existing approaches, but by reimagining them for the contexts and needs of underserved learners.