How to Prepare for and Take IELTS for Free
This autumn, a new program called Yessenov IELTS Pro will be launched in Kazakhstan. Initiated by Galimzhan Yessenov, a businessman, philanthropist, and founder of the Shakhmardan Yessenov Science and Education Foundation, this grant opportunity is designed for individuals who do not have the financial means to prepare for and take the world’s most widely recognized English language proficiency exam. How can you take advantage of this opportunity?
According to the Foundation, the Yessenov IELTS Pro program will support 80 winners. It includes a free 6- to 7-month online IELTS preparation course running from November through May. The course will be taught by a native English speaker who is also a qualified and certified IELTS preparation specialist.
“But that’s not all,” continues Aiganym Malisheva, Executive Director of the Yessenov Foundation. “We are also awarding grants to the top 25 students of this course to cover the cost of the IELTS exam itself.”
Classes will be held twice a week, with up to 15 students per group, divided according to their English language proficiency level. Applicants with a proficiency level below B1 will not be eligible to participate in the competition. The English language level specified in the application will be verified through testing. The preparation course covers all four sections of the IELTS exam: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
“Any citizen of Kazakhstan who has reached the age of 18 by the application deadline on October 21, 2026, is eligible to apply. Applicants can be full-time undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral students, as well as practicing professionals,” adds Aigerim Sultan, the Program Manager.
According to the Program Provisions, Yessenov IELTS Pro is intended for individuals specializing in natural sciences, mathematics and statistics, information and communication technologies, engineering, manufacturing and construction industries, as well as healthcare.
“Applications will open on September 22 and close on October 21. According to our plan, the competition winners will begin working toward their goal – preparing for the IELTS exam – as early as November 4. The course will run until the end of May, and students will take the exam in the summer,” says Aigerim.
In addition to all the documents listed in the Program Provisions, grant applicants will be required to write an essay on the topic: “How obtaining an IELTS certificate can change my professional trajectory.”
All answers to questions that potential beneficiaries of the Foundation may have regarding the new Program can be found in the Program Provisions.
We have learned that the competition will be held in two stages. During the first round, the Expert Council of the Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation will traditionally assess the applications and essays, including a plagiarism check, with a focus on the applicant’s motivation: why the competitor needs IELTS and how they will actually apply the outcomes of the Program in the future. The second stage is an English language test. Participants will have 60 minutes to answer 40 questions. The test will assess grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, understanding of text structure and logic, the ability to use English, and overall language proficiency.
“How will we choose the top students from among the program participants – the ones whose IELTS exam fee will also be covered by the Foundation? We will use the following system: 60% of the final score will be based on the results of a mock examination taken at the end of the preparation course, 20% on attendance (which is also crucial), and the remaining 20% on the completion of class assignments. That is how we will select the top students. In other words, most of the journey to receiving a grant to cover the exam fee will depend on academic performance and discipline, rather than the initial application,” adds Irina Grishchenko, the Foundation’s Operations Director.
The Yessenov Foundation will sign a contract with each of the winners, outlining all the nuances of completing the training and taking the exam, should the Program winner also be among the top students of the course. The Foundation’s specialists strongly recommend that those intending to apply for Yessenov IELTS Pro prepare a strong essay, as the application and essay determine whether a competitor advances to the second stage. And, of course, to successfully pass the selection process, it is highly advisable to brush up on your English.
The English Language Program for regional HEIs has been a part of the Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation’s portfolio since 2013 and has been implemented at 5 universities across Kazakhstan over the years. More than 1,500 students and faculty members have improved their English level through this Program. In 2026, the Program was transformed into Yessenov IELTS Pro. Its main goal is to help young, talented Kazakhstanis effectively prepare for and take the IELTS exam.
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