From Application to Victory: My IELTS Prize Story
By Min Thant Han (IELTS Prize 2025 – One Out of Five Winners)
How I came to apply for the IELTS Prize began as a challenge for myself. A personal one- that I needed to grow out of the comfort of my home and a financial one for my professional development. I was facing two challenges back then and winning the IELTS Prize would have meant I could defeat two birds with one stone.
The application process was quite daunting if I am being honest, mostly because I am not used to filming myself and editing the video sequences. But I kept myself motivated by reminding myself of the times when I prepared for the IELTS exam. All the self-doubt, fear of failure and the pressure of expectations was overwhelming, but it was a good opportunity to reflect on myself.
It was on a day that I was volunteering as a translator for foreign teachers at a parent-teacher meeting that the email congratulating me came in. I was in the middle of a session when I happened to check my phone for the time, and I found out I was selected as 1 of 5 for the IELTS Prize. I had to take a toilet break to have a mini-celebration in the bathroom as I called my mother to tell her the good news!
A good portion of people reading this must be younger applicants looking for inspiration or advice and I can tell you one thing. That is to be authentic! Be original in your video submission and clearly state the meaningful reason behind your application to the IELTS Prize! I even added my sun conure parrot into my submission because it’s all about being fun and engaging!
About the British Council IELTS Prize 2025
The IELTS Prize is an annual video competition organised by the British Council. This year, the British Council proudly presents the British Council IELTS Prize 2025, celebrating inspiring journeys from IELTS test takers across the Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar.
We are looking for authentic and heartfelt stories from IELTS test takers who sat the test with the British Council between 1 April 2024 and 25 September 2025. Participants are invited to share their personal IELTS journey and how the test has supported their study, work, or migration goals.
The prize includes five cash awards and five City Mart e-vouchers worth 200,000 MMK each.
The competition consists of two phases:
- Phase 1: Evaluation based on content quality and creativity
- Phase 2: Evaluation based on inspiration, engagement level, and the logic of the video
The competition is open to Myanmar citizens aged 16 and above. Applicants must have taken IELTS or IELTS for UKVI with the British Council, with a minimum overall/individual band score of 4.0.