Privacy Policy

Your data is safe with The Academy of IELTS

📅 Last updated: 10 April 2026 | Effective from: 10 April 2026

The Academy of IELTS (referred to as “we”, “us”, “our”, or “the Academy”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website https://theacademyofielts.com, use our Digital Portal, enroll in our courses, or interact with our physical centers (Toba Tek Singh, Multan, PirMahal).

📌 Quick summary: We collect only necessary information to provide IELTS/PTE/TOEFL coaching, study abroad services, and visa guidance. We never sell your data. You can request deletion anytime.

1. Information We Collect

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

Enroll in a course (offline or online)
Register for our Digital Portal
Contact us via phone, WhatsApp, email, or contact forms
Visit our physical centers
Sign up for newsletters or free trials

Category	Examples	Purpose
Identity Data	Full name, CNIC/passport number (for visa services), date of birth	Verify enrollment, generate certificates, visa applications
Contact Data	Email address, phone/WhatsApp number, physical address (Toba Tek Singh / Multan / PirMahal)	Send class schedules, results, updates, and OTP for portal access
Academic Data	Current English level, previous IELTS/PTE scores, mock test results on Digital Portal	Personalized coaching and progress tracking
Technical Data	IP address, browser type, device info, cookies, login timestamps	Improve website security and user experience
Payment Data	Fee receipts, transaction IDs (we do NOT store full credit card numbers)	Confirm enrollments and issue invoices

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data only for legitimate educational and administrative purposes:

✅ To provide IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, and Spoken English coaching
✅ To give you access to our Digital Portal (mock tests, study material, live classes)
✅ To assist with university selection, visa guidance, SOP/LOR editing, and scholarship desk services
✅ To communicate class updates, test dates, and result notifications via WhatsApp/SMS/email
✅ To improve our courses, website, and student support
✅ To comply with legal obligations (e.g., tax invoices, government requirements for study visa processing)

We do NOT: sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

3. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your data based on:

Contractual necessity: To deliver the coaching services you enrolled for.
Legitimate interests: To improve our academy, prevent fraud, and ensure security.
Consent: When you opt-in for marketing communications (you can withdraw anytime).
Legal compliance: For tax records and regulatory requirements in Pakistan.

4. When We Share Your Information

We only share your data with third parties in specific, limited situations:

Test partners (IDP / British Council / AEO / Pearson): Only if you ask us to assist with test booking. We never share data without your explicit consent.
University partners: For study abroad applications – only with your written permission.
Service providers: Secure payment processors, cloud storage (hosted on Pakistan/EU servers), and WhatsApp Business API. All providers sign data protection agreements.
Legal authorities: If required by Pakistani law (e.g., FIA investigation) or to protect our legal rights.

🔒 Your data never leaves our control unnecessarily. We never share with random third-party advertisers.

5. How We Protect Your Data

We implement industry-standard security measures:

✅ SSL encryption (HTTPS) on our website and Digital Portal
✅ Two-factor authentication (2FA) for staff access to student records
✅ Regular security audits and malware scanning
✅ Physical security at our Toba Tek Singh, Multan, and PirMahal branches (CCTV, restricted access)
✅ All student files (paper) stored in locked cabinets for 3 years then shredded

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. If you suspect any breach, contact us immediately at +92-46-2345678.

6. Digital Portal & Cookies

Our website and Digital Portal use cookies and similar tracking technologies to:

Keep you logged in during mock tests
Remember your preferences (e.g., language)
Analyze website traffic (anonymized, via Google Analytics anonymized IP)

You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but some portal features (like mock tests) may not work properly.

Third-party cookies: We use Facebook Pixel and Google Ads to measure ad performance — but these do not give us personally identifiable information.

7. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location (Pakistan, UK, Australia, Canada, etc.), you may have the following rights:

Right to Access: Request a copy of all personal data we hold about you.
Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): Request deletion of your data (unless we need to retain for legal/tax reasons – e.g., fee receipts for 6 years).
Right to Restrict Processing: Ask us to stop using your data for certain purposes (e.g., marketing).
Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
Right to Withdraw Consent: For marketing emails/WhatsApp, you can unsubscribe anytime.

To exercise any right, email us at info@theacademyofielts.com or visit our Toba Tek Singh branch. We will respond within 30 days (free of charge for reasonable requests).

8. How Long We Keep Your Data

Student academic records: 3 years after course completion (to verify success rates and provide reference letters).
Payment & invoice data: 6 years (as required by Pakistani tax law).
Digital Portal activity logs: 12 months, then anonymized.
Inquiries that did not convert: Deleted after 2 years.

9. Children’s Privacy

Our services are directed to individuals aged 16 years or older. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 16. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such data, please contact us and we will delete it immediately.

10. International Data Transfers

The Academy of IELTS is based in Pakistan. However, if you use our services for study abroad (e.g., visa processing for Canada, Australia, UK), we may need to share your data with overseas partner universities or immigration consultants only with your explicit written consent. In such cases, we ensure appropriate safeguards (standard contractual clauses) are in place.

11. Links to Other Websites

Our website may contain links to IDP, British Council, Pearson PTE, or university portals. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those third-party sites. Always read their privacy policies.

12. Updates to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy occasionally (e.g., new features, legal changes). The “Last updated” date at the top will reflect changes. For material changes, we will notify you via email or WhatsApp message if you are an active student.

13. Complaints & Grievance Officer

If you have any concerns about how your data is handled, please contact our Data Protection Officer (DPO):

Name: Mr. Umair Ahmad (Center Manager)
Email: dpo@theacademyofielts.com
Phone: +92-302-5312026
Address: District Court Corner, Toba Tek Singh, Pakistan

If you are unsatisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Pakistan Data Protection Authority (once fully operational under the Personal Data Protection Bill) or your local supervisory authority (e.g., ICO for UK students).

14. Contact Us

For any privacy-related questions, not covered above, reach out:

📧 Email: info@theacademyofielts.com
📞 Phone/WhatsApp: +92-302-5312026
📍 Visit: Main Branch – District Court Corner, Toba Tek Singh

📢 Consent: By using our website, enrolling in courses, or accessing our Digital Portal, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.