What we collect
- Your name, email, WhatsApp number, target intake, test type, why you are taking IELTS and the country you want to study in.
- Your test and practice answers, Speaking recordings (mock test and AI speaking practice), scores and feedback.
- Basic technical data (browser identifier, IP address) to keep free offers fair and to protect the service.
- Payment records (amount, date, transaction ID) and your AI practice balance. Card, bKash and Nagad details are handled by SSLCommerz, not by us.
- Only if you choose 1-on-1 partner practice: a selfie holding your passport and a photo of your face, your date of birth and gender (see "Passport check" below).
How we use it
To run your tests and practice, mark your work, send your results, and — because this is a service of a study-abroad consultancy — to contact you about studying abroad. You can ask us to stop contacting you at any time.
Passport check (1-on-1 practice only)
- Why: so every 1-on-1 partner is a real, identifiable person aged 18 or older.
- Who sees it: only named GAC staff with passport-review permission. Every time a photo is opened it is logged. The photos are stored encrypted, never publicly, and open only through links that expire after 5 minutes.
- How long: both photos and your exact date of birth are deleted 7 days after we decide. After that we keep only: verified yes/no, 18+ yes/no, your birth year, your gender (for "same gender" matching), when and by whom it was reviewed, and the version of the consent you agreed to.
- Never stored: your passport number.
- Your partner sees only your first name and a "Verified" badge — never your surname, phone, email or photo.
Group rooms and 1-on-1 calls
Calls are audio only and are not recorded. They run through our audio-call provider (Daily.co). We keep who booked or joined a session, call times, the ratings you give (never shown to your partner) and any reports, so we can keep practice safe. Notes you leave for a partner have phone numbers, emails, links and social media names removed automatically.
Sharing
Your details are shared with Global Academia Connects counsellors. We use trusted service providers to run the service: email delivery, SSLCommerz (payments), Anthropic and OpenAI (AI marking and transcription), Microsoft Azure (pronunciation scoring), ElevenLabs (examiner and listening voices — none of your data) and Daily.co (audio calls). They process data only to provide their part of the service. We do not sell your data.
Keeping your data
We keep your results, answers and Speaking recordings for at least two years — the same time an IELTS result stays valid — so you can follow your progress. After two years the recordings are deleted automatically; your scores and written feedback stay while your account is active. Everything is backed up every night. You can ask us to delete your account and recordings at any time.
Contact
Global Academia Connects — gaconnt.com.