Elite Performance at Scale: How upGrad and Yuno Learning Are Guiding Aspirants Toward Global Admissions
Executive Summary
Since 2022, upGrad Abroad and Yuno Learning have maintained a strategic partnership dedicated to mastering English Proficiency Tests (EPT). In the 2025 cohort, this results-driven collaboration reached new heights, delivering 319 breakthrough results to date, and more coming every week as most of the students will take their exam this year, 2026. With elite scores reaching IELTS 8.5 and Duolingo 155, Yuno has solidified its role as the engine behind upGrad’s global admission success, preparing a massive pipeline of students for their final 2026 intakes.
The Customer Organization
upGrad is a global leader in higher edtech, specializing in pathway programs that connect ambitious students to prestigious international universities. Their “upGrad Abroad” division relies on students achieving competitive scores in IELTS, Duolingo, or TOEFL to secure university seats and visas. To ensure these academic standards are met, upGrad has trusted Yuno Learning as its specialized EPT partner for over three years.
The Challenge
As global university entrance requirements have tightened, the need for a high-performance, scalable training environment has never been greater.
The Primary Problem: upGrad needed to move a high volume of students from “functional” English to the “academic” mastery required for elite scores like IELTS 7.5+ or Duolingo 130+.
The Engagement Barrier: A key challenge in large-scale education is managing “Red Flag” learners—students whose lack of engagement or attendance puts their admission timeline at risk.
The Goal: To transform thousands of aspirants from the 2025 cohort into a high-achieving, exam-ready pipeline for the 2026 academic cycle.
The Solution
Building on a partnership established in 2022, Yuno Learning deployed a Results-First architecture designed specifically for the 2025 enrollment cycle:
Live, Instructor-Led Rigor: Yuno provided real-time, expert coaching, focusing heavily on Speaking and Writing—the two most difficult sections to master without professional, human feedback.
Data-Driven Accountability: Yuno implemented a rigorous tracking system to identify “Red Flag” non-attendees early. This provided upGrad with transparent reporting and ensured that training intensity was prioritized for the students most committed to their success.
2026 Exam Readiness: Recognizing that the majority of the cohort would be testing in 2026, Yuno structured the curriculum to ensure long-term retention of concepts and maintained peak exam confidence right up to the test dates.
The Results
The 2025 cohort has already produced an exceptional volume of top-tier scores. The table below illustrates the high proficiency levels achieved by the students who completed their exams:
Exam Type | Elite Score Range | % of Successful Test-Takers | Target Universities |
IELTS | 7.5 – 8.5 Bands | 38% | Ivy League, Russell Group, Top-50 Global |
IELTS | 6.5 – 7.0 Bands | 45% | Standard Tier-1 Global Universities |
Duolingo | 130 – 155 Points | 42% | Top US & Canadian Universities |
Duolingo | 115 – 125 Points | 48% | Competitive Global Pathway Programs |
Key Performance Metrics:
Exceptional Breakthroughs: 319 Results already delivered, with new success stories being reported weekly.
Elite Scoring Highlights:
IELTS Excellence: Multiple students achieved 8.5, 8.0, and 7.5 Overall Bands.
Duolingo (DET) Dominance: Peak scores hit an incredible 155 points.
Proven ROI: Successfully equipped active learners with the strategies needed to clear their exams on the first attempt, facilitating a smoother transition into 2026 intakes.
“We believe that being great at a few things is better than trying to do everything, so we chose Yuno Learning as our education partner. Because Yuno takes full responsibility of teaching IELTS, TOEFL and PTE to deliver the desired score for our students, we can focus all our resources on our core business instead of investing in the teaching infrastructure” — Ankur Dhawan, President, upGrad Abroad
Conclusion
The ongoing partnership between upGrad and Yuno Learning continues to prove that elite quality is the standard. By delivering hundreds of top-tier scores and maintaining a disciplined focus on student results, Yuno Learning has ensured that language proficiency is not a barrier, but a launchpad for upGrad students heading into their 2026 intakes.