uk naric annual conference 2008 english language requirements and immigration the role of ielts...
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UK NARIC Annual Conference 2008
English Language Requirements and Immigration
The role of IELTS
Carly Moulding, IELTS Stakeholder Relations Manager, British Council
The importance of language skills
English language proficiency – a necessary standard
Required by:EmployersProfessional registration bodiesEducation institutions
Incorporated into the Points Based System (PBS)
What is IELTS?
International English Language Testing System
Jointly managed by the British Council, IDP:IELTS Australia and University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations
Designed to assess English language ability of people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication
What is IELTS continued
Original four-skills English language test Test of communicative proficiency in
English Over 1 million people rely on IELTS
every year to access opportunities in study, careers and migration in the English-speaking world and beyond
6000+ recognising organisations worldwide
Test Administration
Tests administered at centres worldwideMore than 500 test centres in 121 countriesFull list available on www.ielts.org
Up to 48 fixed test dates per year Every effort made to cater for candidate special
requirements Results available 13 days after test No restrictions on re-taking test
General or Academic IELTS?
Listening and speaking same for both, reading and writing differ
General For immigration, vocational, secondary education,
language training and work experience Reading and writing questions assess survival skills in
a broad social and educational context Academic
For entry to University / College / professional registration
Reading and writing questions assess ability to study or train in medium of English at undergraduate or postgraduate level
Test format
Listening 30 minutes, 4 sections, 40 items
General Training Reading
60 minutes, 3 sections, 40 items
Academic Reading 60 minutes, 3 sections, 40 items
General Training Writing
60 minutes, 2 tasks
Academic Writing 60 minutes, 2 tasks
Speaking 11 - 14 minutes, 3 parts
Question Paper Development and Research
Backed by extensive programme of research, validation and test development
Test papers constructed over 6 stages Writing and editing takes place in the USA, Australia,
New Zealand, and the UK Topics or language context which may introduce a
bias against any group are avoided
Examining
Examiners are supported by the IELTS Professional Support Network - a system of recruitment, training, certification, standardisation and continuous monitoring to support examiners and ensure a high standard of expertise is maintained.
PBS language requirementsTier 1- Highly skilled worker category
General, entrepreneur, investor, post study worker Applicant making initial application (general or
entrepreneur) for entry clearance or leave to remain as a Tier 1 Migrant, must have 10 points for English language.
English language requirements may differ if you are: extending existing Tier 1 application extending existing permission to stay given under the Highly
Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP)
How to achieve 10 points
3 ways to meet requirement: be a national of a majority English speaking
country on the UKBA list hold a degree that was taught in English as
confirmed by the UK NARIC database as equivalent to a UK Bachelors degree
Pass a UKBA approved English language test: IELTS score 6.5 (Academic or General)
PBS language requirementsTier 2 – skilled worker, sportsperson &
Minister of Religion categories Eligibility – job offer or sponsorship, certificate of
sponsorship from UKBA licensed sponsor, points Includes mandatory 10 points for English language More basic level of English than Tier 1 Ability to understand and use familiar everyday
expressions, basic phrases, be able to introduce self and others, and answer basic personal questions
IELTS score 4.5 currently
How to achieve 10 points
Same 3 ways as with Tier 1 IELTS accepted as approved English
language test for Tier 2
Tier 2 – intra company transfers
Only need to demonstrate required English language skills if planning to stay in the UK beyond three years.
If so, same requirements as other Tier 2 categories
PBS language requirementsTier 4 – student category
Educational institution acts as sponsor of student and issues confirmation of acceptance for studies
Issued if institution believes student can complete the course
No English language requirement by UKBA – should be considered by institution before issuing certificate of acceptance
Currently education institutions require proof of English language proficiency before accepting international students anyway
How are IELTS results reported?
9 band scores:9 – expert user8 – very good user7 – good user6 – competent user5 – modest user4 – limited user3 – extremely limited user2 – intermittent user1 – non user
Interpretation of results
Candidates can apply for re-marking (Enquiry On Results)
Candidates are issued one copy of the Test Report Form (TRF)
Candidates can request test centres to send their TRF to recognising organisations on their behalf
TRFs are valid for 2 years as they cannot be verified after that time
Security
Unique test for each test session administration
Test material production controls Stock control and documentation ID and candidate checks Trained administrators, invigilators and
examiners Rigorous results procedures
TRF online verification service
The free, online IELTS Test Report Form verification service allows you to authenticate IELTS Test Report Forms in a quick, easy and reliable way.
Recognising organisations with access to the service can not carry out general searches of the data we hold; they can only search on a specific TRF number.
TRF Administrators and Users
Each registered organisation has a nominated TRF Administrator
Administrators have rights to be able to add their colleagues as Users of the service
All other rights are the same
Using TRF verification service
Log in and click on TRF Query Enter applicant’s TRF number Match or no match? No match – send all TRF details to IELTS
TRF VERIFICATION for investigation ([email protected])
Older than 2 years can not be verified
