www.ielts.org english language requirements in immigration focus on ielts uknaric annual conference...
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www.ielts.org
English language English language requirements in immigrationrequirements in immigration
Focus on IELTSFocus on IELTS
UKNARIC Annual Conference 2009
www.ielts.org
AimsAimsTo give staff working with English language assessment an
understanding of:
– PBS & English language requirements in Tiers 1 & 2
– What makes IELTS a proven, fit-for-purpose high quality assessment of English language ability
– Assessing English language ability
• IELTS format, content and scores
• Test Report Form (TRF) Verification Service
www.ielts.org
The importance of language The importance of language skillsskills
• English language proficiency – a necessary standard
• Required by:
Employers
Professional registration bodies
Education institutions
• Incorporated into the Points Based System (PBS)
www.ielts.org
What is IELTS?What is IELTS?• The ‘International English Language Testing System’
• Jointly managed by 3 partners:
• Experts in language testing internationally
• 20th anniversary!
www.ielts.org
What does IELTS do?What does IELTS do?“Designed to assess the English language ability of people
who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication”
• Test of communicative proficiency in English
• Original 4 skills test covering:• Listening• Reading• Writing• Speaking
www.ielts.org
The increasing popularity of IELTSThe increasing popularity of IELTS
0
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
1,400,000
1,600,000
Aug'02 toJul'03
Aug'03 toJul'04
Aug'04 toJul'05
Aug'05 toJul'06
Aug'06 toJul'07
Aug'07 toJul'08
Aug'08 toJul'09
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Candidate top destinations 2008Candidate top destinations 2008
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Proven track recordProven track record• Tried, tested and proven for over 20 years
• Over 6000 recognising organisations worldwide
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Comprehensively researchedComprehensively researched
Research and Validation Unit:
• Maintaining quality
• Continuity and innovation
• Ongoing research programmes
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Successful communication Successful communication involves interactioninvolves interaction
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Face-to-face speaking testFace-to-face speaking test
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Globally Globally accessibleaccessible and convenient and convenient
• Tests administered at centres and venues worldwide
• Up to 48 test dates per year (4 per month)
• Results released 13 days after test
• TRF can be sent directly to receiving organisations
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Question Paper ProductionQuestion Paper Production• 3 – 4 years to develop one item (question) - rigorous
standards applied
• Item writers in Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA and now Canada
• Content sourced globally
• Topics or language context which may introduce a bias against any group are avoided
www.ielts.org
Academic or General Training Academic or General Training IELTS?IELTS?
Academic:
• Entry to University / College / professional registration
• Assesses ability to study or train at undergraduate or postgraduate level
General Training:
• Immigration, vocational, secondary education, language training and work experience
• Assess survival skills in a broad social and educational context
www.ielts.org
Test FormatTest FormatListening
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
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PBS Tiers 1 & 2 PBS Tiers 1 & 2
and English languageand English language
www.ielts.org
PBS for workersPBS for workers• Highly skilled workers, investors, entrepreneurs – Tier 1
• Sponsored skilled workers – Tier 2
• Temporary workers – Tier 5
• EEA & Switzerland & Other
www.ielts.org
Tier 1 – Highly SkilledTier 1 – Highly Skilled Designed to allow highly skilled people to come to / remain in
the UK to look for work or self-employment opportunities.
General, entrepreneur, investor, post study worker
•75 points for attributes (age, qualifications, previous earnings, UK experience)
•10 points for English language skills
•10 points for available maintenance (funds)
•Requirements differ for initial and extension applications
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How to achieve 10 pointsHow to achieve 10 points1. be a national of a majority English speaking country
OR
2. hold a degree assessed by UK NARIC as being taught in English and is equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree or above
OR
3. pass an English language test on UKBA approved list
Minimum IELTS score 6.5
Academic or General Training
www.ielts.org
Tier 2 – Sponsored Skilled WorkersTier 2 – Sponsored Skilled Workers Designed for workers with a job offer from a licensed sponsor, valid certificate of sponsorship and who pass the
points-based assessment
Categories
•Work permits – Bulgarian and Romanian nationals
•General, Minister of Religion, Sportsperson, Intra-company transfer
www.ielts.org
Points for Tier 2Points for Tier 2 General, Minister of Religion, Sportsperson:
• 50 points for attributes (e.g sponsorship, qualifications, future expected earnings)
• 10 points for English language
• 10 points for maintenance (funds)
Intra-company transfer:
• English language only required if stay is longer than 3 years.
www.ielts.org
How to achieve 10 pointsHow to achieve 10 points1. be a national of a majority English speaking country
OR 2. hold a degree assessed by UK NARIC as being taught
in English and is equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree or above
OR3. pass an English language test on UKBA approved list Minimum IELTS score 4.0 – general, ICT, sportspeople
Minimum IELTS score 5.5 - Minister of ReligionAcademic or General Training
www.ielts.org
Let’s discussLet’s discuss
• When assessing international applicant’s qualifications, how do you assess their English language ability?
• How important is English ability to their success in your profession/organisation?
• What would your international applicants need to be able to do in English / what activities or tasks do they need to be able to do?
www.ielts.org
How does English ability relate How does English ability relate to an IELTS Score?to an IELTS Score?
9 band scores:9 – expert user8 – very good user7 – good user6 – competent user5 – modest user4 – limited user3 – extremely limited user2 – intermittent user1 – non user
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Mini assessment!Mini assessment!We will watch three short clips of candidates at three different IELTS levels
Discuss:
• What impressed you in terms of their ability?
• What do you think limited their ability?
• What IELTS score do you think they are?
IELTS Band Score QuizIELTS Band Score Quiz
Reveal
6.56.5 55 4.54.5
www.ielts.org
Your thoughtsThink again about what your international applicants need to be able to do in English / what activities or tasks they need to be able to do.
Discuss:
• What’s a realistic score to set?
• How do your think these candidates would cope in your profession or organisation and what role would be most suitable for them?
• Have the clips made you reassess your English language requirements?
www.ielts.org
Ensuring you are Ensuring you are assessing assessing genuine genuine
qualificationsqualifications
IELTS Test Report Form IELTS Test Report Form Verification serviceVerification service
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On-line TRF Verification ServiceOn-line TRF Verification Service• Log in at www.ielts.org/TRF and click on TRF Query
www.ielts.org
• Enter the TRF number
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• A match is found
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• No match found
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Test Report Form
(TRF)
What security features of a TRF are you aware of?
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Contact usContact us
• Carly Moulding – IELTS Stakeholder Relations Manager
• Chris Chivers – IELTS Client Relations Officer
www.ielts.org
Thank you!Thank you!