Originally Posted by cheshiremark

I've just been reading up on the IELTS. Am I right in thinking that we just need to do the General Test as opposed to the Academic Test?

Originally Posted by louie

But you are not having to prove you are a native speaker are you? You have 15 points for being a native speaker. This policy is trying to identify who has "proficient English" and thus who should be awarded a further 10 for being so. I don't know enough about IELTS to know if that is an appropriate way to determine whether anyone is proficient in English, but I am guessing there is no other worldwide system that would be accessible to all, so maybe it is just the best they can do.

However, it only takes 10 minutes wandering along an average English high street, reading the signs and listening to the native's conversation, to know that the average standard is (at least in my view) less than proficient (and in many cases, barely competent). My experience of Australia is much the same, but surely it's no bad thing to try and improve upon that by favouring immigrants who can communicate well in their new country?

Originally Posted by I_Will_Freckle

I was so in disbelief at this new policy that I wrote to the policy department and here is their reply:

As background information, applicants who hold a passport from the
United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, the United States of America and
the Republic of Ireland are exempt from sitting an International English
Language Testing System (IELTS) test to demonstrate that they meet the
English language threshold (competent English). However, all applicants
seeking to demonstrate that they have the higher level of proficient
English must provide an IELTS result demonstrating their level of
English.

This rationale behind this requirement is the fact that not all citizens
of the above mentioned countries applying for skilled migration have
proficient English. Therefore proficient English is rewarded with extra
points.

As a former EFL teacher, I am totally bemused by this policy. The IELTS exams were never designed to test native speakers – they are designed to demonstrate how closely an applicant’s English is to that of a native speaker. So it’s a bit like comparing a fish with a fish…

The policy is also flawed. It is not a requirement of holding a British passport to have “competent” English. I know of people that can barely string a sentence together in English but they qualify for a UK passport. Doesn’t seem fair that they would get points automatically for their English “ability”.

Additionally, some native speakers may not do well in the exam and may not qualify for the full 25 points even though their communication skills are at least “proficient”. Possible reasons for this are any kind of literacy problem, or more likely “exam fright”. The latter is more common that you might think and can be a real problem for some people.

Saying all that, the exams should not present a problem for the majority of native speakers – they should be a breeze in fact. You can learn more about them here. I would just be pissed off at the additional costs and stress involved in having to prove that I was a native speaker.

Originally Posted by tiredwithtwins

can anyone clear up a question about the above please?
its causing some of us confusion, and a little apprehension!!!

according to immi.gov.au's FAQ on the new visa points system it states that it will reward those with proficient english 25 points, over 15 points for competent english.
as a native english speaker, someone who was brought up in the uk and taught through the uk education system and gained 20 years work experience as a nurse, will i have to sit the ielts test to prove this to gain the 25 points, as it states that this is the only way to get them? - a uk passport holder does not have to sit this to show they meet the threshold, however to demonstrate they have the higher level of proficient english will have to sit the ielts. = so you would get 15 points based on your uk passport, but to get 25 you have to sit the ielts despite uk passport/skills assmnt/education/work experience?

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/gener...ge_english.pdf


many thanks to anyone who can clear this up ...

Originally Posted by tiredwithtwins

can anyone clear up a question about the above please?
its causing some of us confusion, and a little apprehension!!!

according to immi.gov.au's FAQ on the new visa points system it states that it will reward those with proficient english 25 points, over 15 points for competent english.
as a native english speaker, someone who was brought up in the uk and taught through the uk education system and gained 20 years work experience as a nurse, will i have to sit the ielts test to prove this to gain the 25 points, as it states that this is the only way to get them? - a uk passport holder does not have to sit this to show they meet the threshold, however to demonstrate they have the higher level of proficient english will have to sit the ielts. = so you would get 15 points based on your uk passport, but to get 25 you have to sit the ielts despite uk passport/skills assmnt/education/work experience?

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/gener...ge_english.pdf


many thanks to anyone who can clear this up ...

Originally Posted by tiredwithtwins

thanks for clarifying that tony ... seems harsh, but fair enough i suppose.

thats us buggered ....

Originally Posted by JAJ

Why can't you just sit the IELTS?

Originally Posted by cheshiremark

Well if its just the general test it shouldn't be too difficult I expect but it does seem like an unnecessary waste of £95 not to mention a waste of time and it all just to prove that I can speak English.

Originally Posted by tiredwithtwins

my other half, although literate is not very good at tests, bless him .... shall have to ply him with copious amounts of alcohol to talk him into it.

Originally Posted by tiredwithtwins

sorry, hadnt realised athread about this had already been started!!

does seem bizarre to be tested when your academic background/skills etc all prove you to be proficient in english
we are hoping to go on my partners tra, but he will not be impressed at having to do this test - he's a highly intelligent bloke, but tests arent his strong point so he wont be best pleased

had a gander around the sites and ielts has its own site (www.ielts.org), and here in sheffield you can do the test at hallam university but it is only done 4 times a year

Originally Posted by sssstew

it is very boring for us nativly speaking english.... its enough to drive you mad sometimes.. the test lasts the whole morning then i had to wait the whole afternoon to sit my spoken test.