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English language requirements in immigration Focus on IELTS

English language requirements in immigration Focus on IELTS. UKNARIC Annual Conference 2009. Aims. To give staff working with English language assessment an understanding of: PBS & English language requirements in Tier 4

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English language requirements in immigration Focus on IELTS

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  1. English language requirements in immigrationFocus on IELTS UKNARIC Annual Conference 2009

  2. Aims To give staff working with English language assessment an understanding of: • PBS & English language requirements in Tier 4 • 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

  3. The importance of language skills • English language proficiency – a necessary standard • Required by: • Employers • Professional registration bodies • Education institutions • Incorporated into the Points Based System (PBS)

  4. What is IELTS? • The ‘International English Language Testing System’ • Jointly managed by 3 partners: • Experts in language testing internationally • 20th anniversary!

  5. 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

  6. The increasing popularity of IELTS

  7. Candidate top destinations 2008

  8. Proven track record • Tried, tested and proven for over 20 years • Over 6000 recognising organisations worldwide

  9. Comprehensively researched Research and Validation Unit: • Maintaining quality • Continuity and innovation • Ongoing research programmes

  10. Successful communication involves interaction

  11. Face-to-face speaking test

  12. Globally accessible 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

  13. Question 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

  14. Listening 30 minutes, 4 sections, 40 items Academic Reading 60 minutes, 3 sections, 40 items General Training Reading 60 minutes, 3 sections, 40 items Academic Writing 60 minutes, 2 tasks General Training Writing 60 minutes, 2 tasks Speaking 11 - 14 minutes, 3 parts Test Format

  15. PBS Tier 4 and English language

  16. Tier 4 – sponsors role • Tier 4 sponsors = licensed educational institutions • Sponsor assesses student qualifications • No English language requirement by UKBA • English language ability should be considered by sponsor when assessing qualifications • Satisfactory qualifications = sponsor issues Confirmation of Acceptance for Study or Visa Letter • Unconditional offer for place on a course

  17. Tier 4 – students role Student sends UKBA their visa application including: • Photos, passport, identity card (if applicable) etc • Proof of the availability of maintenance funds • CAS reference number or visa letter (unconditional offer) • Original certificates (or transcripts of results) of qualifications assessed by the sponsor in order to assign CAS / issue visa letter - includes proof of English language ability if assessed by sponsor

  18. Let’s discuss • When assessing student qualifications for Tier 4, how do you assess their English language ability? • How important is English ability to their success at your institution? • What do your students need to be able to do in English / what activities do they need to be involved in?

  19. How does English ability relate to an IELTS Score? 9 band scores: 9 – expert user 8 – very good user 7 – good user 6 – competent user 5 – modest user 4 – limited user 3 – extremely limited user 2 – intermittent user 1 – non user

  20. 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?

  21. IELTS Band Score Quiz 6.5 5 4.5 Reveal

  22. Your thoughts Think again about what your students need to be able to do in English / what activities do they need to be involved in. Discuss: • What’s a realistic score to set? • How do your think these candidates would cope at your institution and what type of course would suit them best? • Have the clips made you reassess your English language requirements?

  23. Ensuring you are assessing genuine qualifications IELTS Test Report Form Verification service

  24. On-line TRF Verification Service • Log in at www.ielts.org/TRF and click on TRF Query

  25. Enter the TRF number

  26. A match is found

  27. No match found

  28. Test Report Form (TRF) What security features of a TRF do you know about and look for?

  29. Contact us • Carly Moulding – IELTS Stakeholder Relations Manager • Chris Chivers – IELTS Client Relations Officer IELTScommunications@britishcouncil.org

  30. Thank you!

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