English Language Tests Introduction SELTS Test Format Grading Test Fees UKVI Approved Test Centre UK Locations Alternative Tests How Valuable are the Tests Validity Length Which test to ask for?

Introduction 2014/15 73,465 students from the EU (excluding UK students) 139,320 from outside the EU studying in HE or FE in the UK. In order for these students to be able to gain from studying in the UK they must be able to communicate and understand their lectures, peers and the wider community. Educational providers ask for the candidates to prove their level of English usually with an internationally recognised English Language Test. The UK Home Office refers to these tests as SELTs: Secure English Language Tests for the purposes of immigration. Educational providers can accept other English language tests that haven’t been classified as SELTS, but as students are required to prove their level & abilities for visas to study in the UK, they generally will provide a SELTs certificate Today’s webinar will look at the SELTs tests and the main alternatives, what their results mean and how this will help to determine if a student is ready to study in the UK.

SELTS What are SELTs? Secure English Language Tests April 2015: UK government changed the system for English Language tests They identified the Secure English Language Tests and approved a limited number of test centres in the UK and overseas for where the SELTS could be sat. November 2015: new system came into effect and only the SELTS were recognised for UK visa and immigration purposes. Now 2 awarding bodies English exams are recognised: Trinity College London and Cambridge English Language Assessment who manage IELTS in the UK. For tests taken outside of the UK the new system only recognises IELTS.

What are the Approved Tests? Awarding Body Level European Common Framework Reference for Languages Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) Trinity College London Elementary Intermediate A1 & B1 Integrated Skills in English (ISE)   Pre-Intermediate Upper-Intermediate A2 – B2 IELTS Life Skills This new test has been designed to meet the specific requirements of some UK visas for which you only need to demonstrate Speaking and Listening skills. Cambridge English Language Assessment IELTS (Academic/General) Intermediate – Proficient B1-C2

What are the Test Formats? Graded Examinations in Spoken English Test levels Beginner – Advanced UK Home Office accepts A1 & B1 test level Oral exam one-to one with candidate and examiner. Test ranges from 5-7 minutes for the lowest level to 25 minutes for the highest Integrated Skills in English (ISE)   ISE Foundation (A2) – ISE Level III (C1) UK Home Office accepts test for A2, B1 and B2 Reading & Writing Module 2 hours + Speaking and Listening Module from 13 minutes for foundation to 25 minutes for ISE III Suitable to test student’s level for study IELTS Life Skills Tests A1 and B1 which is Elementary and Intermediate levels UK home Office accepts the test for A1 and B1 levels Test ranges from 16-18 minutes for A1 level to 22 minutes for B1. IELTS Tests levels Beginner – Advanced UK Home Office accepts the test results if it meets the entry requirements for the course Listening 30 minutes + 10 minutes Reading 1 hour Writing 1 hour Speaking between 12 -15 minutes.

How are the Tests Graded? Collection of Results GESE Each phase of the speaking test is awarded a grade between A-D A – Distinction B – Merit C – Pass D – Fail A provisional result is available soon after the exam session from the test centre. The official results and certificate are issued to the test centre for distribution 6 – 8 weeks after the test.   ISE Each skill is awarded a result from Fail, Pass, Merit, to Distinction Candidates will receive a module certificate for each skill upon completion of each module. Candidates must achieve the minimum of pass in all 4 skills to be award the whole award The results come with a diagnostic diagram which highlights the candidate’s strengths and areas for improvement. The certificate is sent out within 14 days of the test. IELTS Life Skills Pass or Fail Test results are normally available within 7 days of your test IELTS IELTs Grade Bands are 0-9 – Did not answer question – Non-User 9 – Expert Test are available from test centre or online 13 days after test. If not collected in person, the test results are posted out within 14-16 days of test.

How much do SELTS cost? Test Fee GESE £150 ISE £180 IELTS Life Skills IELTS £150/155 – Standard £200 – UKVI Test Version Only tests taken in a UK government approved Test Centre will be accepted for UK visa applications. The approved test centres are set up to have a highly secure testing environment and more rigorous checks in place. IELTS can be taken in a non-government approved centre and will cost £45/50 less than taken in the government approved centres. A student who does not need to apply for a visa, but needs to prove the English ability to win a place with an educational provider and can apply for the Standard test rather than the UKVI version.

Where can someone take the UKVI approved tests? Trinity College London GESE & ISE London Holborn London Hammersmith London Croydon Belfast Cardiff Leeds Birmingham Glasgow Manchester Peterborough Cambridge English Language Assessment IELTS & IELTS Life Skills Belfast Birmingham Cardiff Chelmsford Edinburgh London Central (X2) London North London West Manchester Portsmouth

Alternative Tests There are many alternative English Language tests from around the world. The most common alternative exams in the UK are: FCE (Cambridge English: First – Upper-Intermediate/B2) CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced – Advanced/C1) CPE (Cambridge English: Proficiency – Proficient/C2) TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language – All levels) TOEIC (Test of English as International Communications – All Levels) Internal University certificates – various Higher Education providers will have their own ESOL department and assessment scheme for international students. TOEFL and TOEIC are tests devised by ETS (Education Testing Service) who are American and are the world's largest private non-profit educational testing and assessment organisation.   Cambridge English offers the ‘Cambridge Suite’ which are English tests that range from beginners (PET) to proficient speakers (CPE)

How Valuable are the Tests? The SELTs can show how likely a student will be able to cope in an English-speaking learning environment but cannot be taken as a guarantee that the student will be a success. The tests are standardised and formulaic – a good exam teacher can prepare a student to gain a high grade despite having a weaker understanding of English. Not everyone is good at taking tests – a student may have an excellent grasp of English but have difficulty in achieving a good grade in the tests.

Length of Validity UKVI approved – 5 months max The new system means only tests taken at an approved centre since Nov 2015 are now accepted This will change has the system becomes established IELTs for no UKVI purposes - 2 years Cambridge Suite – for life

Which test to ask for? A Provider needs to ask: Who are the students Will they need visas after the completion of their programme Type of Student Visa Required Recommended Test for Provider to ask for Non EU Long-Time Study Tier 4 IELTS UKVI Standard Non EU Short – Time Study Short Term Study Visa A language qualification is not required for STSVs Any UKVI approved or a recent Cambridge Suite/TOEFL certificate EU N/A IELTS - Standard Cambridge Suite TOEFL – certificate awarded within 2 yrs UK resident Any UKVI approved test

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