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

2. Aims
To 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

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. Academic or General Training IELTS?
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

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

16. PBS Tiers 1 & 2
and English language

17. PBS for workers
Highly skilled workers, investors, entrepreneurs – Tier 1
Sponsored skilled workers – Tier 2
Temporary workers – Tier 5
EEA & Switzerland & Other

18. Tier 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

19. Academic or General Training
How to achieve 10 points
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

20. Tier 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

21. Points 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.

22. How to achieve 10 points
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 4.0 – general, ICT, sportspeople
Minimum IELTS score Minister of Religion
Academic or General Training

23. Let’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?

24. 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

25. 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?

26. IELTS Band Score Quiz
6.5 5
4.5
Reveal

27. Your thoughts
Think 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?

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

29. On-line TRF Verification Service
Log in at and click on TRF Query

30. Enter the TRF number

31. A match is found

32. No match found

33. Test Report Form
(TRF)
What security features of a TRF are you aware of?

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

35. Thank you!