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English language English language requirements in immigrationrequirements in immigration

Focus on IELTSFocus on IELTS

UKNARIC Annual Conference 2009

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AimsAimsTo 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

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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)

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What is IELTS?What is IELTS?• The ‘International English Language Testing System’

• Jointly managed by 3 partners:

• Experts in language testing internationally

• 20th anniversary!

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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

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The increasing popularity of IELTSThe increasing popularity of IELTS

0

200,000

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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

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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 PBS

Tier 4 and English languageTier 4 and English language

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Tier 4 – sponsors roleTier 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

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Tier 4 – students roleTier 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

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Let’s discussLet’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?

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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

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Your thoughtsThink 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?

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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

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• 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 do you know about and look for?

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Contact usContact us

• Carly Moulding – IELTS Stakeholder Relations Manager

• Chris Chivers – IELTS Client Relations Officer

IELTScommunications@britishcouncil.org

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Thank you!Thank you!