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ENGLISH REQUIREMENT
The Department of Immigration and
Multicultural Affairs applies the
tabulated procedure in determining if IELTS
language testing is
required for visa applications under
consideration.
|
Circumstances |
Level of English language
ability |
|
Functional |
Vocational |
Competent |
|
“Native
English Speakers”
Those who first
language is English and who hold a passport of the United
Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, the USA and the Irish Republic. |
Exempt |
Exempt |
Exempt |
|
Passed the
OET TEST
For those whose
occupation is Dentistry, Dietetics, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy,
Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Radiography, Speech Pathology and
Veterinary Science.
Click here for details of the OET Test. |
Exempt |
Exempt |
Exempt |
|
Previously
Passed the IELTS Test
At the Required
Level over 1 year, but less than 2 years, before the application for the
visa and has worked full time where English is spoken in Australia, the
United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, the USA and the Irish Republic.
Click
here for details of the IELTS Test |
Exempt, if scored an average of
4.5 across the four tests. |
Exempt, if scored 5 on all four
tests |
Exempt, if scored 6 on all four
tests |
|
Interpreters
Those with NAATI
accreditation as an interpreter, conference interpreter or conference
interpreter at the senior level.
Click here for details of NAATI. |
Exempt |
Exempt |
Exempt |
|
Passed
TOEFL Test in some countries
For those located where
IELTS or OET testing is not done and then it is only accepted for an
equivalent score to an IELTS test and within the last 12 months before
applying for a visa. The American Test of English as a Foreign Language is a
written test and may be supplemented by interviews to determine spoken
English during visa processing. Belarus, Ecuador, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Moldova, Solomon Islands, Suriname,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda and Uzbekistan are countries where TOEFL may be
used.
Click
here for details of TOEFL |
Exempt
Imprecise. |
Exempt
Scoring 550 on the paper based
test and 213 on the computer based test. |
Exempt
Scoring 600 on the paper based
test and 250 on the computer based test. |
|
Tertiary
Study in English
For those who have
completed a degree, diploma or trade qualification from an academic
institution as a result of 2 years full time study where all instruction has
been conducted in English. |
Exempt |
Still required to sit the IELTS
test |
Still required to sit the IELTS
test |
|
Workplace
Language is English
For those who have
worked full time for at least 2 years where English is spoken, in
Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, the USA or the Irish
Republic. |
Exempt |
Still required to sit the IELTS
test |
Still required to sit the IELTS
test |
The
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
 | There is a choice of Modules.
 | The General Module is the one prescribed for
migration purposes. |
| The Academic Module is prescribed as necessary by some
occupation assessing bodies and has a higher degree of difficulty in one of
the tests. |
|
| Each Module has four tests: listening, reading, writing
and speaking.
| Listening
 | Time: approximately 30 minutes |
| Candidates listen to a number of recorded texts,
which increase in difficulty as the test progresses. These include a
mixture of monologues and conversations and feature a variety of English
accents and dialects. |
| The recording is heard only once, but candidates are
given time to read the questions and write down their answers. |
|
| Reading
| Time: 60 minutes |
| The texts are based on the type of material
candidates would be expected to encounter on a daily basis in an English
speaking country. They are taken from sources such as newspapers,
advertisements, instruction manuals and books, and test the candidate’s
ability to understand and use information. The test includes one longer
text, which is descriptive rather than argumentative. |
|
| Writing
| Time: 60 minutes |
| The first task requires candidates to write a letter
of around 150 words either asking for information or explaining a
situation. |
| The second task is a short essay of around 250
words, and is written in response to a given point of view or problem.
Candidates are expected to be able to present their own ideas and
challenge other ideas, using appropriate tone and register. |
|
| Speaking
| Time: 11-14 minutes |
| The test takes the form of a face to face
interview. Candidates are assessed on their use of spoken English to
answer short questions, to speak at length on a familiar topic, and also
to interact with the examiner. |
|
| The maximum score on any single test is 9.
| Band score of 9 Expert User where there is fully operational
command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete
understanding. |
| Band score of 8 Very Good User where there is only occasional
unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur
in unfamiliar situations. Able to handle complex detailed argumentation
well. |
| Band score of 7 Good User where there is operational command of
the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and
misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language
well and understands detailed reasoning. |
| Band score of 6 Competent User where generally there is
effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies,
inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Able to use and understand fairly
complex language, particularly in familiar situations. |
| Band score of 5 Modest User where there is partial command of
the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is
likely to make many mistakes. Able to handle basic communication in their
own field. |
| Band score of 4 Limited User where basic competence is limited
to familiar situations. Can have frequent problems in understanding and
expression and is not able to use complex language. |
| Band score of 3 Extremely Limited User where only the general
meaning can be conveyed and understood in very familiar situations.
Frequent breakdown in communications can occur. |
| Band score of 2 Intermittent User where no real communication
is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or
short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has
great difficulty understanding spoken and written English. |
| Band score of 1 Non User where there essentially no ability to
use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words. |
|
|
| Click here for
full details and how to arrange test. |
Test Results Required to meet Migration
Standards
The Migration Regulations provide that the following IELTS
scores are required for the three defined levels that may apply to a particular
visa category.
|
VOCATIONAL
|
IELTS score of 5 on each of the tests meets this
standard. It is not an average across the scores but a minimum of 5 on each
test. |
|
COMPETENT
|
IELTS score of 6 on each of the tests meets this
standard. It is not an average across the scores but a minimum of 6 on each
test. |
|
FUNCTIONAL
|
IELTS score of 4.5 average across the 4 tests.
Note where spouses or family of skilled
migrants do not meet this standard there is an opportunity to pay an
additional visa application charge entitling them to excellent language
training after arrival . |
Note that there may be higher standards set by assessing bodies determining
if an occupation is held by those being assessed. The Medical profession is a
case in point and an IELTS score of 7.5 for example is the requirement for a
nurse assessment. Apart from the Health care professions generally, the teaching
and engineering occupations require an IELTS score of 7. The occupation
assessment is a prerequisite to a skilled visa application.
Comment on Australian Idiom
Latest News! The May 2006 Report
"Evaluation of GSM Categories", by Birrell, Hawthorne & Richardson,
recommended changes to the Migration Regulations whereby even more reliance is
placed on scoring well in IELTS English testing. Changes to be made may be made in future to make 6 the vocational requirement
on all 4 measures (with
the exception of tradespeople who need 5); a bonus 10 points in points tested
visas will be available to those scoring 7 on each of the 4, to become
classified as "proficient". It is to become a
time of application criterion (as opposed to a time of decision criterion).
These changes will operate from 1st September 2007.
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advice on the language requirement that applies to your specific situation in
the timeframe of your application and processing.
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