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Immigration Daily News How fair is the Skilled Migration IELTS language points system?Australian Immigration Daily News
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How fair is the Skilled Migration IELTS language points system?
We have all seen cases where a client has sat the IETLS test multiple times to try and secure points and on many cases they fall just short of their target by 0.5 points and the scoring is not consistent. One time it could be in Speaking, the next Writing, Listening or Reading.
The lack of openness and transparency in the IELTs testing system leaves the system open to allegations of misuse and abuse. Candidates are denied detailed information on their test results and have to re-sit the test time and time again.
IELTS has a statutory monopoly on English Language testing, and many institutions are getting rich in the process. The IELTS language testing is worth over one billion dollars a year.
The system is made worst in that applicants for Skilled Migration need to secure points to reach the threshold to allow them to apply for migration or the possibility of employment or registration in Australia. And IELTS is the only recognised language testing system, apart from OET in the health sector.
The current points allocation scheme has two thresholds.
An IELTS score of seven in each component (Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing) is awarded 10 points and a score of Eight in each component is awarded 20 points.
If you fall short in any component you even if your overall score is high up fail to gain any recognition for the true extent of your English language skills.
In a quest to balance out the process ,and make the scoring system more fairer, the system of points awarded needs to be reviewed. To help achieve a balance and recognition of a candidate’s English ability it is proposed that candidates who have an overall minimum score of seven and a minimum of six in any component be awarded 5 points and a candidate who has an overall minimum score of eight and a minimum of seven in any component be awarded 15 points.
Please support us by signing our petition seeking a review.
This is an initiative of Anthony van der Craats from Offshore Migration Agents MARN 1174041
Comments
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Thursday, 24 April 2014
Michael, interesting point and valid. Does this prove the theory?
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Thursday, 24 April 2014Misuse of theory, minus .05 points. Yes, it probably does make your point. Something needs to be done about the test. See you later.
Have a good holiday. -
Thursday, 24 April 2014
Clubbing will curtail IELTS game on loosing a module at anytime. This is followed by NZ Nursing board.
If you take a score last four exam then you must have scored 7 at any time in each module. This may be in one year or two year period.
Students will have bad days or good days, and difficult question or easy question.
For example, it is very pathetic to know that a student score a '7" in speaking for last three exam fails on the fourth attempt, while studying in Australia.
Similar to other modules as well.
So clubbing of last four exam will reduce this disparity to some extent.· Dildeep-Singh likes this comment. -
Thursday, 24 April 2014
It would be a better system if a variance of 0.5 on any level was allowed once the overall average result met the required outcome level result.
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Friday, 25 December 2015
i fully agree with that Richard
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Friday, 25 April 2014
It's not Cambridge's fault that the IELTS exam has a near monopoly, it's because the test is generally better than any other. If it wasn't it wouldn't have it. There are plenty of other exams out there but they have failed in various ways, look at the TOEFL IBT for example, although the exam itself is good the IBT format is just awful.
However some of the grading in IELTS is harsh, ie a candidate may score 5 in all for criteria for speaking because in all four they were just short of making a six. So really they deserve a 5.5 but the examiner is forced to give them a 5. Something that should be addressed. -
Tuesday, 26 January 2016
Your IELTS test score should at least on 6. I believe State Nomination is one way to speed up the processing of your application if your points are short.
Migration Agent
Immigration blog
I apologise for quoting this small error. "If you fall short in any component you even if your overall score is high up fail to gain any recognition for the true extent of your English language skills."
This would be enough to reduce your score in the IELTS written section.
There is nothing wrong with standardised testing. IELTS needs to change to standardised grading. Perhaps the test could be reduced to multiple choice in all sections. Of course, it would cost money to revise the test, and why should money be spent when IELTS has a near monopoly on the market?