JEM44 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Hi hoping someone can help. I want to apply for PR but in order to get the 65 points I would need to gain level 6 on the IELTS exams. Has anyone had to take them and is it difficult to do? It is expensive to take and I'd be devastated to fail! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEM44 Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Sorry that should have read level 8. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth 666 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Hi, There's plenty of threads devoted to the dreaded IELTS. It's not particularly hard to get 7's for a native speaker but some struggle to hit all 8's for one reason or another. I don't think the speaking part is too much of an issue, the listening and reading are either right or wrong answers but the writing is more subjective. The writing is 2 pieces, first is min 150 words and the second is min 250 words. This is marked by an assessor. The best advice is plenty of practice. There are practice tests available online for free or you can buy practice books from IELTS or amazon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEM44 Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Thanks, I will try and find the free tests and get practicing. I assume they give you a score?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou8670 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Hi Leah where are you based? If you're in the UK most of the universities run the IELTs exams every month. There are 2 types of test (general and academic). Some skills assessments require you to take the academic (not for points but just so you can get your skills assessed) so check this out before you enrol so you can make sure you sit the right one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEM44 Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 I've left a message at Liverpool university so hopefully someone will call me back tomorrow. Fir the points will I need to take both tests then? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou8670 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I've left a message at Liverpool university so hopefully someone will call me back tomorrow. Fir the points will I need to take both tests then? Thanks No, you need to take either the general or the academic. The general apparently is easier but some assessing bodies for the skills assessment need you to have sat the academic, such as when being assessed as accountant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEM44 Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Thanks, I need to gain level 8 as I need the maximum points so that I can get 65 points on the points system. Do you have any idea how I could find out which test I would need to take? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth 666 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Thanks, I will try and find the free tests and get practicing. I assume they give you a score?? The listening and reading are marked out of 40. You do the tests then mark them yourself using an answer sheet. There is a chart that tells you what band you score for how many right answers you achieve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEM44 Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Thank you I will look for free tests tomorrow. If the written tests are marked by an assessor are there sample questions and answers available or is it just a case of hope it will be ok on the day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth 666 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Hi hoping someone can help. I want to apply for PR but in order to get the 65 points I would need to gain level 6 on the IELTS exams. Has anyone had to take them and is it difficult to do? It is expensive to take and I'd be devastated to fail! Thanks You only need 60 points, not 65. Could you get 55 with 7's on the IELTS and try for state sponsorship for the extra 5 points? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEM44 Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 That would be my last resort as I need to get the maximum points because of my age. Gaining 65 without state sponsorship just gives us more flexibility with time to sell the house etc. and where we would go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth 666 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Thank you I will look for free tests tomorrow. If the written tests are marked by an assessor are there sample questions and answers available or is it just a case of hope it will be ok on the day? Yes there are practice writing exercises and there are samples of written pieces that show different band scores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEM44 Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth 666 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 That would be my last resort as I need to get the maximum points because of my age. Gaining 65 without state sponsorship just gives us more flexibility with time to sell the house etc. and where we would go. But you only need 60. Does your partner have any skills that could be assessed for the 5 partner points instead of state sponsorship? That way your 55, assuming you only get 7's would be enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2adults2cheekykids Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Hi Leah, Will you be sitting the general or academic? I sat both as was given the wrong advice!! I passed the general but failed the academic by half a point! but passed on my second go, I have to say it, it was a long day!! but if your determined you will be fine! I would by the manual as it helps to show the layout of the questions. It cost £115 but that was 18 months ago so i would check with your local university. Good Luck!! hayley x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEM44 Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 No such luck. Im doing this as a single mum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth 666 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 No such luck. Im doing this as a single mum! That takes real balls. Hope it all goes well. The only thing I'd add is scraping the minimum points for general migration MIGHT put you down the ranking list and you may be waiting a while for an invite. With state sponsorship as soon as you hit the points and receive your state sponsorship then you get your invite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEM44 Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Thanks for the advice I will certainly look into it. Is it a case of finding a state that needs your occupation or are you supposed to choose where you apply to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrumac Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 See if you can find a tutor, I got one for 4 hours just to make sure and was ok. Get the recommended text and cd, it's from Cambridge press I think, as for the test to take that was specified by the DIAC, someone correct me there though. Any how one is slightly harder than the other so I was told by the tutor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth 666 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Thanks for the advice I will certainly look into it. Is it a case of finding a state that needs your occupation or are you supposed to choose where you apply to? Yes you need to find a state with your occupation on their list. Go to skillselect web site, open 'skilled workers' tab then 'invitation and selection process'. Here you will find a list of state websites and you can find their skilled occupational lists on their sites. Sometimes it takes a bit of hunting but they're all on there somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEM44 Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Thanks, it will certainly give me a lot to look into tomorrow. With regards to the tutor, did the test centre recommend them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrumac Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I found mine on gum tree, if you can't find one do ask the test centre, they are often language schools. I'm in bournemouth hence lots of language schools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEM44 Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 I will try and get in touch with Liverpool university again tomorrow. Without wanting to sound stupid, but as an English speaker what did you learn from a tutor in four hours? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrumac Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I know what you mean and it was my wifes idea, when you say what did you learn, it wasn't English per se ! I saw it as an Insurance policy a guy in my office who coincidentally was applying for a visa didn't get the 8's he needed first time round, so we felt vindicated anyway at over £100 a pop. In general I really learned what to expect and what the examiners expected. For example in the spoken park one needs to embellish, Where do you live? I live in Kinson which is a small are in Bournemouth on the edge of town near the airport is the kind of thing they are looking for. The listening was just a small part and what to expect really, same for reading really, some of the questions are slightly ambiguous but it was all good practice. The writing was just going over linking phrases and formatting a reasoned argument. Each to their own really, I'm sure it would be a breeze to get 7 or 8 for most English speakers with only a little reading from one of the texts available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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