> Unfair - Coolie is correct and it does not matter how much evidence
> was provided that she studied in English etc, she will still have to
> do IELTS. DIMIA policy is now to only recognise a "native English
> speaker" (when considering 15 and 20 point level English - Vocational
> and Competent) if it is a person whose first spoken language is
> English and is the holder of a passport from the United Kingdom,
> Canada, New Zealand, the United States of America and the Republic of
> Ireland. So unless Coolie can get a UK passport, the IELTS has to be
> done. For functional English ( the old 10 point level) they can waive
> the IELTS where an applicant (usually secondary) holds 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 - and where an applicant has worked in an English
> speaking country for at least 2 years.
>
> Tony
Point taken, but DIMIA policy is not the law.
Some people who hold UK, US, and even Australian passports might not
acquit themselves with distinction under IELTS test conditions. DIMIA
know this and can call for an IELTS test certificate from any applicant;
where English language ability is a visa criterion.
I know of cases where an applicant holding an Australian masters degree
was required to submit an IELTS test certificate and another applicant
with the same qualification from the same institution was not.
Interestingly enough, they had both passed IELTS Academic to be accepted
into the university in the first place.
The safe thing to do is prepare for IELTS, just in case, and sit it. The
alternative is to be confronted by a badly designed, Anglo-centric, and
arguably invalid test, at the last minute. Having to sit IELTS is bad
enough, without having to do so in circumstances where your family’s
future depends on the outcome. Anyone can ‘blow up’ in an IELTS
test, or any other test for that matter.
In my professional opinion, a one-shot test is not a valid means of
ascertaining an applicant’s English language ability and IELTS is
certainly not. Once upon a time I reported to a supervisor who came from
a certain country north of England, and I could not understand a single
word he uttered. I had to ask him to write down his instructions. Had he
been applying for a visa, he would not have had to undertake an IELTS
test, and I don’t know how well I would have performed if he had
administered one to me. With all that, an IELTS test result will subsume
any other evidence of an applicant’s English language ability. Once
DIMIA call for one, you are stuffed.
Unless it is absolutely clear-cut that a client is a native speaker of
English, and we can prove it, we always supply IELTS material and advise
them to sit the test, or if they are reluctant to do so, to at least
prepare, and if they are going to sit, attend an IELTS preparation
workshop. Some clients with a Masters or a PhD in English, or both, have
thought an IELTS test was unnecessary, and they were right. We have
never had a case where an IELTS test certificate was required. If our
clients follow our advice, they will have a satisfactory IELTS result,
which can be submitted if necessary, or in the worst case, they will be
well positioned to re-sit IELTS. We have a stack of IELTS certificates
that were never submitted, or even referred to.
Some people decline to sit IELTS because they think their English is
good enough to pass IELTS if they have to, and others don’t want to
spend the money. It sometimes difficult to convince people that sitting
IELTS at an early stage is in their best interests. They can either take
our advice or do whatever they are going to do. We tell them outright;
if you pay for professional advice and you do not take it, take the
consequences.
What would your advice be to a client who was educated in England and
was awarded two degrees, including a law degree, had passed NAATI, had
an IELTS grade or 8.5, having taken the test with no preparation
whatsoever two days after his mother had died, and had instructed you
not to submit his IELTS test certificate, because it would be too
embarrassing? He does not hold a ‘designated’ passport?
Our advice was: It is extremely unlikely that your case officer will
require you to submit an IELTS test certificate. If she does, we can
submit the one you have, or you can re-sit IELTS. As we previously
advised, preparation is the name of the game. We await your further
instructions.
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