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New English Language Test

Discussion in 'UK Visa and Immigration Help' started by Howerd, Apr 4, 2015.

  1. Howerd
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    Howerd Well-Known Member Trusted Member Lifetime Member

    The rules on English languages tests for UK Visa applications have been completely re-hashed and come into effect on 6 April 2015. IELTS is now the only valid test and a consortium of IELTS, IDP and the British Council is the only approved test provider outside of the UK.

    For anyone taking the test in the Philippines they can take the test at either IDP or British Council Test Centres in Manila or Cebu. The British Council may have more frequent test sessions than IDP and, on one list I saw, it showed the British Council providing tests on Saturday and Sunday, IDP do not...

    http://www.ielts.org/test_takers_information/findtest_ukvi.aspx

    But the booking system is not yet live on the British Council website for any of their venues in the Philippines and you may have to wait until 30 April when it seems the booking system would then be available. I think you can book for a test at an IDP venue though...

    https://ieltsukvisas.britishcouncil.org/#/

    For those taking the test for Visa or ILR purposes, where only speaking and listening is required, IELTS have agreed with the UK Authorities to offer just those elements in a new IELTS test called 'Life Skills'. It is available at B1 level for ILR applications and at A1 level for certain types of visa (eg fiancée and spouse)

    The cost of the Life Skills test (A1 or B1) will be 11,125 Pesos which somewhat more than the standard IELTS test which is under 9,000 Pesos even though the standard IELTS test includes the writing and reading elements as well.

    You can see the test dates and venues for the British Council IELTS tests here, but it does not give any weekend dates...

    http://www.britishcouncil.ph/exam/ielts/ielts-ukvi-dates-fees-locations

    Here is a full list of the test providers and venues worldwide for the new IELTS test...

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...lish_Language_Tests_and_Test_Centres_v2_0.pdf

    It is still very much a case of 'work in progress' with more details and website updates appearing daily!
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2015
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  2. Anon04576
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    Anon04576 Well-Known Member

    I've been told contradictory information regards the wife's IELTS (taken @ BC Manila in 2012) in that she can use her now expired test when she does ILR, however others say she can't. Thanks for the info though Howerd.
  3. walesrob
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    walesrob Administrator Staff Member

    Thanks for the update Howerd, I've made this thread a sticky for anyone looking for info about these new tests.
  4. Anon220806
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    Anon220806 Well-Known Member

    Sounds like the test my wife took a few months back to enable her to apply for Citizenship. It actually says "Skills for Life" on her certificate.

    You may recall she had to retake her English test as the original was declared invalid by the UKVI.
  5. Timmers
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    Timmers Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Still niggles me that Filipinos have to take this test.

    I was at the ferry port in Dublin a couple of weeks back, waited forever in the Stena car queue as you do to show my ticket and get my car pass, the bloody Eastern European girl checking my ticket said "you're sailing with Irish Ferries its the next terminal down. " I thought this is strange and had to turn around in front of the queue feeling like a dick to go to the next terminal down. On queuing up again at the Irish Ferries terminal when I reached the ticket booth to show my ticket the Irish girl says "you are in the wrong queue you are sailing with Stena, Irish Ferries to Ireland and Stena back to Holyhead." Then of course I had to go back to the Stena queue, but now there wasn't a bloody queue because everyone had boarded. I said to the Eastern European girl "you need to ****** learn to read English before you come to an English speaking country", very rare I have ever sworn at a lady but I felt that on this occasion the situation warranted it. This would never have happened if there was a Filipino on the gate.

    Now you know why I'm voting UKIP at the next election :lol::lol::lol:
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  6. Anon220806
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    Anon220806 Well-Known Member

    I think that is why they are so popular here on IOM
  7. Timmers
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    Timmers Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    We all know here at BF that Filipinos speak excellent English, they are clear in their pronunciation, I love their accent, one of the many things that endears me to them.
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  8. Anon04576
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    Anon04576 Well-Known Member

    When I first spoke with my wife she had a slight American twang. She worked briefly at a call centre but I'm not sure she picked it up there, maybe all the movies she's watched :) Her voice is very easy on the ears though
  9. Timmers
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    Timmers Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    I know what you mean, the wife has never spoken with an American accent but used American terms like trash, she has asked me to pull her up on anything thing like that which I have done over the last few months, I'll soon have her talking like a Northern lass :)

    It amused me the other week when there were six Filipinos in the house, I loved listening to them speaking Taglish as all of her family do. Even when she is instant messaging or on Facebook, its always Taglish, which is good because I can look over her shoulder and see what she's saying about me :)
  10. Anon220806
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    Anon220806 Well-Known Member

    I have managed to eradicate faucettes, sidewalks, candy and the like, from my wifes vocabulary.
  11. Timmers
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    Timmers Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Best to do that, I cant handle the American lingo, it grates.
  12. walesrob
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    walesrob Administrator Staff Member

    Elsa has picked up a Welsh accent and now uses slang such as 'now in a minute' and 'lush innit'. Sounds quite funny.
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  13. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    For once I am afraid I have to correct you over this assertion. Some Filipinos do, most don't. English-speakers will be found in the major cities (and overseas, of course) but those who live in the provinces are far less likely to have much in the way of foreign language skills. Many filipinos, particularly in rural areas, haven't completed secondary education and haven't encountered many, if any, English-speakers, be they foreigners or fellow filipinos.

    My nephew has just completed his primary education and starts secondary school here in Davao in June. Although most of his lessons were (supposed to be) taught in English, the language actually used was "Vislish" - mostly Visayan with a few English words for good measure. My wife's written English is considerably better than her spoken English.
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  14. Anon220806
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    Anon220806 Well-Known Member

    And "boyo" ?
  15. Maharg
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    Maharg Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Markham's right. A lot of my wife's family can't speak English.
  16. aposhark
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    aposhark Well-Known Member Lifetime Member

    Same with my wife's family who are in the province.
  17. Anon04576
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    Anon04576 Well-Known Member

    All of my wife's relatives are in the city and I'm pretty sure of the many I have met they are all fluent. Same when I've visited touristy places all have been fluent but I guess that makes sense when there are lots of foreigners around. Surprisingly some who are very good at English are quite shy to advertise the fact and revert to "nose bleed"
  18. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    That is an all-too-common occurrence. I hate it when Mae and I go anywhere and I ask a fairly simple question of one of the ubiquitous assistants to which the assistant invariably addresses Mae and answers in Visayan. It is only when Mae notices my ears steaming, she will suggest that the assistant talks to me!
  19. Timmers
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    Timmers Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    You're right Mark, I should have been more specific, I was really talking about the Filipinos that make it to the UK, if my wife was not fluent in English she would never have made it to the UK, I wouldn't have given her a second look in as we say :D

    I have met lots of Filipinos who cannot speak English when I have worked in the sticks there.
  20. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    In the ten years I lived in Wales, I never heard a Welshman say "boyo". Only English imitating Welsh say that!
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