This is what is written in working in the UK official website:
http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/workin ... tests.html
Organisations wishing for details of their English language tests to be published in this release of guidance should provide details of the test by 30th November 2007
While in the theory it is still possible to get letter from university but in reality it is highly unlike it is going to happen for the following reasons:
- To be recognised, the university need to provide details of their test method, curriculum (probably) by 30th November 2007 to be assessed I could imagine, the universities will not be bothered to do this.
-The level of English proficiency for 3 year undergraduate study or 4 year master’s degree is still far below the IELTS level of 8.0. FACT: there are quite many Chinese students who did BSc, MEng degree (take 4 years) in english speaking countries. if they are tested for IELTS after finishing their degree I seriously doubt it that they will pass IELTS of 8.0.
I could testify that I have seen many Chinese students who have finished their Bachelors degree in English speaking countries in subject which need highly numerical skills rather than literacy skills. The subjects include IT, engineering, science, finance/accounting. If they want to enrol to Master’s degrees for further study they sometimes take IELTS test, I have not heard any of them have got 8.0. What I have seen the majority get less than 7.0.
Let just hope that IELTS requirement for 8.0 which is currently just aspirational and it will not happen.
From What I have observed in this forum, it seems that there are still a lot of people did not understand or aware how IETLS 8.0 means. This is because many of the current HSMP people is just using the letter from universities without any knowledge how IELTS 8.0 looks like.
Event if U r a highly skilled from the countries where English is official language (even native speaker, I will say) there is no guarantee that U will get 8.0 do not believe that, try it.This is especially true if U do not need excellent communication in your profesion such as Solicitors/Barristers, teachers, Politicians, Reporters, etc do need.
U might not be allowed to take IELTS test if U r native speaker because IELTS test centre will not allow the native speaker to test their english but if U do not let them know that U r native speaker, U might still do this.
I know in this forum someone have claimed that in his observation people who finished BSc in the English speaking countries could discern that his students who finished have English profiency equivalent will get IELTS 8.0. Probably true but this occasion is very very very few.
Also Because I seriously doubt that many people understand what IELTS 8.0 means. Probably what he has seen is just equivalent to 7.0 or 7.5 is the highest.
apply4hsmp wrote:
Well there is one thing to note IELTS is not mandatory for people who can show they studied english medium school at graduation.
If it is, why so much hue and cry ?