7 points for English Language

[pakistan]

One of my friend has calculated his points and he got 60 without counting language points. In this situation he needs only 7 for English language. I want to ask that whether it is recommended for him to do IELTS or shoud he rely on written submissions as visa office may give him 7 for language keeping in view his qualification? he is a master degree holder.

 

[NewYorker]

IELTS only, written statement are rarely accepted so why to take a chance and get a rejection in the end.

 

[Jalal1]

Visa officers are not supposed to be innovative in relatively simple matters, i think. Its better to play safe and take IELTS.

 

[coolguy001]

ielts is the only way to claim a point for language proficiency in English...if u dont fulfill the 67 points with proof...ur not eligible...so my advice is u should give ielts instead of written submission...

 

[rupeshhari]

i'd say if your friend studied and worked in UK, US, Australia, Canada, US or South Africa (etc), then s/he might get away with writing a proficiency letter rather than IELTS.

 

[NewYorker]

I actually works and and lives as well as studied in the US for many years. I didn't got away with IELTS test. I am not disagreeing with you but the chances are very slim - not worth to waste time.

 

[wpc71]

I actually works and and lives as well as studied in the US for many years. I didn't got away with IELTS test. I am not disagreeing with you but the chances are very slim - not worth to waste time.

NewYorker! Just kidding but with those many mistakes in the two lines you posted, I would have been more surprised if you HAD gotten away with IELTS!

 

[Leon]

Maybe he got his application proof-read

I have heard a lot of stories about people submitting documents to try to get out of it. Generally if you can say that English is your mother tongue, that's good enough. Anything else is up to the visa officer being in a good mood or not. I have heard of somebody who was an English teacher for several years who didn't have to do it. Somebody else who had a University degree in English as a 2nd language didn't get out of it. It probably depends on how much you claim too. If you claim 16 points, they might want an IELTS while if you claim only 8 or 12, they might not.

 

[jnathan]

I heard in like 6-7 yrs ago that people who studied or stayed in English speaking countries got waiver for IELTS.
But those people now too have to take IELTS, so the only way to claim points for language profi'cy is to have IELTS. go for it, its easy !

 

[Leon]

Back when I immigrated in late 2000 they were not asking for IELTS or TOEFL. You basically got to estimate your own points. I don't even remember having to write anything as for why I thought I deserved those points. They just accepted it. Then they have probably come across people who estimated themselves full points for English without speaking a word of it which is probably why they ask most people for IELTS now.

 

[NewYorker]

I actually works and and lives as well as studied in the US for many years. I didn't got away with IELTS test. I am not disagreeing with you but the chances are very slim - not worth to waste time.

NewYorker! Just kidding but with those many mistakes in the two lines you posted, I would have been more surprised if you HAD gotten away with IELTS!

Hey it was just an example, you have a mistake there too, instead of picking on each other, let me clarify my point - my point is that letter doesn't work no matter how many years you worked and lived in English speaking country. I have seen people are US citizen and living here forever but don't know how to write a sentence.

BTW, I did proof read my application as a rule of thumb, and also I got 16 points in IELTS - Cheers!

 

[rupeshhari]

I know someone who needed few points and wasn't asked for IELTS but like someone said, it was about 5 years ago. This one i know for sure.

I also know a person from last year who didn't have to do IELTS because he lived and studied in the US for a while. This is something i heard second hand, so might not be true.

It might depend on the person who evaluates the application because OP6 doesn't set strict guidelines on it.

If the OP doesn't mind the risk of a bit of a delay then s/he should write a proficiency letter. If a delay would be unbearable and want to avoid the possibility of it, then the OP should take IELTS. If the OP has never lived in an English speaking western country and has never studied in one, I would suggest definitely doing the IELTS.

This is just an opinion (not based on experience).

 

[Leon]

Another point, apart from the delay, if you have 67 points and some of them are for English, it is better if you take the IELTS to know how many points you can get. Say you need to get 12 points for English, you award yourself 12, they ask for IELTS, you have 90 days to get your documents together, you manage to get an IELTS appointment within that time but don't make 12 points. Then basically your application would be gone. If you do the IELTS before and don't get as many points as you need, you have time to try it again or increase your points otherwise, one more year of job experience etc. before you apply.

 

[NewYorker]

Another point, apart from the delay, if you have 67 points and some of them are for English, it is better if you take the IELTS to know how many points you can get. Say you need to get 12 points for English, you award yourself 12, they ask for IELTS, you have 90 days to get your documents together, you manage to get an IELTS appointment within that time but don't make 12 points. Then basically your application would be gone. If you do the IELTS before and don't get as many points as you need, you have time to try it again or increase your points otherwise, one more year of job experience etc. before you apply.

That is very true, that is what I would suggest to anyone. IELTS test dates are mostly one month a prat or so, you will be lucky to get two tests in 90 days with results in your hands.

I agree with Leon, start early.

 

[rupeshhari]

Another point, apart from the delay, if you have 67 points and some of them are for English, it is better if you take the IELTS to know how many points you can get. Say you need to get 12 points for English, you award yourself 12, they ask for IELTS, you have 90 days to get your documents together, you manage to get an IELTS appointment within that time but don't make 12 points. Then basically your application would be gone. If you do the IELTS before and don't get as many points as you need, you have time to try it again or increase your points otherwise, one more year of job experience etc. before you apply.

good point. In my post, both the people that i used as an example needed few points only. One might have only needed 5 or 6 points. Anyone about 8 or higher, i would generally suggest doing IELTS if not from an English speaking country.