IELTS-Cambridge proficiency

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Hi there!

Has anyone got any experience regarding these two tests, are they pretty much the same thing in the eyes of Australian immigration?

We're looking into moving to Australia. One of the requirements for certain type of visa is an IELTS test result (they'll have me regardless because I am British traininig in Britain, the test just adds points).

Looked into it, it's £100.

I've already got a Cambridge Proficiency in English diploma thing, had it for years, my understanding is that it shows the same level of knowledge as a IELTS score of 7, ie proficient.

Sitting IELTS would not be a problem as such, but it's 100 pounds more than I'd like to spend.

I've sent quite a number of emails to various people within the Australian immigration dept, no reply as yet and it's been months. I was wandering if anybody has encountered this problem before and could shed some light?

Thank you.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

English exams usually have an expiry date on them. Most countries I believe will accept within 2 years. If looking purely for points you may have to do the exam

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As Anna mentioned, the English results on any exam are only valid for a period of two years.

If you wrote the exam years ago, it will need to be rewritten if you wish the points from it.

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Thank you for your replies. However, in the case of Cambridge proficiency the test's validity is for life.

http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/general-english/cpe.html

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Thank you for your replies. However, in the case of Cambridge proficiency the test's validity is for life.

http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/general-english/cpe.html

Yes, the IELTS exam itself and those who provides them does not provide expirations.

However, the institutions to whom you will submit it to may ask that exam be done within their prescribed expiration and for foreign nurses wishing to submit it to CGFNS via visa screening they set it on a 2 year limit.

Some universities in Australia and UK even set requirements that IELTS needs to have been done not more than 1 year (a.k.a 1 year expiration) for foreign students who would like to attend their school or they have to enroll in a English course as part of their curriculum if they cannot give a passing IELTS exam result that is not more than 1 year old from the beginning of the enrollment process.

So, it depends on whom you will submit it to and the usual is not more than 2 years.

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Thank you for your replies. However, in the case of Cambridge proficiency the test's validity is for life.

http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/general-english/cpe.html

It is up to the licensing agency and all of them want the English exams to be done within a 24 month period. That is how an exam is determined for its expiration time.

The exams themselves do not have expiration dates on them, never have. But the place that you are applying to does, and that is what you need to go by.

Canada, Australia, the US and the UK want to see exam scores completed within the past two years at the very least if for nursing.

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I see. Thanks for that. The Australian immigration website is rather spare with these fine details.

Never occured to me, as I enrolled to Uni with a 6-7 years old CPE, they didn't bat an eyelid.

I guess £100 is worth it if it saves me all this palaver. Doesn't make sense this 'expiry' date, should it be accompanied by a section 5 or something, in case my knowledge evaporates into fine theatre vapours or get a very early onset of dementia:D...I guess it makes sense if you reside in a non English speaking country.

Cool, thanks for that, everyone, really appreciated.

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We still people that reside in English speaking countries that do not have good English skills, and we also see people that speak English, not be able to pass this exam.

What a university does is their business, licensure as an RN or immigration is much stricter in everything.

Patients lives are at stake.

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yep. One doesn't renew one's driving licence every two years, or the RN licensure, or the graduating diploma etc. An exam such as CPE or IELTS is quite tough and reflects something;might not be as vitally important as the right to practice, it's still a tough exam meant to show competencies. And that's where I don't quite understand the logic behind the 'expiry' time.

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Actually they do renew licenses every two years in most countries and driver's licenses are renewed as well, usually for four years. There are couple in the US that are for years, but nursing licenses always are renewed; that is where the BONs get their money from.

We are telling you what is required when a country or government asks for proof of passing the English exam, it is your choice as to what to do with it.

And if one has prepared and passed the exam before, and they are using English all of the time, then it is not an issue for them to take the exam again. However, it is well documented fact that not all continue to practice English after the pass the exams and their skills get rusty. Nursing and a patient's life is at stake.

It comes down to the fact that if you wish to work in another country, you need to meet their requirements and this is one of them.

Best of luck to you. All three moderators of this forum have told you the same thing, you need to decide what you are going to do with it.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

In the UK you do not renew your driving license until aged 70, but nursing license is now mainly annually which I think has more to do with the cost and expensive when done every 3 years as it used to be.

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Ok, thanks for taking the time to discuss this with me. It probably saved me lots of time for later on, once again, really appreciated.

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