Welcome to the latest edition of IELTS & OET News Tracker. July has seen the reopening of many test centres and continued innovation in test delivery.
The Latest IELTS & OET News
IELTS Indicator – the test you can take at home
More than 280 universities now accept the IELTS Indicator test. The following institutions are amongst them…
DePaul University, Imperial College London, Loyola Marymount University, Macquarie University, Massey University, Saïd Business School – University of Oxford, Saint Mary’s University, Syracuse University, University of Adelaide, University of Northern British Columbia and University of Technology Sydney
IELTS Indicator is a test taken online in your home (or someone else’s home).
It has been designed for those unable to take a language test in their local test centre due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The test currently takes place every Wednesday, and you can choose the day and time of your Speaking test.
Since it is available in over 65 countries, it is also handy for those who live a long way from a traditional test centre.
IELTS Indicator is not valid for work or immigration. However, if you are a medical professional, another solution will arrive at a screen near you soon…
OET@Home
The General Medical Council (GMC), the UK’s independent regulator for doctors, has now formally announced that they will accept a new version of the OET test taken at home.
Unlike IELTS Indicator, OET@Home incorporates full-security measures using ProProctor by Prometric. The security measures include “…remote monitoring by live human proctors, 360° environment checks, continuous biometric facial and audio detection, and locking down the candidate’s computer to run the test only and no other applications.”.
As a result, it can be valid for work and immigration purposes.
A pilot of the OET@Home test took place in 30 countries recently. Its owners expect to fully roll out the test to all candidates in September 2020.
That’s not all, OET Education has announced that some American organisations now accept the test.
Doctors assessed by ECFMG can now submit OET test results, and the Florida and Oregon state boards for nurses also now accept OET.
Studying Abroad
A new graduate visa will launch in the UK in 2021.
The new visa system will allow an unlimited number of students to enter the UK. They will also be allowed to work for two years after graduating. PhD students will be able to stay for three years.
The new rules seem set to make the UK a more attractive option than America, where hundreds of thousands of students may have to leave after their courses went online.
International Employment Opportunities
Details are now available for the UK’s new immigration system which parliament intends to introduce in January 2021. The new policy ends freedom of movement for most European citizens and creates a level playing field for the rest of the world.
Immigration to the UK had been dropping since 2015 but saw a rise in 2019.
The new system points-based system will award points for multiple factors, one of the most prominent being your ability to speak English.
Proof of your English ability together with a job offer from an approved employer will get you 50 of the 70 points you need.
The remaining points can be acquired if the job offer has a salary of at least £25,600 (reduced from £30,000).
Specific jobs in health and education will also carry an award of 20 points with a minimum salary of £20,480.
Health and care visa
There will be a fast-track visa for doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. This visa will have a reduced fee with a decision made within three weeks.
This new visa will also be exempt from the immigration health surcharge, currently set at £400 a year – and due to rise to £624 in October.
Further Reading
If you want to keep abreast of the latest developments, follow our blog, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts for up-to-the-minute news.
See you in August 2020!