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During the run up to the recent changes which were made to the Australian Skilled Migration system, it seems that some of the stories circulating in the media were a little misleading.
We’ve already written about the International English Language Testing System IELTS and the points you get for speaking and writing English at a high level.
We’ve also written about the fact that the English Language Threshold had been raised making it harder for those who don’t hold English as a first language to gain the necessary points.
However, does this mean (as announced in some media outlets) that the the English language requirements for English speaking applicants have been ‘relaxed’, therefore making it easier for Brits to score more points towards their application?
What it is true that you can now score a maximum of 25 points under the new language criteria, compared to only 20 through the previous system, however this cannot be achieved without scoring at least 7.0 through all four components of the IELTS exam.
In fact if anything the rules have been tightened because without taking this exam the maximum points an English speaking applicant can now score is 15, five less than before!
So if you’re reading this and you think the changes means an easy ride then don’t be too sure.
If anything it might be time to start swatting up on your English 
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The last but one paragraph has three errors:
So if YOUR* reading this and you THING* the changes means an easy ride then don’t be TO* sure.
Do I pass the test?
I reckon you do Dave
Thanks for pointing those out
Not long ago I was listening to ABC Radio’s Newsradio. There was an interview about the English Langauge levels of some of the nurses coming to Australia to work – with some criticism of hiring nurses who have sub-par english langauge skills… Especially given the medical profession is an area where clean and accurate communication is very important.
Is there a growing trend towards being more selective in the types of people Australia is willing to accept?
I was half expecting the Rudd Labor Government to be more liberal in their immigration policies after being so critical of the previous government’s handling of illegal immigration, african immigration and citizenship testing.