Those looking to make the cut on IELTS to enter New Zealand can now take a retest for one of the four skills to improve their score.
So far, applicants who don’t clear all the skills–Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking–in one go had to retake all the four segments again.
But IELTS takers can breathe a sigh of relief, as the English language test is now allowing applicants the provision of using One Skill Retake, meaning applicants can apply for another shot at any one skill they may have failed to clear.
IDP Education, which co-manages the English language test, has confirmed the change. Warwick Freeland, Managing Director of IELTS at IDP Education, emphasises the acceptance of One Skill Retake in New Zealand offers a more equitable and flexible alternative for individuals compared to retaking the entire four-skills test.
"One Skill Retake is designed to give IELTS test takers a second opportunity to achieve the score they need for their study, migration, and work goals if they feel their original performance was not representative of their language proficiency," says Freeland.
IELTS One Skill Retake is now available at selected IELTS test centers across more than 110 countries. Those interested can find additional information on the official IDP education website.
The One Skill Retake option enjoys recognition from over 900 organisations. Individuals can check the list of organisations accepting IELTS One Skill Retake on the official website to ensure they meet the language proficiency requirements of their desired institutions or employers.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has also confirmed they will start accepting IELTS One Skill Retake starting December 18, 2023. Jeannie Melville, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, told The Indian Weekender, “We can confirm that we have accepted The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) version of their test which allows for an individual to retake one component of the English Language test…
“...It means that a visa applicant can retake one section of their IELTS test within 60 days in order to meet Immigration New Zealand’s English language requirements, instead of retaking all four sections of the test.”
Melville adds, “The overall band score result is determined by IELTS and indicated on the candidate’s test report form, which they submit to INZ with their visa application.
“The overall band score result is what INZ uses to determine whether the requirements for English language have been met. ”
Industry experts are also quite positive about the move. Saif Shaikh, Director, Immigration Advice New Zealand Limited, says, “This is a significant and positive development for applicants looking to study, work, or migrate to New Zealand.
“This modification is particularly beneficial for applicants applying for occupational registration to boards such as the Nursing Council, Teaching Council, or meeting NZQA requirements for a study visa.
“These entities often have specific minimum IELTS score requirements for each module. Being able to focus on improving just one skill can significantly enhance an applicant's chances of meeting these specific criteria.”
Immigration lawyer and partner at McVeagh Fleming, Arran Hunt, says allowing migrants who clearly already have significant language abilities to retest one of the four components seems to be a fair approach, rather than retesting components they have already shown to be proficient in.
For more details about IELTS One Skill Retake, visit https://ielts.com.au/
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