TOEIC v A1 test Can someone help us please

[KevinRochford]

Hi there,my wife needs a basic english test for her settlement visa, to cut a long story short we rushed into finding an A1 english test and today my wife took the TOEIC test.

Am i right in saying that the TOEIC test will be a lot harder than the A1 test?

She has been to the UK with me and managed ok with her english but today she said the TOEIC test was hard and she could not answer all the questions, it was the speaking and listening test she done today and the written test was done a couple of weeks ago somewhere on Asoke Road, BKK.

If she does fail, does anyone have addreses or phone numbers in BKK or KORAT where she can do the A1 framework test? and how much will it cost?

Thanks for any help, i've been searching the internet for answers but keep going round in circles

Thanks again

[toddmeister]

we are going to use Visa2go in Bangkok in a couple of months for the A1 test. Its 7000baht and is only speaking and listening

http://www.visa-2go.com

they are actually a sponsor of this forum

[Visa2Go]

Hi there,my wife needs a basic english test for her settlement visa, to cut a long story short we rushed into finding an A1 english test and today my wife took the TOEIC test.

Am i right in saying that the TOEIC test will be a lot harder than the A1 test?

She has been to the UK with me and managed ok with her english but today she said the TOEIC test was hard and she could not answer all the questions, it was the speaking and listening test she done today and the written test was done a couple of weeks ago somewhere on Asoke Road, BKK.

If she does fail, does anyone have addreses or phone numbers in BKK or KORAT where she can do the A1 framework test? and how much will it cost?

Thanks for any help, i've been searching the internet for answers but keep going round in circles

Thanks again

I've heard that the TOIEC test is more difficult that the "A1" test offered by EMD, which we administer in Thailand, but to be truthful, not having seen the content, I can't be sure about that. BUT - if they made your wife take a written test, they've subjected her to a higher standard than is necessary, because the requirement in the Immigration Rules is to show competence in speaking and listening only. I don't know why they would do that if they knew that she was taking a test to apply for a settlement visa.
If she passes, all well and good. If she fails, she should ask them for a breakdown of the marks, and if they exceeded the pass level in speaking and listening she could try asking them for a certificate that she has passed in those parts. If she wants a guide to the standard required in our test, she should look at this video (skip the first 3 minutes and ignore the reading and writing download):-

http://www.emdenglish.com/a1_sample_test.php

Let us know how it turns out with TOIEC

By the way, if it's convenient, we will be in Korat on 24th/25th March. We have a pretty ful schedule already, but could try and fit her in at some stage.

[Siam Andy]

My gf took the BULATS test in Bangkok, which is Univ. of Cambridge based exam.

We were told that's it's a computer-adaptive test which was explained that the test adjusts or 'adapts' to the user level. So if you get an answer wrong, the next question will be easier as it drops a level and if you get it right it increases in difficultly.

To get a A1 on the BULATS you need to score from 0 to 19 (out of 100). There is no "pass" or "fail" as it only indicates language proficiency. And as A1 is the first level indicating a rank beginner, you can't score below A1.

They also gave us a complete package that tested all four language skills of reading, listening, speaking and even writing.

We got that for 5,200 baht.

What I like best was that we tested on a Friday and we had our certificates delivered by registered mail on Wednesday. (We could have had them on Monday if we elected to go back and pick them up.)

[Visa2Go]

My gf took the BULATS test in Bangkok, which is Univ. of Cambridge based exam.

To get a A1 on the BULATS you need to score from 0 to 19 (out of 100). There is no "pass" or "fail" as it only indicates language proficiency. And as A1 is the first level indicating a rank beginner, you can't score below A1.

They also gave us a complete package that tested all four language skills of reading, listening, speaking and even writing.

Sorry, I'm not sure I understand that. The inference is that a score of 0 will still be an A1 pass, which can't be right. I was informed that one or two of those whom we tested yesterday were previous BULAT failures.

I also wonder how many sponsors want to subject their partners to the additional stress of reading and writing tests that they don't need

[Siam Andy]

Sorry, I'm not sure I understand that. The inference is that a score of 0 will still be an A1 pass, which can't be right. I was informed that one or two of those whom we tested yesterday were previous BULAT failures.

A1 is the first level of the Common European Framework. It is the first of six "bands" from A1 to C2. Within any band there is a low, medium and high score.

A1 is an absolute rank beginner. At the lowest level within that band you can't say much beyound "Hello" and "I am fine." At the higher end, you can add a few more functional sentences and phrases.

Hence the BULATS computer test score of 0 to 19 as they say here.

An A1 is like being on the ground floor of a building with no basement: you can't go lower.

Perhaps that why the ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe) level for A1 is actually a zero.

ALTE rates the six levels from 0 to 5. My research has found that Cambrdige ESOL, the adminsters of BULATS, are actually a founding member of ALTE, so I'm guessing they know what they're talking about.

What I don't understand is how a test that assesses a rank beginner level needs a passing score.

While my GF was taking her tests, the manager at the BULATS centre explained that there is no 'pass' or 'fail' with BULATS -- it only measures language proficiency from beginning to even native speaker levels

He added that everyone who's taken the test got an A1 or higher though he did say one girl didn't complete the test because she couldn't use a mouse.

I'm glad we took BULATS. It certainly was the cheapest solution.

And I wonder why some tests that only tests less skills -- listening and speaking -- actually cost more.

Hmmm...

[KevinRochford]

Hi again, i've been waiting for my wife to get her results from the TOEIC
in the speaking test she scored 80/200 and the writing she scored 110/200.
From what i can find she has a 'orange certificate' which is the lowest one of 5 and the TOEIC is marked out of 1000
i've read somewhere she needs 80 and 120 and read other places that dont' give a comparative score for the A1 framework test.
Does anyone know if the scores are good enough?
Thanks for the replies to the original post

[maokaang]

If you can find the test she has taken in the link below (PDF), the required grades (TOEIC on page 8) are listed next to each test:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/si...s-partners.pdf

[Merseymike]

Irrespective of the scores, the certificate will not be adequate as it's not the speaking/writing elements she needs to pass, but the speaking/listening elements.

Also be aware that the UKBA is in the process of drawing up a revised list of approved test providers:-

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/em...iders/#header1

This could mean that a currently approved provider could cease to become so. The new list is meant to be effective from April, but there's still no sign of it being published.

[ddwjg]

This thread seems to be doing little to explain to the O/P the big difference between the "A1 Test" and the "ESOL test", the latter of which is the route to avoid the LIUK test.

The A1 test is only required for new settlement applicants, or people who have to renew FLR within the UK, and have not attained the ESOL or LIUK qualifications.

If posters on this thread only mention 'the test' or 'test centres', I, for one do not know which test is being referenced, as the O/P has asked for help re distinguishing between these tests e.g. Merseymike's last link only seems to refer to ESOL test centres.

Dave.

Dave.

[prioritypress]

Hi again, i've been waiting for my wife to get her results from the TOEIC
in the speaking test she scored 80/200 and the writing she scored 110/200.
From what i can find she has a 'orange certificate' which is the lowest one of 5 and the TOEIC is marked out of 1000
i've read somewhere she needs 80 and 120 and read other places that dont' give a comparative score for the A1 framework test.
Does anyone know if the scores are good enough?
Thanks for the replies to the original post

My gf has just got here and has a Listening/Reading TOEIC certificate taken in January in Bangkok. She got 270 in the Listening (out of 495)....she said she mucked it up because she was half asleep! An A1 Level pass is 60.

She need's to take the Speaking/Writing Test as well to have an "A1 Level Test Equivalent" because you only need the Listening/Speaking parts.

If all that makes sense

For those in the UK...Have a look at this link:

https://www.uk.etsglobal.org/store/a...%2F2011&step=2

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/si...s-partners.pdf

Equivalency table:

http://secure.vec.bc.ca/toefl-equivalency-table.cfm


Nick

EDIT - Page 8 of the above PDF - TOEIC A1 Listening - 60 Speaking - 50

[ddwjg]

Well I'm getting even more confused. I think I'll retire from this thread.Byeee.

Dave.

[prioritypress]

Irrespective of the scores, the certificate will not be adequate as it's not the speaking/writing elements she needs to pass, but the speaking/listening elements.

I spoke to someone at ETS Global today and basically for Visa purposes only the speaking/listening parts of each certificate are looked at....but you end up taking two tests instead of one.


Nick

[te2008]

.she said she mucked it up because she was half asleep!

So what time was your Gf appointment.

[Merseymike]

The link I posted above, so as to avoid confusion, states:-

Providers of tests for migrants applying under the points-based system or as partners

If a migrant wants to enter or remain in the UK under the points-based system, or as the partner of a settled person or British citizen, they may need to pass an English language test before they apply to us. This English language test must be provided by one of our approved test providers.
We are currently conducting an exercise to produce a new list of approved test providers. Applications to be included on the list are now closed, and the new list will be in place for April 2011. It will replace all existing lists currently in place.

I undertake tests in the UK on behalf of English Management Direct (EMD), and this afternoon I've learnt from EMD that the UKBA is to imminently publish its new list of approved providers for the PBS and spouse/partner language test.

EMD will no longer be an approved provider of the test, and they've instructed their test centres to not take any more bookings, and to cancel bookings already made. Those who have already sat the test with an EMD test centre will have the test marked and will be given the result. The UKBA is also due to publish transitional arrangements that address what will happen to those who now present an EMD pass certificate that was legitimately obtained prior to the firm's removal from the list of approved providers.

I'm only aware of how this effects EMD. It may be that other providers have been removed from the approved list too, but that will only be apparent once the UKBA formally publishes the new list.

[prioritypress]

This is all getting a bit confusing but...

As posted above my gf has a Listening/Reading TOEIC certificate taken in Bangkok. Is this ok? Is the fact that it's a TOEIC certificate enough? (she didn't take it at an approved centre...all the certificate has on it is TOEIC and her score).

I realise she has to take the listening/speaking part...or shall I just get her to do both parts again at ETS Global in London? (another £90 down the drain).

Nick

[Merseymike]

The Immigration Rules require that the person applying for a settlement visa must have a pass certificate from an approved provider in the speaking and listening elements. Evidently, some providers have sought to muddy the waters, and require people to undertake 2 tests to get the one desired result.

As things stand, a TOEIC certificate (or certificates) that show(s) the candidate to have passed both the speaking and listening elements, is/are sufficient for the purposes of meeting the requirements of the Rules. However, as the UKBA has not published its revised list of approved providers as yet, who's to say what's right or wrong?

[Paul.A]

Be interesting to find out how long will these test certificates will actually be valid for if you have a test pass already with EMD.

[Tobias]

I think we will have to wait for the UKBA to issue their guidance to be sure. I very much expect that all those who have obtained a currently recognised qualification will be fine if their applications are made in the not too distant future.

[Siam Andy]

...some providers have sought to muddy the waters, and require people to undertake 2 tests to get the one desired result.

As things stand, a TOEIC certificate (or certificates) that show(s) the candidate to have passed both the speaking and listening elements, is/are sufficient for the purposes of meeting the requirements of the Rules.

Mike the TOEIC Speaking test includes writing. And you have to take a separate TOEIC exam to get the listening.