UK Settlement visa - language test

[backtofront]

When applying for a UK settlement visa the applicant needs to pass a language test. How does one organise this and can the applicant get away with spelling mistakes, bad grammar and broken English. 

Edited October 13, 2017 by backtofront

[theoldgit]

When applying for a UK settlement visa the applicant needs to pass a language test. How does one organise this and can the applicant get away with spelling mistakes, bad grammar and broken English. 

The test is a simple speaking test between two candidates, at least if it's taken in Thailand, there's no written test so no chance of spelling mistakes.
The examiner won't be looking for university degree grammar, just that the candidates can communicate effectively with one and other, if one candidate fails to reach the required level, the other can still pass.
Not sure of the test centers here, I'm sure someone will advise.

[backtofront]

Have found the following. Ten thousand baht a shot? Nothing but a money gouging process.

 

BC Bangkok The Landmark Bangkok Hotel, 138 Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok

BC Bangkok College of Management, 8th Floor, Wave Place Building, 55 Wireless Road, Patumwan, Bangkok (computer based testing)

Bangkok Pullman Grande Sukhumvit, 30 Sukhumvit 21 (Asoke) road, Bangkok

Bangkok IDP Thailand, 313 CP Tower 4th floor, Silom Road, Bangrak, Bangkok,

Bangkok FYI Center - Building 2, 5th Floor, Room# 508-509, 2525 Rama IV Road, Klongtoei, Bangkok (computer based testing).

 

Anyone done this recently? Do they serve tea and buns? Any time limits or is a pass a pass however long it takes to make the application?

 

 

[backtofront]

This thread answers most of the questions I had

[rasg]

£150 in the UK when my wife took hers 18 months ago. IMHO it's easier for a nervous candidate too as it is just her and the examiner. My wife did hers at Trinity College in Hammersmith while she was here on a visit visa. You can take a look at real tests by looking at the Trinity College feed on YouTube.

 

They changed the rules early this year and she will need A2 for FLR and there isn't much difference between A1 and A2. It saves £150 here in the UK.

Edited October 13, 2017 by rasg

[7by7]

5 hours ago, backtofront said:

This thread answers most of the questions I had

Indeed.

 

If you have any further questions not covered there, feel free to ask.

[brewsterbudgen]

The British Council and IDP both hold IELTS Life Skills A1 and B1 tests in Bangkok. Make sure you don't confuse it with the Academic or General Training IELTS tests which are much higher level.

Two candidates are tested together as interaction and communication skills are assessed, not just language. There is a short Listening test, the rest is Speaking. The test takes between 16-18 minutes.

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[rasg]

The A1 test in the UK is only six minutes.

[brewsterbudgen]

The A1 test in the UK is only six minutes.

Yes, the Trinity test is different. However, IELTS Life Skills can also be taken in the UK. In Bangkok, you have no choice.

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[rasg]

2 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Yes, the Trinity test is different. However, IELTS Life Skills can also be taken in the UK. In Bangkok, you have no choice.

It was a simple thing to do as my wife was here on her second visit visa any way an my work is quiet for a while after Christmas.

 

It has been discussed on here before where two candidates in Thailand were totally mismatched on their levels of English and the other candidate spoke very quickly and poster was worried as his girlfriend didn’t understand a word that was said.

[brewsterbudgen]

It was a simple thing to do as my wife was here on her second visit visa any way an my work is quiet for a while after Christmas.
 
It has been discussed on here before where two candidates in Thailand were totally mismatched on their levels of English and the other candidate spoke very quickly and poster was worried as his girlfriend didn’t understand a word that was said.

The poster's fears were unfounded. I can assure you that the candidates are assessed individually and it's the Examiner's job to manage candidates with differing levels of language. Being paired with a stronger candidate usually benefits the weaker one. There is actually no requirement to respond to the other candidate, as the Examiner asks most of the questions.

The Life Skills test was already well established by Cambridge University (it was then called Skills for Life) before it was chosen by UKVI as their preferred test for A1/B1, and managed under the IELTS group. It's to most candidates' advantage that communication skills are part of the assessment, not just language.

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[7by7]

With respect, guys, you had this conversation in the topic backtofront linked to; do you really need to repeat it here?

[backtofront]

Tried booking an A1 test. Started with the British Council. But could only find test dates for next year. So tried IDP.  Got through to the last page of the booking process to be told "Error Contact IT Support". But no indication of how. 

 

Frustrating! 

 

 

Edited October 18, 2017 by backtofront

[Drago]

7 hours ago, backtofront said:

Tried booking an A1 test. Started with the British Council. But could only find test dates for next year.

My wife recently did hers with the British Council and I have just checked their website. They have five remaining dates available this year.

 

They can be found here; https://thailand.ielts.britishcouncil.org/iorpsea/html/registration/showExamSessionListUKVIServlet.do

 

And this is what you are looking at;

 

 

[brewsterbudgen]

My wife recently did hers with the British Council and I have just checked their website. They have five remaining dates available this year.
 
They can be found here; https://thailand.ielts.britishcouncil.org/iorpsea/html/registration/showExamSessionListUKVIServlet.do
 
And this is what you are looking at;
 
 

You can also take the test at IDP, so there are plenty of opportunities to take it in Bangkok. IDP test at their offices in CP Tower which is next to Sala Daeng BTS.

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[backtofront]

Thx. Tried the web site and fell at the last hurdle. Have to phone tomorrow. 

 

[Cello]

My wife got her results today. She was worried she'd failed because as she couldn't understand the other Pakistani candidate being tested, but she got through.

 

We went with british Council. One thing to note:

 

They told her that she would receive an email by 17:00 yesterday if she had passed. No email, no pass. I told her to chill the evening yesterday and emailed the company who gave me a tracking number for Thai post. Turned up in the post the next day (today!) she got her certificate saying she had passed.

 

Typical needless confusion. I'll miss this country but not these pointless heart racing times because someone doesn't know their job.
 

[theoldgit]

49 minutes ago, Cello said:

We went with british Council. One thing to note:

 

They told her that she would receive an email by 17:00 yesterday if she had passed. No email, no pass. I told her to chill the evening yesterday and emailed the company who gave me a tracking number for Thai post. Turned up in the post the next day (today!) she got her certificate saying she had passed.

 

Typical needless confusion. I'll miss this country but not these pointless heart racing times because someone doesn't know their job.
 

I suspect they know their job, but they just didn't carry it out.

Interestingly if you take the test when you're visiting the UK you're told the result there and then, so no stress for the candidate.

[brewsterbudgen]

My wife got her results today. She was worried she'd failed because as she couldn't understand the other Pakistani candidate being tested, but she got through.
 
We went with british Council. One thing to note:
 
They told her that she would receive an email by 17:00 yesterday if she had passed. No email, no pass. I told her to chill the evening yesterday and emailed the company who gave me a tracking number for Thai post. Turned up in the post the next day (today!) she got her certificate saying she had passed.
 
Typical needless confusion. I'll miss this country but not these pointless heart racing times because someone doesn't know their job.
 

Congratulations to your wife. The performance of the other candidate would have had no bearing on how your wife was assessed. The Examiners are trained to deal with candidates of differing levels.

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[Cello]

1 minute ago, brewsterbudgen said:

The performance of the other candidate would have had no bearing on how your wife was assessed. The Examiners are trained to deal with candidates of differing levels.
 

Didn't stop her using it as a preemptive excuse though!