If you are reading this blog, you are probably wondering "Why do I need IELTS?". Why is your employer, manpower agency, embassy, or relative abroad asking you to take this test? Chances are you probably think it is “unfair” to complete an English exam just to be able to study, work, or move abroad to live with your family.
Well, regardless of whether you think it is fair or not, language exams are here to stay. But if you want to have a better understanding of why you need to take IELTS, read on.
Imagine going to a shop in your own country, but the people working there do not understand your requests or mix up your orders because they cannot speak the language well. You would probably end up complaining to management to find staff who can interact with customers and get the job done.
That is why IELTS has become an important prerequisite for migration to the major English-speaking countries. For many establishments, it does not make sense to hire someone who cannot follow basic instructions. IELTS helps ensure the person they do hire can readily fit in language-wise.
Living in another country is very challenging if you cannot communicate with the locals. Not understanding the basics means you will have difficulty doing everyday things like buying groceries, commuting to and from work or school, and asking for directions. It also means it will be hard for you to keep your job or find another source of income.
Governments do not want such liabilities in their country since the assumption is that if you are there, you have a purpose of some sort. So unless you are wealthy enough to hire your own interpreter and ensure you can afford to stay there, you will need to prove your English language ability.
A big draw for many professionals is to get a certificate or degree from a prestigious university that can boost their employability. However, it will be difficult to perform well if you do not have the minimum language requirements. While certain courses may not need a high English language level, others do, such as engineering, nursing, or any of the postgraduate courses. Top universities understand this, so they will not take you in unless they can confirm that you will survive their classes and not drop out because of language difficulties.
Some schools and even employment agencies claim they can get you in their country without IELTS, which is clearly “good news” to many who do not want to spend money on the IELTS exam or take up English review classes in their home country.
However, many such offers come with a catch: You must study English for a few months there. Although some people readily grab the offer since they already want to set foot in their “dream country,” if they just did the math, they might realize that studying for three months or more is actually more costly than joining a review center at home and getting the IELTS score you need.
Another problem is if your eventual employer STILL requires an IELTS exam before offering you a job since different companies have their own hiring procedures.
There are many English language tests out there. Some may be much cheaper than the IELTS, while others promote their automated capabilities. But for more than two decades, IELTS has consistently been the English language test that companies and universities trust. Besides that, many claim there is a more authentic feel to the IELTS exam compared to the other tests.
Therefore, if a potential employer is already asking you to send in your credentials or it is the start of the school enrollment season, it is best to take a test that nearly everyone trusts. You will save both time and money in the end.
Even if you are not enthusiastic about improving your English just to migrate, know there is a reason for taking the IELTS test. Rather than complaining about it, consider it a necessity for you to achieve your goal of moving abroad.