{"id":46653,"date":"2019-01-25T11:50:15","date_gmt":"2019-01-25T19:50:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/world.edu\/?p=46653"},"modified":"2019-01-25T11:50:15","modified_gmt":"2019-01-25T19:50:15","slug":"higher-english-entry-standards-for-international-students-wont-necessarily-translate-to-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/higher-english-entry-standards-for-international-students-wont-necessarily-translate-to-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Higher English entry standards for international students won\u2019t necessarily translate to success"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nFor some time,\u00a0lowering standards<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0inadequate English language proficiency<\/a>\u00a0have dominated discussions about international students in Australia.\u00a0Studies<\/a>\u00a0show many international students struggle in their relationships, with their finances, feelings of isolation and belonging, all of which affect their educational experience.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0suggestion<\/a>\u00a0that raising entry standards would ensure success and a higher quality of international graduates is not necessarily true. Achieving a higher level of English proficiency through a standardised test\u00a0will not guarantee<\/a>\u00a0international students\u2019\u00a0motivation<\/a>\u00a0to fully participate in their degree programs.<\/p>\n

Universities need to look beyond language proficiency at the point of entry, and do more to support all facets of academic, linguistic and social development. These include discipline-specific language, mental health, and culturally appropriate pastoral support throughout their degrees. While language proficiency is the most important factor,\u00a0these<\/a>\u00a0other factors have been shown to impact students\u2019 academic performance.<\/p>\n

Focusing only on increasing entry scores on standardised tests like the International English Language Testing System (IELTS<\/a>) is unlikely to help. We also need to provide them with support after they\u2019ve arrived at an Australian university. If we don\u2019t, the number of international students who choose to study in Australia could decrease, hurting the\u00a0A$32 billion<\/a>\u00a0a year industry.<\/p>\n

What is IELTS and how does it work?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

One of the most popular proficiency tests is the\u00a0International English Language Testing System<\/a>, which costs A$340 and consists of four tests. Despite its dominance in global language testing, the IELTS has been criticised by university academic and administrative staff for being a\u00a0poor predictor<\/a>\u00a0of academic performance.<\/p>\n

The federal government\u00a0requires<\/a>\u00a0student visa applicants to achieve at least a 5.5 on the test. Alternatively, they can get a 5.0 and do at least 10 weeks of intensive English language learning, or a 4.5 and do at least 20 weeks of intensive English language learning. The highest a person can achieve is a 9.0.<\/p>\n

The test is comprised of a 15-minute\u00a0speaking test<\/a>, 40 multiple choice questions each in listening and reading, and a two-part writing test. Here is what a 5.0 sounds like:
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