With the world becoming increasingly accessible, it is no surprise that many of us are choosing to live abroad. The process of completing immigration paperwork is a pain in the back side, and one of the most bureaucratic works of $&*+ that I have ever seen is the English test requirement for Australian immigration. It is no secret that these English tests are annoying, but for English speakers, they can also be a source of embarrassment, as they are not a walk in the park.
There are various requirements for the acquisition of a permanent residency visa in Australia, and I am applying through the points-tested scheme. What this means is that a certain amount of points (minimum of 60) are required to obtain an invitation to apply for a permanent residency. That's right, there are minimum requirements to queue up for an invite! Although for citizens of English-speaking countries, an English proficiency test is not technically required, the points for the English test are a maximum of 20 points, and can make or break your application.
There is sufficient evidence suggesting that these English tests are not easy as pie. There have been a few stand-out stories including an Irish veterinarian who did not qualify for a permanent residency invitation because of her low Pearson English test score!! I also happen to have gone through rigorous educational training in the US, and have now lived in British Commonwealth countries for the past six years. Not to mention I have several scientific publications in peer reviewed journals. And who bombed the test? This gal.
I looked on the web for other testing options and came across the Pearson Test of English (PTE). I will warn you that at the time of writing, there was only a few anecdotal posts comparing the different exams. The reason I chose Pearson as my second English test was because the first exam had knocked back my confidence in my ability to write, and Pearson has a unique way of scoring core skills such as writing.
This time around, I studied for a good 16 hours. The tasks are very unique to this exam, and I am almost certain that even quick thinkers would do terribly if they were not aware of the test format. Pearson itself has paid practice tests with score analysis. After coughing up to $330 AUD to take the exam, though, I could not part with more money, so I opted for the frugal route. I borrowed a copy of the PTE practice book from the library and used some online resources (i.e. Youtube). A Youtube channel I found extremely helpful was E2Language, although it has yet to be seen if I did well on this exam. Any of my success in this convoluted exam would have to be attributed to their content. Those who need additional help can also subscribe to a membership that allows access to more study materials.
There is a lot of red tape to step through on the path to residency abroad, and I feel like I am slowly making my way through. I have been told that the shenanigans of acquiring a permanent residency are much more challenging than getting citizenship down the line. I have now sat both the IELTS and PTE, with the hopes of acquiring the illusive 20 points for immigration (PS: I did indeed complete the exam with all 90s). My warning to you, native English-speaker, is to take the time to study or hire a tutor.