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How to use the IELTS

scores to hire the right employees

Part I What is IELTS & CEPAS? StatisticsPart II How to identify a competent English

applicant?

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Common English Proficiency Assessment Scheme(CEPAS)

benchmark the English proficiency of localuniversity graduates

University Grants Committee sponsors the fulltest fee for all final year university students in

UGC programmes who agree to a referencebeing made in their transcripts to the fact that

they have taken the IELTS test.

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IELTS CEPAS Management Unit

+

IELTS CEPAS

Management Unit

1. Deliver IELTS Tests

2. Promote IELTS to

Employers

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IELTS in Hong Kong

UGC commissioned use of IELTS 2002

8 Institutions: HKU, CU, Poly U, City U . . .

70% of all graduating students in 2007/08

Costs fully reimbursed Since 2002: 45,000 students + with over

11000 enrolled for 2007/08

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Government Recognition

IELTS 6.5 with no sub-score under 6Equivalent to a pass in the CRE (CommonRecruitment Examination) Use ofEnglish

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Why IELTS?

International standard

Reliable

Comprehensive High penetration rate

The most recent & accurate English assessment

Cost Saving

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International standard

300 test centres in 120 countries

Recognized by organizations, institutions,government all over the world

e.g. US government

Global recognition system: www.ielts.org
http://hkma_aug_07_v.2.ppt/http://hkma_aug_07_v.2.ppt/

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Development and research

Extensive program of research, validation andtest development

Test material - Cambridge ESOL

Many stages over 2 years

Reliable

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1.Commissioning

2. Editing

3. Pre-testing

4. Analysis and banking of material

5. Standards fixing

6. Question paper construction

2 year cycle

Test Question Production

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ComprehensiveAccess and report performance in all four language skills

Writing1 hour2 tasks

Speaking11-14 minutes

3 parts

Reading1 hour40 questions3 articles

Listening

30 minutes40 questions

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The IELTS TRF

(Test Report Form)

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The 9 band scale

9 - expert user

8 - very good user7 - good user6 - competent user5 - modest user

4 - limited user3 - extremely limited user2 - intermittent user

1 - non-user

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Over 700,000 candidates take IELTS every year

Over 150,000 candidates take IELTS in China

Over 21,000 candidates take IELTS in HK in 2006 CEPAS: 70% of all graduating students in 2007/08

Since 2002: 56,000 university graduates + 11000enrolled for 2007/08

Penetration

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Candidature in HK

2028 2017 29613328

4267 6247

18352

17211

18942

21000

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

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The most recent English Assessment Taken

HKCE 5 years ago

HKAL 3 years ago IELTS less than 1 year

HKCE & HKAL equivalent linkhttp://eant01.hkeaa.edu.hk/hkea/redirector.asp?p_direction=

body&p_clickurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ehkeaa%2Eedu%2Ehk%2Fen%2Fir%5
http://g/HKMA/HKMA_Aug_07_V.2.ppthttp://g/HKMA/HKMA_Aug_07_V.2.ppthttp://g/HKMA/HKMA_Aug_07_V.2.ppthttp://g/HKMA/HKMA_Aug_07_V.2.ppthttp://g/HKMA/HKMA_Aug_07_V.2.ppthttp://g/HKMA/HKMA_Aug_07_V.2.ppt

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Cost Saving

Most University students have IELTS

results Workplace English Campaign

WEC Funding Scheme Hotline: 21868800

Website: www.english.gov.hk Funding course fee + exam fee

Maximum HK$3000

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No.o

fS

Tho

u

san

No. of University Graduates (accumulated) Registered for IELTSduring 2002 to 2007

8.5

17.219

25.888

35.473

45.242

0

10

20

30

40

50

2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07

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Students Results under IELTS CEPAS

Ban

d

Sco

res

2005/06

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2006/07 Students' Average Overall Score by Academic Discipline

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2006/07 Students' Average overall Score by Institute

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IELTS Mean Band Scores in the Region (Academic)

Hong Kong 6.42

China 5.53

South Korea 5.77

Taiwan 5.57

Singapore

Nationals 6.99

5

5.5

6

6.5

7

7.5

Listening Reading Writing Speaking Overall

Hong Kong China Korea Taiwan Singapore Nationals

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Frequency Distribution by Percentage Singapore

6.99

6.15

0

5

10

15

20

25

Bel

ow4 4 4.

5 55.

5 66.5 7

7.5 8

8.5 9

Singapore Nationals Singapore General

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Frequency Distribution by Percentage Hong Kong

6.42

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Below

4

4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9

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Frequency Distribution by Percentage South Korea

5.77

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Below

44

4.5 5

5.5 6

6.5 7

7.5 8

8.5 9

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Frequency Distribution by Percentage Taiwan

5.57

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Below

4

4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9

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Frequency Distribution by Percentage Mainland China

5.53

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Bel

ow4 4 4.

5 55.

5 66. 5 7

7.5 8

8.5 9

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How HR people use IELTS?

to shortlist fresh graduates for entry level

positions

to replace its in-house English test

to use as English requirement standard forpromotion

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CEPAS Recruitment News

Available for IELTS Employers

Weekly email alert on job openings access to CEPAScandidates

Able to select target groups: by university, by major

Launch date: 26 October 2007

Subscription fee: free

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Become an IELTS Employer

CEPAS Recruitment News

Annual IELTS statistics

Publicity to all university final yearstudents through CEPAS website,information counter, information seminar

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How to Identify a CompetentEnglish Applicant?

Part II:

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Interpreting IELTS Band Scores

1. Understanding IELTS Band Scores2. Band Score components for Speaking

3. Band Score components for Writing

4. Using IELTS in your organization

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1.2. Overall Band Score: 1-9

Each candidate will be awarded a band

score from 1-9 Band 1 (Non-user) to Band 9 (Expert

User) [handout: IELTS Bandscore] No fixed pass mark (criterion-based)

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2. Speaking: Band score components

2.1. Four criteria: equally weighted

2.1.1. Fluency & Coherence

2.1.2. Lexical Resource

2.1.3. Grammatical Range & Accuracy

2.1.4. Pronunciation

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Paraphrasing

(i.e., express the same ideas by usingdifferent words/expressions)

Range & appropriacy

Idiomaticity

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Variety & complexity

Error types: systematic or slip of thetongue?

Errors comprehension problems? Number of error-free sentences

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Speaking interview

(Part 3): Two-way discussion

Topic: Hobbies

Candidate G Candidate H

Candidate I Candidate J
http://c/Documents%20and%20Settings/sissy/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLK152/Candidate%20G.flv.MPGhttp://c/Documents%20and%20Settings/sissy/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLK152/Candidate%20J.flv.MPGhttp://c/Documents%20and%20Settings/sissy/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLK152/Candidate%20J.flv.MPGhttp://c/Documents%20and%20Settings/sissy/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLK152/Candidate%20J.flv.MPGhttp://c/Documents%20and%20Settings/sissy/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLK152/Candidate%20J.flv.MPGhttp://c/Documents%20and%20Settings/sissy/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLK152/Candidate%20J.flv.MPGhttp://c/Documents%20and%20Settings/sissy/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLK152/Candidate%20J.flv.MPGhttp://c/Documents%20and%20Settings/sissy/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLK152/Candidate%20G.flv.MPGhttp://can_j2.mpg/http://can_i.mpg/http://can_h.mpg/http://can_g.mpg/

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3. Writing: Band score components

3.1. Four criteria: equally weighted

3.1.1a. Task Achievement (for Task 1)3.1.1b. Task Response (for Task 2)

3.1.2. Coherence & Cohesion



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3.1.1a. Task Achievement

(Task: Description of data / a process)

Identification of main trend(s) / overview

Tone & style

Selection of data

(e.g., relevant? accurate? appropriate?)

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Range & complexity

Accuracy & appropriacy

Spelling & word choice

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Range & complexity

Number of error-free sentences Types of errors

(e.g., slips or impeding

communication?)

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Task: Brick Manufacturing Process

Task Sample scriptBand 5: Mechanical use of connectors

Some sentences are not well-linked

Limited range of structures Basic vocabulary
http://academic%20writing%20task%201%20brick%20manufacturing.pdf/http://script%20c-brick%20manufacturing-band%205.pdf/http://script%20c-brick%20manufacturing-band%205.pdf/http://academic%20writing%20task%201%20brick%20manufacturing.pdf/

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Task: Cinema Attendance (Graph)

Task Sample script

Band 6: Main trend identified

Clear progression / flow of ideas

Attempt in paraphrasing Errors impede communication
http://academic%20writing%20task%201%20cinema%20attendance.pdf/http://script%20b-cinema%20attendance-band%206.pdf/http://script%20b-cinema%20attendance-band%206.pdf/http://academic%20writing%20task%201%20cinema%20attendance.pdf/

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Task: International Tourism (Essay)

Task Sample script (pg 1) (pg 2)

Band 7:

Clear position

Main ideas elaborated (though a bit lackof focus in para. 2)

Clear overall progression Good range of structures & vocabulary
http://academic%20writing%20task%202%20international%20tourism.pdf/http://g/HKMA/Script%20J-international%20tourism-essay-band%207_Page_1.pdfhttp://script%20j-international%20tourism-essay-band%207_page_2.pdf/http://script%20j-international%20tourism-essay-band%207_page_2.pdf/http://g/HKMA/Script%20J-international%20tourism-essay-band%207_Page_1.pdfhttp://academic%20writing%20task%202%20international%20tourism.pdf/

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4. Using IELTS in your Organization

4.1. IELTS provides a profile of the

candidates ability to use English

4.2. Interpret in the light of:

1. the general description scale

( handout: IELTS Bandscore)2. the band descriptors

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4.3. Depending on thejob nature, companies

and institutions can choose

a) a specific overall score, and / or

b) a score of a particular skill area

they prefer for employment

(handout: Job IELTS Score List)

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Job Nature SuggestedScore

Customer support

(e.g., IT, Utilities, Banking,Telecommunications)

6 or 6+

(esp. inSpeaking)

Sales representatives

(e.g., Sales & Marketing in all industries)

6 or 6+

(esp. inSpeaking)

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Job Nature SuggestedScore

Consultation / Advising

(e.g., Private banking, CFP, Lawyers)

7

(esp. inSpeaking &Listening)

Reporting data / statistics in

annual/quarterly reports(in all industries)

6 +

(esp. inWriting)

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Assistance:

Please contact Sissy Kwong

(Tel: 2620 0362) if you needhelp in

establishing the score

requirements for your company helping you determine the

appropriate levels

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Q & A

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