Throughout April, IELTS will be conducting FREE IELTS Masterclasses in Australia, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia for anyone who is preparing to take the IELTS test. The Masterclasses will provide test-takers practical tips on how to best enhance their English, insights into common mistakes you can avoid and there will also be discussion and interactive tasks using the IELTS assessment criteria. 

To register, and for information on the dates and locations of the free IELTS Masterclasses being held in April click here.

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The Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, and the United States Ambassador to Australia, Jeffrey Bleich, today announced measures to assist linking Australian employers with skilled workers in the US to fill skill shortages in key sectors.

Included in their announcement Senator Evans, Mr Bowen and Mr Bleich outlined the following;

With the demand for skilled construction workers likely to peak over the next three to five years as a number of resource projects are due to commence, both governments recognise the potential to match that demand with the potential supply of workers in the US.

These measures will allow workers from the US in licensed occupations, such as electricians and plumbers, to be granted immediate access to provisional Australian licences on arrival. More broadly, the skills assessment process will assure Australian employers how the skills of US workers align with their needs.

'While the government's first priority is to train Australians for jobs in the resources and construction sectors, projections show that we will need workers from overseas for a peak in activity in the next three to five years,' Senator Evans said.

'This is a great opportunity to address skill shortages in Australia by filling shortfalls in particular areas with qualified candidates from the United States, with applications expected to open from mid-April.

Currently, such workers need to be assessed onshore which can mean waiting months between entry and starting work. Under the new skills assessment process, US workers will be assessed against Australian regulatory requirements before entering Australia, providing certainty to applicants and employers.

To read the full announcement, click here.

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The International English Language Testing Sysem (IELTS) has reported a 12 per cent increase in the number of tests taken last year, reaching over 1.7 million around the world.

According to IELTS, the United States was the fastest growing market followed by India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka whereas China, India and Australia conducted the highest number of tests.

More at The Australian;

John Gildea, head of IELTS at the British Council, said: "Demand for IELTS in China remains very impressive, with students taking the test for entry to educational institutions in Australia, Canada, the UK and US amongst many other destinations.''

John Belleville, of IELTS Australia, said the top reason cited for taking the test was academic entry, followed by migration.

"For many, IELTS is a requirement for migration to Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the UK,'' Mr Belleville said.

To read more at The Australian, click here.

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