<blockquote class="Quote" rel="engineerSC189">Hi guys!
I would like to please seek for any advice regarding my case.
Just a background, I have lodged my Expression of Interest (EOI) in Skill Select last 05 May 2017.
This is for my Skilled - Independent (subclass 189) (Permanent Resident) application to Australia.
I was able to meet the points test pass mark at 65 total points.
Age: 30 points
English Language Ability: 10 points
Education: 15 Points
Work Experience: 10 points
Total: 65 points
Unfortunately, I don’t think this is enough for me to be invited to apply for a visa given the highly competitive domain for our field.
As most of us know, Australia’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection already tagged our occupation for pro-rata arrangements due to increasing levels of demand.
Please see my scores both in IELTS and PTE that only qualified me for Proficient English (10 points).
Test: IELTS General Training (Thru British Council)
Date: November 3, 2016
Listening: 8.0
Reading: 8.5
Writing: 7.0
Speaking: 9.0
Test: PTE Academic
Date: September 11, 2017
Listening: 75
Reading: 87
Writing: 83
Speaking: 90
Given the tough competition, I believe the only way for me to secure the invite to apply for visa is to increase my over-all points.
As all other parameters in the eligibility points are more or less fixed in my case for the time period (e.g. age, education, work experience, etc.), I can only enhance my score by improving my level of English proficiency from Proficient to Superior and gain 20 maximum points.
When I realized that the scores being invited to apply for a visa are already ranging from 70 to 75 points, I took the PTE Academic exam to boost my over-all score as I just read in an online forum that it is supposedly easier to get higher scores in PTE against IELTS.
As you can see from my detailed scores above, I almost reached the superior mark except for a single module in both tests (for IELTS at 7.0 for Writing and for PTE at 75 for Listening).
Given the demands of my work, I had almost none to barely minimum preparation and review for both tests.
I remember that I wasn’t able to finish my writing test for IELTS due to miscalculations in time management.
As for PTE, I’m actually more comfortable with traditional pen and paper-based exam vs computer-based exam.
I was actually bit distracted with the arrangement and set-up of PTE exam.
With all the aforementioned details,
1) Would you recommend that I consider taking IELTS or PTE for my next attempt to get superior score?
2) Will there be a significant difference if I take my IELTS exam under IDP vs British Council? What do you recommend?
3) Or should I just wait and see (and save resources) if I will be invited in the next few months with total score of 65 trusting that the latest estimate / projection from Iscah as of 9 September 2017 will materialize such that I will be invited in 1-2 months’ time.
I know there are risks and implications involved in all options so I really need your help to guide me in this decision making process.
Thank you guys!!!</blockquote>
Hi guys! I would just like to share an update as I’m in total bliss right now.
Let this post be a reminder to everyone not to stop fighting for your dreams and goals in life.
You just need to stay focused, passionate and work VERY hard and have the leap of faith that in the end everything will fall into right place at the right timing.
I just updated my EOI for Skilled – Independent Subclass 189 to 75 points.
Nominated Occupation: Industrial Engineer - 233511
Age: 30 points
English Language Ability: 20 points
Education: 15 Points
Work Experience: 10 points
Total: 75 points
New Date of Effect: 22 January 2018
I received my PTE score report this morning. I took the exam last week with the following breakdown and history:
1st attempt: IELTS General Training (Thru British Council)
Date: November 3, 2016
Listening: 8.0
Reading: 8.5
Writing: 7.0
Speaking: 9.0
2nd attempt: PTE Academic
Date: September 11, 2017
Listening: 75
Reading: 87
Writing: 83
Speaking: 90
Final attempt: PTE Academic
Date: January 18, 2018
Listening: 83
Reading: 90
Writing: 84
Speaking: 90
If you guys are interested, I’m very much willing to share my experience and how I was able to properly prepare the last round.
Let’s all continue to be optimistic and aim only for the best. Fight!!!