Migrants will need A-level standard English to work in Britain
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/14/migrants-a-level-standard-english-to-work-in-britain/
by boycecodd
Migrants will need A-level standard English to work in Britain
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/14/migrants-a-level-standard-english-to-work-in-britain/
by boycecodd
19 comments
If it is A-level standard as in “could you pass an A-level in English language? “, the vast majority of native English speakers couldn’t, so that seems a weird standard to set.
These arguments are so obviously self defeating. Why would we only want migrants to take the good high paying jobs?
Are we all so yearning to pick fruit and change bedding while recent migrants lord it over us with their massive wages?
Tbh they’ll just pay a paper school to say they have the required English level.
Hah, foreign born people on student visa’s already require enough knowledge of English to understand complex ideas, discussions and communicate clearly and effectively in English.
I’ve seen enough ‘students’ doing Deliveroo and UberEats at the McDonalds counter that can’t recite the numbers and letters in their pickup order.
The fact they don’t enforce the existing requirements give me no hope this would be followed either.
I always (as a high-skilled migrant who passed the necessary English test with surprisingly very high marks) highlighted that current English language requirements are a joke, but this seems to be now going into the direction of being too harsh. My daughter is currently doing English A-Level and…. no way I could have passed that with any sort of good marks. They should find balance… perhaps B2-C1, and add other considerations into the mix. Australia does it perfectly: eduacation, english level, actual need of your profession and readiness of the employer to chip in – all taken into account. If you got perect English and a PhD – you don’t even need a sponsor, if you are a brillian manual labourer that is in super-high need but got very little English knowledge, your sponsor will have to weigh in heavily, but they can get you in. Should be the same here. Don’t need to re-invent the wheel, honestly.
Arent there already language requirements (and equivalents) available? Why not a standardized test to be performed before acquirement, rather than A level standard?
I had to show English competency before coming here, my high school diploma was enough.
How does this solve the problem with illegal migrants exactly ? …
Legal migration has always been straight forward to fix, it just needed resolve from the govt. to tighten the rules sufficiently till numbers drop.
Funny thing is this rule will also affect those from the EU, good luck getting qualified people coming to this country just cause their English is decent but not great. It’s fucked.
For people confused, it seems the plan is to require a level of English equivalent to that of *a foreign language at A-Level*. It’s **not** asking for people to have studied English Literature at A-Level.
A-Levels in a (foreign) language aren’t directly translatable to CFER levels, but *generally* an it’ll be between B2 and C2. Currently Skilled Worker Visa applicants required at a minimum of B1 – so this is definitely a raising of the bar.
I mean, I dont think this is unreasonable, for example if I wanted to move to France, id be expected to have a decent level of fluency in French.
Set the same standard for born Brits , sometimes the standard is appalling
For those talking about the test, I googled it and this is apparently the B2
Reading & Writing
Consists of four tasks and is two hours long.
Long reading task: the candidate reads a single text and answers 15 questions. Topics usually covered are, public figures past and present, early memories and the world of work.
Multi-text reading task: the candidate reads four texts and answers 15 questions. Topics customarily covered are education, personal values and ideas and national customs.
Reading into writing task: the candidate produces a piece of writing based on the four selected topics in task two.
Extended writing task: the candidate produces a piece of writing in response to a prompt. Topics that could be covered are society and living standards, pollution and recycling, and village and city life.
Speaking & listening
Consists of four tasks and is 20 minutes long
1. Topic (4 minutes long)
You will choose a topic to prepare before the test, for discussion with the examiner.
Remember to bring your topic notes, a diagram, or a mind map, if you have prepared any, to the exam for discussion with the examiner.
2. Collaborative (4 minutes long)
The examiner reads the candidate a prompt. The candidate responds to the prompt by starting, leading, and maintaining the interaction with questions. It is essential for the candidate to initiate, interact and collaborate with the examiner and not wait for the examiner to lead the conversation.
3. Conversation (2 minutes long)
You will have a short conversation with the examiner about one subject area chosen by the examiner.
4. Independent listening (10 minutes)
Candidates will listen to a recording and answer questions related to the recording.
The examiner will play the recording twice, the candidates may take notes while listening for the second time. Notes are optional and are not assessed.
To help you prepare for your B2 – ISE II Trinity has a variety of preparation materials for you to choose from.
https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/SELT/prepare-test-B2/reading-writing-B2
As most applicants won’t have taken English at that level how will this be judged, will they need to take a test at the airport, or will they UK need to setup testing centres in the major cities of the world?
Is it written English as well as spoken English?
The vast majority of native born Brits, myself included, would probably not pass an A level English exam.
Blimey , time to kick out half of the north of England;)
Imagine if Spain did this with all the brit immigrants 😅
Will this apply to people who are already settled but might not have an English qualification?
Do they mean passing English Lit/Lang at A-Level, or do they means Spanish/French A-level equivalent level in English? Because the first is better than the national average, and the other is the same standard a lot of other countries require to apply for nationality, which is totally reasonable.
I would want clarity on that. Because the standard student doing A-Levels are probably IELTS level 6 but most unis now offer places to students with IELTS level 4.5.
For reference to those that don’t know. IELTS level 4.5 means they can understand, speak and write very basic structures and it is actually not suitable for any degree. Realistically if you want someone to competently complete a degree in the UK they need IELTS level 6 or above.
IELTS goes from 0-9
0 = no English
1 = the alphabet
2 = basic sentences in conversation.
3 = basic sentences + grammar are expanded on.
4 = basic to moderate abilities.
5= moderate
6= can understand academic English with some skill.
7= very good and capable of most of life’s needs and academic needs.
8= mostly fluent but some things still confuse you.
9= completely fluent.
I would argue the average Brit is 6 with the more academic brita being 7/8 and I don’t think anyone can claim to be 9 due to regional differences. Except maybe some kind of professor.
I used to teach IELTS for a reference hence knowing so much about it.
As a fully integrated British/Polish fella, this would only be an obstacle to people like me, who genuinely are interested in following the book and happy to jump through whatever hoops the current government invents.
The problem with migration into this country is however arguably NOT the people like me but those who dont give a fuck about the book or hoops or government or any of you and just want to get things the easy way and not contribute nor give back. You gonna ask them to produce the A-Level English certificate?
Ffs…
Considering most native Britains can barely speak English themselves – this will be a high bar to achieve!
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