BJ5.35 English language ability (21/11/2016)

1. Principal applicants must qualify for a minimum of 1 point for English language ability.
2. English language ability qualifies for points as follows:

   Test	Required Score	Points
   International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - General or Academic Module	Overall score of 3.0 or more but less than 4.0	1
   Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT)	Not applicable
   Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)	Not applicable
   Cambridge English: First (FCE) or Cambridge English: First (FCE) for Schools	Not applicable
   Occupational English Test (OET)	Not applicable
   IELTS - General or Academic Module	Overall score of 4.0 or more but less than 5.0	4
   TOEFL iBT	Overall score of 31 to 34
   PTE Academic	Overall score of 29 to 35
   FCE or FCE for Schools	Overall score of 142 to 153
   OET	Grade D in all four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking)*
   IELTS - General or Academic Module	Overall score of 5.0 or more	10
   TOEFL iBT	Overall score of 35 or more
   PTE Academic	Overall score of 36 or more
   FCE or FCE for Schools	Overall score of 154 or more
   OET	Grade C or higher in all four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking)*

* A score in all four skills is required for the OET as there is no overall grade in this test.

BJ5.35.1 Evidence of English language ability

1. Principal applicants claiming 1 or 4 points under BJ5.35(b) must provide English language test results (no more than 2 years old at the time the application is lodged) with a score that qualifies for 1 or 4 points.
2. Principal applicants claiming 10 points under BJ5.35(b) must provide one of the following:
   1. English language test results (no more than 2 years old at the time the application is lodged) with a score that qualifies for 10 points; or
   2. evidence that they have an English-speaking background (see BF2.1) which is accepted by a business immigration specialist as meeting the standard of English for which 10 points can be awarded; or
   3. other evidence which satisfies a business immigration specialist that, taking account of that evidence and all the circumstances of the application, the person meets the standard of English for which 10 points can be awarded. Evidence may include but is not limited to:
      • the country in which the applicant currently resides;
      • the country(ies) in which the applicant has previously resided;
      • the duration of residence in each country;
      • the nature of the applicant's current or previous employment (if any) and whether it required or was likely to have required skill in English language;
      • the nature of the applicant's qualifications (if any) and whether the obtaining of those qualifications was likely to have required skill in English language.
3. In any case under (b) (ii) or (iii), a business immigration specialist may require an applicant to provide English language test results in terms of paragraph (b)(i). In such cases, the English language test results will be used to determine whether the applicant can be awarded 10 points for English language ability.

Note: The tests recognised by Immigration New Zealand as set out at BJ5.35 provide an assessment of ability in English, including performance in listening, reading, writing and speaking.

Effective 21/11/2016