Author name: Dixa Thakur

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Difference Between Academic and General IELTS

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There are so many things that you must research before going for the IELTS exam, like, the format of the test, different online as well as offline preparation courses, and whatnot. But the most important thing you need to know is which type of test you need to take- IELTS Academic or General test.   Whether you choose Academic or General IELTS depends upon your qualification or professional goals and the visa requirements. For both the tests, the registration procedure is identical and most test centers offer both General IELTS and Academic IELTS. Candidates appearing for either exam need to achieve band scores as per the requirement of the academic institutions or other organizations. On completing the test, participants receive a test report certificate that is valid for two years.   To help you decide which IELTS exam to choose, let’s have a look over the main difference between Academic and General IELTS .  IELTS Academic IELTS Academic evaluates English language proficiency needed for an academic, higher learning education. In this test, your level of comprehension and your ability to present complex ideas is tested. Most universities ask you for the Academic IELTS test. All the tests and tasks are available for all despite your subject matter. The IELTS Academic format is for those who want to study in a university that teaches in English at the undergraduate or postgraduate level. It is also required for registration in professional streams like medical, nursing, engineering, accounting across several countries.        IELTS General Test  In the General IELTS test, they test your working knowledge of English, which is required to converse and understand. It is mostly for migration purposes. It evaluates English proficiency in an everyday context. The tasks and texts indicate both workplace and social situations. The General Test is for those trying to go to English-speaking countries like Australia, New Zealand, UK and Canada to do secondary education, work, or settle.  Moving on, let\’s talk about the four main sections of both the IELTS Academic and IELTS General test:    Listening  The listening section is the same for IELTS general and academic. The total time for both the training exams in listening is 30 minutes. Moreover, there are four recorded monologues and conversations on both exams. The listening test checks the comprehension skills of candidates.     Reading  The total time for the reading section in both the training exams is 60 minutes. You will get various texts to read for the IELTS Academic exam, like factual, descriptive, and analytical. Not only this, but the reading module also consists of diagrams, graphs, or illustrations. The texts come from journals, newspapers, books, etc.    On the other hand, for IELTS General Test, there are three sections. In the first section, there are two or three short texts. In the second section, there are two short work-related texts, and in the third section, there is one long text about a general topic. The texts come from books, newspapers, company handbooks.    Writing IELTS Writing test is also for 60 minutes. In the General Training Writing test, you have to write a letter (150 words) and a Short Essay (250 words). The Academic Writing test is rather formal, wherein you are asked to describe a table, chart, or diagram (150 words) in the first task. For the second task, you should write a Short Essay (250 words).    Speaking In this category, there is a face-to-face interview with a certified IELTS-speaking examiner. The duration for speaking for both exams is 11 to 15 minutes. The speaking module contains short questions, and then you have to speak about a familiar topic. 

Study Abroad  

Why Study in the UK

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Choosing between study in the UK and any other country in the world can be most challenging for anyone. Apart from giving you international exposure and broadening your horizon, studying in the UK has many advantages. In this blog, we\’ll talk about why study in the UK is the best option for you.      So, let\’s have a look at the seven benefits of studying in the UK.      High Standard Education The United Kingdom is well renowned for its standard and quality of education worldwide. Time and again, UK universities have been strongly featured in the world ranking. In the Times Higher Education World Rankings 2021, two of the world\’s top ten universities are from the UK. This shows the standard of higher education in the UK. Getting a degree from any of the colleges in the UK will be highly beneficial for you.    Universities are Internationally Recognised UK government guarantees the credibility of their educations overseas, and you can check the quality of education at The Register of Regulated Qualifications. It contains details of Recognized Awarding Organizations and Regulated Qualifications in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.   The top 5 universities in the UK are:     Oxford University    University of Cambridge     Imperial College London   London University     College London (UCL)      University of Edinburgh     The degree that you will get from your college in the UK will be recognized internationally. It will help you get work anywhere in the world.   Cultural Diversity  The UK has been a multicultural country with people from different communities worldwide settling there. People from different ethnicities respect each other\’s differences and celebrate different festivals; for instance, locals in Leicester celebrate the festival of Diwali. So, you can be very sure that you will receive a warm welcome and you will be rubbing your shoulders with some of the brilliant minds from all over the world if you choose the UK as your study destination.   Health Benefits  Indian students can get free medical treatment from the National Health Service (NHS) if enrolled in a full-time course. If the spouse/partner and/or dependent children are staying with you during your study program, they will also be exempt from payment. Some colleges or universities may have a special health policy for students too. This comes as a great benefit if you are studying in the UK and you don\’t have to worry about health expenses.     Funding Opportunities One of the best features of the UK education system is that they offer different scholarships to students to fund their education. Most of the scholarship programs offered by universities in the UK are based on academic abilities. Before applying, you need to explore and check your eligibility because each university and college has its own merit program system.      World-Class Research  In a report on International Comparative Performance of the UK Research Base, the UK has had a significant proportion of its research among the most widely cited in the world than any other comparator since 2010. It is the second most internationally collaborative country over the past five years. The UK has maintained its seven percent share of all global publications, and over half its publications result from international collaboration each year.       Work Permit While Studying  In the UK, international students can gain experience while studying. There are many ways international students can find a part-time job, internship, or placement that they can later add to their CV as experience. Some universities in the UK may help you in a work placement, helping you maintain study expenses. If you choose to study in the UK, you will be able to earn while studying and save your money on fees and accommodation, which is a great reason to choose UK among other countries for your higher education.   Conclusion     Studying in the UK offers immense benefits such as high-quality education, internationally recognized universities, diverse cultures, numerous health advantages, funding options, and top-class research. Still looking for more information such as top universities to study in the UK or the cost, you can fill the Enquiry form. Our United Kingdom study visa expert will give you a call for detailed information, or you can directly contact us.    

Visa Services

7 Reasons to Study in New Zealand  

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Many students aspire to study in New Zealand to have a bright career ahead. It is a popular study abroad destination among international students. People think that it is just a tiny beautiful island. But there is much more to  New Zealand than just being beautiful. We’ll talk about it in a bit.  First, answer this. Are you also considering completing your higher education from New Zealand but having second thoughts? Don\’t know which country will be best for your overseas studies? Don\’t worry if you get confused because of so many options. In this blog, we will tell you 7 reasons you should study in New Zealand. So, without wasting any time, let\’s jump in.     1. World-class Universities Recognized Internationally    Firstly, we will go over the most important reason why you should choose New Zealand for your higher studies. Over the years, New Zealand has maintained its reputation of being a quality education provider. All of its eight universities consistently rank well in QS World rankings. As a result, these institutions are in the top 3 % of educational institutions of the world.  All eight New Zealand Universities that have found a place in QS World Rankings 2021 are:    University of Auckland (81)   University of Otago (184)   Victoria University of Wellington (223)   University of Canterbury (270)   Massey University (272)   University of Waikato (375)   Lincoln University (387)   Auckland University of Technology (437)   All these institutions are internationally recognized and accepted. A degree from any of them will open doors to successful careers for you.     2. High-quality Education   The quality of education that one gets in New Zealand is unmatchable. All the programs offered by the state-funded universities go through stringent quality checks.    The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) is an organization for quality control in New Zealand. It ensures that institutions registered to enroll international students comply with the qualification standards. All non-university education programs also need to be approved by it.   Each university has a committee that checks the quality of education. Additionally, the New Zealand Vice Chancellors\’ Committee (NZVCC) conducted a central system of quality assurance audits at both the institution and program level. These strict checks make sure that both national and international students get quality education only.     3. Opportunity to Work While Studying   Working while studying is an excellent way to meet daily expenses, make new friends, and learn about the New Zealand workplace. And guess what? New Zealand offers this opportunity to all international students with a study visa.    You can work for up to 20 hours every week during your academic year and up to 40 hours a week during scheduled summer break. If you\’re pursuing a doctoral degree or research master\’s, you will be allowed to work 40 hours a week throughout the year.    You can find relevant jobs throughout New Zealand with the help of Student Job Search. There are many part-time opportunities available for you, for example:    Retail sales assistant   Seasonal worker (in orchards and vineyards)   Supermarket assistant   Waiter/waitress   Kitchenhand   Bartender (for students who are 18 or above)   Call center worker     4. Ample Opportunities for Research      New Zealand is a hub of new technologies, research, and development in various fields such as healthcare, physics, geology, engineering, astronomy, computer science, agriculture, etc. Universities in New Zealand focus on research-based teaching. In addition to providing the best education, they boast of highly experienced faculty, well-equipped laboratories, and access to the latest technology. You will get vast opportunities for research and internships at these institutions so that you can build practical skills needed in your future career and academic life.      5.  Great Scope for Ph.D. Scholars    As I told you earlier that New Zealand is not just a pretty country. It is so much more. Students doing their Ph.D. from New Zealand enjoy other perks as well. If you are doing a Ph.D., you will be paying the same tuition fee as locals. And what’s more, you can work 40 hours per week, unlike other degree students.    6. Safe and Peaceful Environment   New Zealand is one of the safest having a very low crime rate. That’s why it was second on the Global Peace Index 2020 out of 163 countries in the world. The people in New Zealand will welcome you warmly.  They accept and respect other cultures irrespective of religion, caste, and gender. Another major factor that makes New Zealand one of the best countries to live in is its political stability. You will have a safe and peaceful environment to live in if you decide to study in New Zealand.    7. So Much to Explore in New Zealand     Finally, last but not least important reason-New Zealand\’s natural beauty. It is home to many beautiful mountains, beaches, lakes, and rainforests. It offers the best of both worlds. You can get access to all the modern facilities of city life while enjoying the countryside\’s beauty. New Zealand offers great adventure sports for anyone who looks for adventure, including white water rafting, skiing, mountain biking, etc. There so much to explore and enjoy while you study in New Zealand.    The top tourist attractions to visit when in New Zealand include:     Milford Sound   Tongariro National Park     Bay of Islands     Rotorua   Abel Tasman National Park    Sky Tower    Napier Art Deco   Kaikoura     Franz Josef Glacier     Coromandel Peninsula          Conclusion   Because of its excellent education system, internationally accredited universities, ample research opportunities, and a peaceful environment to live in, New Zealand is the best destination to study abroad. Still not convinced? Talk to our experienced New Zealand student visa consultant in Mohali.       

Visa Services

Top 5 Reasons for Canada Visa Refusal   

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Canada visa refusal is the greatest hindrance to people who want to study, work, and settle in Canada. Every year many aspirants who want to go to Canada face visa rejection.   There are various reasons your Canadian visa application could be denied. So without further ado, let\’s go through the top 5 reasons for Canada visa refusal.      1. Failure to Provide Enough Supporting Documents Applicants applying for a Canadian visa will need to provide supporting documents proving that they have not provided any false information. For example, students applying for a study permit must give a copy of their degree and transcripts. On the other hand, professionals applying for a Canada work visa need to provide a reference letter stating their work experience, hours worked, duties, and responsibilities. Failure to provide enough supporting documents to back up your claims could lead to your visa refusal.      2. Insufficient Evidence to Prove You Can Support Yourself Financially Whether you are going to Canada for studying, working, or traveling, you will need to provide sufficient proof that you will not be a liability to Canada. You will have to prove that you can support yourself during your stay in Canada and your accompanying family members (if any). Inability to provide necessary documents supporting your claim can result in your Canadian visa application being rejected. All the international students who seek a Canadian study visa have to prove that they are financially stable. They can do so by providing: Proof of a Canadian bank account in their name (if they have transferred money to Canada) Evidence of a student or education loan from a bank Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution Proof that they paid tuition and housing fees Students applying for a Canada student visa can check the minimum funds they need to support themselves and their dependent family members here.   3. Inability to Prove Your Intent of Returning to Home Country Applicants who apply for a student visa or tourist visa must remember that it is only a temporary visa, which means that it comes with an expiration date. Therefore, the applicants must submit enough proof of their intent to return to their home country. Providing evidence will ensure that they will not stay in Canada after their visa expiration. A visa officer may reject your application if he is unconvinced that you will return to your country by the end of your authorized stay. To prove that you will return to your home country, you can provide copies of lease agreements to your property translated by a certified translator. Suppose you are a working employee and visiting Canada as a tourist. In that case, you can give the employment letter that identifies you as a permanent employee of your employer. Additionally, you can also provide documents stating the expected date you will return to your employment.      4. Lack of Proof Stating that You are in Good Health Applicants who plan to stay for six months or more in Canada need a medical exam. Those who stay less than six months may or may not need a medical exam. It depends on the work they plan to do. These medical exams are conducted to ensure that the applicant: Do not have an active infectious disease, such as tuberculosis or syphilis, which can cause danger to public health Do not experience a loss of physical and mental abilities, unpredictable or violent behavior, which can pose a threat to public safety If the applicant cannot pass the medical test and prove that he is in good health, his visa can be refused.      5. Visa Officer Not Convinced with Your Intent of Visiting Canada Moving on to the next reason behind visa refusal. It is the applicant\’s inability to convince visa officers of his intention of visiting Canada. Immigration officials need to be assured that your reasons for visiting Canada are lawful and of a positive nature. You will need to prove that you are, for example, purely visiting for tourism purposes, to attend a conference, or to meet your family, and you will not overstay. Suppose the visa officer is not satisfied with your reason to visit Canada. In that case, he may reject your application for a Canada visa. His decision may also be affected by your past travel history, like overstaying in another country.   Conclusion A visa rejection may dishearten applicants and complicate further attempts to obtain any other visa in Canada. There can be many different reasons behind a visa refusal, but these are the top 5 reasons for Canada visa refusal. So, the takeaway is to keep them in mind the next time you apply for your visa. The applicants who want to re-apply for a visa can get help from our professional immigration consultant to avoid any complications arising from filing the visa application.

Express Entry Canada

What is Express Entry Canada and How Does it Work?

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Canada has become the ideal destination to immigrate for skilled overseas workers as a result of its immigrant-friendly policy. Because of this, people talk about Express Entry or how they can work in Canada through Express Entry? If you also want to work and live permanently in Canada, you must know how Express Entry Canada works. But before that, let\’s first understand what Express Entry is.     What is the Express Entry?       Express Entry Canada is an online point-based immigration system used by the Government of Canada to manage applications for permanent residence under specific economic immigration programs. Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), then known as Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), was behind its launch.     The Federal Government of Canada invites skilled and talented people to work, contribute to Canada\’s economy, and fill the gaps in the Canadian Labour market. Subsequently, the IRCC assess the submitted profiles based on the points scored by them for six key selection factors, namely:   Age:  The applicants between the age group of 18 to 35 years will get the highest points. The lesser the age, the more the scores the candidate will get.   Educational Qualification: The applicants\’ educational certifications must be attested by an approved agency and should have an equivalent recognition to any higher secondary or post-secondary qualification of a Canadian school.    Skilled work Experience:  The applicants must have one year of full-time experience in O, A, or B categories in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system list. The more work experiences the applicant has, the more points he will gain.   Arranged employment in Canada:  Whether the candidate has employment or not is also an essential factor. The applicant with a job offer from a Canadian employer will get ten points.   Language Ability Test:  To check the applicant\’s proficiency in English and French language, the applicant has to take Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) and Niveaux de Competence Linguistique Canadien (NCLC) test, respectively. In addition to knowing English if the applicant also knows French then it is an added bonus as he will get extra points if he can read, write, and speak in French.   Adaptability:  If the applicant has family members or close relatives living in Canada who will support him, the applicant will get 10 points for adaptability. Candidates can also gain points if they are migrating to Canada with their spouse or legal partner.     Express Entry manages the application for Permanent Residence for three economic immigration programs:   The Federal Skilled Worker Program   The Federal Skilled Trades program    The Canadian Experience Class     The Express Entry system creates a pool of candidates who may be eligible to immigrate to Canada permanently. A person must qualify for one of the above immigration programs to get into the pool.    Remember that the province of Quebec has a special arrangement on immigration with the Federal government of Canada. It has its own rules for choosing immigrants who will live there, including its program to select skilled workers.    How it Works?    In Canada Express Entry Program, the points are based on a Comprehensive Ranking System or CRS. The points are awarded to clients out of 1200. The points scale consists of two components—a core set of points and additional points both up to 600. The higher the points a candidate gets, the greater are the chances of getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canada PR system from IRCC. The number of invitations to invite candidates to apply is based on the Annual Immigration Level.     How can I apply for Express Entry Program?    To apply for Express Entry, you need to create an express entry profile online. You can follow the steps below to apply for the Express Entry program:   Step 1: Create an Express Entry profile   First, you will have to create your online Express Entry profile to be considered for the immigration pool under the Canada Express Entry Profile. Add your details regarding your job skills, language ability, work experience, educational information, and other required information. You will get a score based on these details.   Your profile will be screened electronically to determine if you are eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, or the Canadian Experience Class. If you qualify for at least one of these programs, you will be included in the express entry pool, and a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score will be assigned to you.   Step 2: Complete Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA)   This step is necessary if the applicant has done his education outside Canada. Get Educational Credentials Assessment or ECA from a recognized assessing authority. It will prove that the educational qualifications are equal to those recognized in the Canadian educational system.   Step 3: Complete the language ability test   Next comes completing the required English language proficiency tests. The minimum score is six bands in IELTS that is equivalent to 7 Canadian Language Benchmarks or CLB. Your test score should be less than two years old at the time of application. You will have the edge over other applicants if you know French as well.    Step 4: Calculate the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score  Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is determined by age, work experience, Canadian degrees, certificates, adaptability, etc. Your profile becomes a part of the Express Entry pool if you have the needed CRS score. After that the candidates in the pool compete against one another based on their CRS score.   If your profile gets selected from the Express Entry pool, you will get an ITA from the Canadian government, after which you can start the documentation for your PR visa.    All you doubt regarding how Express Entry Canada works must be cleared by now. If you still have some doubts, feel free to write to us. ImmiVoyage will be happy to help.