IELTS Exam

An article in today's Toronto Star discussed the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and the impact it may have on new Canadians. The test consists of "30 minutes of listening, 15 of speaking and an hour each of reading and writing," and was originally developed at Cambridge University. Considered in England and Australia to be the standard test of English language proficiency, the $200 exam may soon become mandatory for all new immigrants to Canada. What does this mean for cities like Hamilton? One criticism is that skilled workers may be deterred from emigrating to major urban centres like Hamilton, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Another is that the test wasn't developed internally, and should therefore not be considered the benchmark of English language proficiency in Canada.

According to Stats Canada, over 16,000 immigrants moved to Hamilton between 2001 and 2006. Over 127,000 Hamiltonians declared their mother tongue to be "Other."

In my opinion, if the test is mandatory it should be free. Especially if multiple tests are required to receive a passing grade (6/9). Thoughts?