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Guide to the English Skills Test

Persons coming to work in the Cayman Islands are required to have a basic understanding of the English language both spoken and written. This is to ensure that they are able to perform their work duties effectively, administer themselves and their families, and assimilate quickly into the community.

In order to ensure compliance with this requirement, workers whose native tongue is a language other than English will be required to undertake an English Skills Test upon their arrival in the Cayman Islands. Persons who fail this test will not be permitted to take up their employment. Employers are responsible for advising potential employees from non-English speaking countries that they will be required to take this test and the requirement is also referred to on the Work Permit Application Form available from the Department of Immigration.

The English Skills Test takes approximately 20 minutes and will be conducted by a Senior Immigration Officer assisted by another Immigration Officer in the offices of the Immigration Department at the airport. The test will be conducted in a quiet, comfortable and non-intimidating area away from public view. In assessing the results of the test the Senior Immigration Officer will take into account any factors that might have adversely affected the person's performance when taking the test. This might be where the person has arrived late at night or after a long journey.

Persons taking the English Skills Test will be provided with writing materials and paper for the test. The test will require the person to give answers to both oral and written questions. The questions will be short and simple, for example: 'What is your name?' 'How old are you?'

The questions used in the English Skills Test are pre-prepared in written form and have been approved by the Chief Immigration Officer or the Immigration Boards Administrator. The Senior Immigration Officer conducting the test is required to speak slowly, clearly, and with proper enunciation. He or she will also speak at conversational volume and will avoid using very long or complicated words or questions. The administration of the oral test will be witnessed by another Immigration Officer.

Persons who fail the test will not be allowed to re-take the test and will be expected to leave the Islands as soon as possible.

The following is a sample of the sorts of questions that may be asked:

Listening Comprehension and Speaking Tasks: Oral Test

We want to ensure that you can speak and understand English well enough to allow you to live and work in an English-speaking community. We therefore we want to ensure that you can:

  • Ask for directions
  • Follow directions
  • Tell what time it is
  • Count money to buy items
  • Verify correct change
  • Converse socially
  • Order a meal
  • Advise medical personnel in simple terms the nature of a medical emergency
  • Give personal information

Comprehension

After reading the following sentence, answer the questions below:

Example- 'The small, white cat was asleep in the living room'.

What colour is the cat?
What size is the cat?
Where in the house is the cat?
What is the cat doing?

Reading Tasks

Ability to read:

  • Dates on a calendar
  • Newspaper advertisements

Writing Tasks

The worker must have the ability to write sufficiently well to communicate ideas and information, but may make some grammatical and/or spelling errors.

The person will be expected to show that they are able to:-

  • Address an envelope
  • Fill out an application form
  • Give personal information

The Test will be graded fairly and objectively and in accordance with a pre-prepared answer key. The results will be given to the candidate and potential employer as soon as possible.

Last Updated: 2007-12-05