New taxi drivers from other countries may face a tougher system to test their English.

Oxford city councillors are concerned the current test — which has been in place for 18 months — is not rigorous enough. Prospective drivers currently have to read just two paragraphs of English, and explain roughly to the officer what they have just read. They then fill in a test log sheet, the paperwork drivers use to record their route, and do some basic sums to check they can hand customers the right change.

If the officer is not satisfied with the driver’s attempts they can ask for a second opinion from another officer. If they both decide the driver is not up to standard, their application will be turned down.

At a meeting of the city’s general purpose licensing committee, licensing officer Philip Pirouet said a sub-committee had approached him to do something about drivers whose English was causing confusion with passengers.

Councillors asked for an investigation as to whether a new test, similar to that used by many other councils, would be better.

David Williams, a councillor for Iffley Fields, suggested the International English Language Testing System, an internationally recognised qualification.

It scores people from one to nine for their ability to communicate in English through listening, reading, writing and speaking.

The average for the country is a score of about five, and Mr Williams suggested that taxi drivers could pass with a four. Some of Oxford’s 800 licensed taxi drivers welcomed a review of the system, but said this would only half solve the problem.

City of Oxford Licensed Taxicab Association general secretary Alan Woodward said: “If you get a passenger with broken English and a driver with broken English, you’re never going to get anywhere. I think the council has started to look at it in more depth because of the increase in nationalities that work here, eastern Europeans particularly.

“From the drivers’ points of view it’ll be good for them to know exactly what is expected of them ahead of the test.”

Jaz Khan, from Headington, agreed, but added: “Sometimes, it works the other way around and the communication is a problem because the customer can’t speak English.”

READING Borough Council: No standard test is given but the multiple choice application form asks drivers whether they can read, write and understand English.

SWINDON Borough Council: Refers applicants to local college for a language test.

AYLESBURY Vale District Council: Sets a knowledge test, to show adequate level of English.

NORTHAMPTON Borough Council: Gives full-day induction course starting with an English test.

MILTON KEYNES Council: Sets an induction course without a specific English test, but some people are referred to a local college.