The Requirement Of IELTS Scores For Various Qualifications

The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. IELTS is one of the most important English-language tests in the world.

Established in 1989, it is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English. 

IELTS is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian, European, Irish, and New Zealand academic institutions and by over 3,000 educational institutions in the United States, and various professional organizations across the world.

IELTS is the only Secure English Language Test approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for visa applicants applying both outside and inside the United Kingdom. It also meets the requirements for immigration to Australia. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Pearson Test of English Academic are also accepted in various countries, including New Zealand. In Canada, IELTS, TEF, or CELPIP are accepted by the immigration authority.

No minimum score is required to pass the test. An IELTS result or Test Report Form is issued to all test takers with a score from “band 1” (“non-user”) to “band 9” (“expert user”), and every institution sets a unique threshold. 

There is also a “band 0” score for those who didn’t attempt the test. Institutions are advised not to consider a report older than two years to be valid unless the user can demonstrate that it is necessary to update their level.

There are three main levels of English, depending on the course applied for: higher, standard, and lower. For a few of the qualifications listed below, the entry requirement is set at the same level for all courses.

IELTS Test Pattern

The IELTS Syllabus includes different sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The whole test duration is 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Listening: The overall length of this section is 30 minutes, and candidates need to answer 40 different sets of questions.

Reading: The total time for this section is 30 minutes, and it comprises almost 40 questions.

Writing: This is a 1-hour section that includes two questions, where candidates must write a short essay of at least 250 words. Apart from this, candidates are given a table, diagram, or data that they need to explain in their own words.

Speaking: The length of this section varies from 11 to 14 minutes, and candidates also undergo a face-to-face interview. Through this section, it’s monitored whether the candidates can communicate effectively in the country where they have applied.

In terms of IELTS, these three levels are:

Higher: a small number of degrees require an IELTS 7.0 overall, with a minimum of 6.5 in each component.

Standard: an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the four components.

Lower: For postgraduate degrees in Mathematics and Physics (except Physics with Education MSc) and the PG Diploma in International Teacher Education, the requirement is an IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.