| International English Language Testing System | |
| Acronym: | IELTS |
| Type: | Standardised test (either computer-delivered or paper-based). Available in 2 modules: "Academic" and "General Training". The IELTS test partners also offer IELTS Life Skills, a speaking and listening test used for UK Visas and Immigration. |
| Test Admin: | British Council, IDP Education, Cambridge Assessment English. |
| Skills Tested: | Listening, reading, writing, and speaking of the English language. |
| Purpose: | To assess the English language proficiency of non-native English speakers. |
| Duration: | Listening: 40 minutes (including 10-minute transfer time in paper-based test), Reading: 60 minutes, Writing: 60 minutes, Speaking: 10-15 minutes. Total: 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Score Range: | 0 to 9, in 0.5 band increments |
| Score Validity: | 24 Months |
| Offered: | Up to 4 times a month. Up to 48 times a year.[1] |
| Regions: | More than 4,000 test centres in over 140 countries[2] |
| Language: | English |
| Test Takers: | Over 3.5 million in 2018[3] |
| Prerequisite: | No official prerequisite. Intended for non-native English speakers. |
| Fee: | Around 250 USD[4] |
| Score Users: | More than 12,000 colleges, agencies and other institutions in over 140 countries[5] |
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)[6] is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. It is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge English,[6] and was established in 1989. IELTS is one of the major English-language tests in the world. The IELTS test has two modules: Academic and General Training. IELTS One Skill Retake was introduced for computer-delivered tests in 2023, which allows a test taker to retake any one section (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) of the test.[7]
IELTS is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian, European, Irish and New Zealand academic institutions, by over 3,000 academic institutions in the United States, and by various professional organisations across the world.
IELTS is approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as a Secure English Language Test for visa applicants both outside and inside the UK.[8] It also meets requirements for immigration to Australia, where Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Pearson Test of English Academic are also accepted,[9] and New Zealand. In Canada, IELTS, TEF, or CELPIP are accepted by the immigration authority.[10]
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 each institution sets a different threshold. There is also a "Band 0" score for those who did not attempt the test. Institutions are advised not to consider a report older than two years to be valid, unless the user proves that they have worked to maintain their level.[11] [12]
In 2017, over 3 million tests were taken in more than 140 countries, up from 2 million tests in 2012, 1.7 million tests in 2011 and 1.4 million tests in 2009. In 2007, IELTS administered more than one million tests in a single 12-month period for the first time ever, making it the world's most popular English language test for higher education and immigration.[3]
In 2019, over 508,000 international students came to study in the UK, making it the world's most popular UK ELT (English Language Test) destination. Over half (54%) of those students were under 18 years old.[13]
The English Language Testing Service (ELTS), as IELTS was then known, was launched in 1980 by Cambridge English Language Assessment (then known as "UCLES") and the British Council. It had an innovative format, which reflected changes in language learning and teaching, including the growth in 'communicative' language learning and 'English for specific purposes'. Test tasks were intended to reflect the use of English language in the 'real world'.
During the 1980s, test taker numbers were low (4,000 in 1981 rising to 10,000 in 1985) and there were practical difficulties administering the test. As a result, the IELTS Revision Project was set up to oversee the redesign of the test. In order to have international participation in the redesign, the International Development Program of Australian Universities and Colleges (IDP), now known as IDP: IELTS Australia, joined Cambridge English Language Assessment and the British Council to form the international IELTS partnership which delivers the test to this day. This international partnership was reflected in the new name for the test: The International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
IELTS went live in 1989. Test takers took two non-specialised modules, Listening and Speaking, and two specialised modules, Reading and Writing. Test taker numbers rose by approximately 15% per year and by 1995 there were 43,000 test takers in 210 test centres around the world.
IELTS was revised again in 1995, with three main changes:
Further revisions went live in 2001 (revised Speaking Test) and 2005 (new assessment criteria for the Writing test).[14]
IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training are designed to cover the full range of abilities from non-user or middle user to expert user. The Academic version is for test takers who want to study at the tertiary level in an English-speaking country or seek professional registration. The General Training version is for test takers who want to work, train, study at a secondary school or migrate to an English-speaking country.[15]
The difference between the Academic and General Training versions is the content, context, and purpose of the tasks. All other features, such as timing allocation, length of written responses, and reporting of scores, are the same.[16]
IELTS Academic and General Training both incorporate the following features:
There are two modules of the IELTS:
There's also a separate test offered by the IELTS test partners, called IELTS Life Skills:
| Part | Duration | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 30 minutes | including 10 minutes transfer time[18] | |
| Reading | 60 minutes | ||
| Writing | 60 minutes | ||
| Speaking | 10–15 minutes | ||
| Total Test Time | 2 hours and 45 minutes[19] |
Note 2: All test takers take the same Listening and Speaking tests, while the Reading and Writing tests differ depending on whether the test taker is taking the Academic or General Training versions of the test.
Note 3: The 10 minutes transfer time is for the paper-based option of the test. For the computer-delivered option, candidates will be given 2 minutes (at the end of the test) to re-check their answers. [20]
The module comprises four sections, with ten questions in each section. It takes around 40 (paper-based) or 32 (computer-delivered) minutes: 30 for testing, plus 10 for transferring the answers to an answer sheet (paper-based) or 2 for re-checking the answers (computer-delivered).[21]
Sections 1 and 2 are about everyday, social situations.
Sections 3 and 4 are about educational and training situations
Each section begins with a short introduction telling the test taker about the situation and the speakers. Then they have some time to look through the questions. The questions are in the same order as the information in the recording, so the answer to the first question will be before the answer to the second question, and so on.[22] The first three sections have a break in the middle allowing test takers to look at the remaining questions. Each section is heard only once.
At the end of the test, candidates are given 10 minutes to transfer their answers to an answer sheet (if they take their test paper-based) or 2 minutes (at the end of the test of course) to re-check the answers (if they do so computer-delivered).[23] Test takers will lose marks for incorrect spelling and grammar.[24]
The Reading paper has three sections and texts totalling approximately 2,150–3,250 words. There will be a variety of question types, such as multiple-choice, short-answer questions, identifying information, identifying writer's views, labelling diagrams, completing a summary using words taken from the text and matching information/headings/features in the text/sentence endings. Test takers should be careful when writing down their answers as they will lose marks for incorrect spelling and grammar.
Texts in IELTS Academic
Texts in IELTS General Training
IELTS Academic
IELTS General Training
The speaking test is a face-to-face interview between the test taker and an examiner.
The speaking test contains three sections.
Test takers receive a score for each test component – Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The individual scores are then averaged and rounded to produce an Overall Band Score.[30]
There is no pass or fail.[31] IELTS is scored on a nine-band scale, with each band corresponding to a specified competence in English. Overall Band Scores are reported to the nearest half band.
The following rounding convention applies: if the average across the four skills ends in .25, it is rounded up to the next half band, and if it ends in .75, it is rounded up to the next whole band.
The nine bands are described as follows:
| Band | Competency | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Expert User | Has full operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate, and fluent with complete understanding. The individual has a full operational command of the English language. Their use ofEnglish is appropriate, accurate, fluent, and shows complete understanding.[32] | |
| 8 | Very Good User | Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well. | |
| 7 | Good User | Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriateness and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning. | |
| 6 | Competent User | Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations. | |
| 5 | Modest user | Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field. | |
| 4 | Limited User | Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language. | |
| 3 | Extremely Limited User | Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur. | |
| 2 | Intermittent User | No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English. | |
| 1 | Non User | Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words. | |
| 0 | Did not attempt the test | No assessable information provided at all. |
| IELTS Band Score | CEFR Level[33] | |
|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | C2 | |
| 8.5 | ||
| 8.0 | C1 | |
| 7.5 | ||
| 7.0 | ||
| 6.5 | B2 | |
| 6.0 | ||
| 5.5 | ||
| 5.0 | B1 | |
| 4.5 | ||
| 4.0 | ||
| 3.5 | Below B1 | |
| 3.0 | ||
| 2.5 | ||
| 2.0 | ||
| 1.5 | Non-user | |
| 1.0 | ||
| 0.5 | ||
| 0.0 | Did not attempt the test |
This table can be used to convert raw scores (out of 40) to band scores (out of 9). This helps test takers understand how many correct answers they need to achieve a particular band score. This chart is only a guide; scores may vary slightly depending on how difficult the test is.[34]
| Band Score | 9.0 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | Band Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listening raw score (out of 40) | 39 | 37 | 35 | 32 | 30 | 26 | 23 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | Listening raw score (out of 40) | |
| Reading raw score (A, out of 40) | 39 | 37 | 35 | 33 | 30 | 27 | 23 | 19 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | Reading raw score (A, out of 40) | |
| Reading raw score (G, out of 40) | 40 | 39 | 38 | 36 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 27 | 23 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | Reading raw score (G, out of 40) |
For a computer-delivered test, results are released between 3–5 days.[35] For a paper-based test, a Test Report Form will be sent to test takers 13 days after their test.[36]
It shows:
Test takers receive one copy of their Test Report Form, apart from test takers who are applying to the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) or UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) who receive two copies.
Test Report Forms are valid for two years.[37]
Test takers can take IELTS in more than 140 countries and in over 4,000 locations.[2]
There are up to 48 test dates available per year. Each test centre offers tests up to four times a month depending on local demand. The Academic version is available on all 48 dates per year and the General Training version is available on 24 dates.[38]
There used to be a minimum time limit of 90 days before a person was allowed to retake the test. However this restriction has been withdrawn and currently there is no limit for applicants to retake the test.[39]
| IELTS Score[40] | TOEFL Score | CEFR | IELTS Competency Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | 118–120 | C2 | Expert User | |
| 8.5 | 115–117 | Very Good User | ||
| 8.0 | 110–114 | C1 | ||
| 7.5 | 102–109 | Good User | ||
| 7.0 | 94–101 | |||
| 6.5 | 79–93 | B2 | Competent User | |
| 6.0 | 60–78 | |||
| 5.5 | 46–59 | Modest User | ||
| 5.0 | 35–45 | B1 | ||
| 4.5 | 32–34 | Limited User | ||
| 0.0–4.0 | 0–31 | A1-B1 | Extremely Limited/Intermittent/Non User |
| IELTS Band | PTE (overall) | PTE (Listening) | PTE (Reading) | PTE (Speaking) | PTE (Writing) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 40.8 | 40.2 | 43.0 | 40.2 | 43.1 | |
| 5.5 | 45.4 | 42.7 | 47.9 | 42.2 | 51.0 | |
| 6 | 51.6 | 48.1 | 53.5 | 46.2 | 62.2 | |
| 6.5 | 58.5 | 56.8 | 60.6 | 53.5 | 74.1 | |
| 7 | 66.3 | 66.2 | 67.8 | 65.3 | 82.3 | |
| 7.5 | 74.6 | 73.9 | 73.7 | 75.3 | 87.5 | |
| 8 | 82.3 | 79.4 | 78.4 | 80.9 | 89.4 | |
| 8.5 | 88.1 | 84.7 | 83.7 | 85.5 | 89.5 |
In 2019, approximately 77% of test takers took the Academic version and 23% of test takers took the General Training version. The average overall score in the Academic version was 6.04 for male test takers and 6.10 for female test takers. In the General Training version, it was 6.57 for male test takers and 6.63 female test takers.[42]
In 2019, of the 40 most common places of origin, the countries ranked in the top five for mean band scores for the IELTS Academic test were:[42]
| Ranking | Countries | Band Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7.4 | ||
| 2 | 7.0 | ||
| =3 | 6.9 | ||
| =3 | 6.9 | ||
| =3 | 6.9 |
In 2019, of the 40 most common places of origin, the countries ranked in the top five for mean band scores for the IELTS General Training test were:
| Ranking | Countries | Band Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7.5 | ||
| 2 | 7.4 | ||
| =3 | 7.2 | ||
| =3 | 7.2 | ||
| =5 | 6.9 | ||
| =5 | 6.9 | ||
| =5 | 6.9 |
In 2019, of the 40 most common self-reported first language backgrounds, the countries ranked in the top five in the Academic IELTS test were from test takers whose first languages were:
| Ranking | Languages | Band Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7.4 | ||
| =2 | 6.9 | ||
| =2 | 6.9 | ||
| =2 | 6.9 | ||
| =5 | 6.8 | ||
| =5 | 6.8 | ||
| =5 | 6.8 |
In 2019, of the 40 most common self-reported first language backgrounds, the countries ranked in the top five in the General Training IELTS test were from test takers whose first languages were:
| Ranking | Languages | Band Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| =1 | 7.2 | ||
| =1 | 7.2 | ||
| =3 | 7.1 | ||
| =3 | 7.1 | ||
| 5 | 7.0 |
Just over half (51%) of test takers take IELTS to enter higher education in a foreign country.[43] The IELTS minimum scores required by academic institutions and by course vary. As a general rule, the top ranked universities in the United States tend to require a higher IELTS band (typically 7.0). Most universities accept scores between 6–7 as being suitable for undergraduate study in English.[44]
IELTS is used by over 9,000 educational institutions worldwide. This section provides just a few examples of IELTS requirements in different countries. Full details about the organizations which accept IELTS and the scores they require can be found on the IELTS Global Recognition System .
IELTS is accepted by over 3,000 U.S. institutions.[45] The highest IELTS Band required by a university is 8.5,[46] by the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University.
Most top ranked U.S. universities,[47] as listed by the TES 2015 World University Rankings, require a minimum score of around 7.0. For example:
| University | State | Minimum IELTS score (May 2015) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA | 7.0[48] | ||
| NY | 7.0–8.5[49] | ||
| Harvard University | MA | 7.0 (apart from Graduate School of Education: 7.5)[50] | |
| MD | 7.0 (apart from Peabody Conservatory: 6.5)[51] | ||
| MA | 6.0–7.5[52] | ||
| Stanford University | CA | 7.0[53] | |
| NJ | 7.0[54] | ||
| CA | 7.0 (apart from Professional Diploma/Joint Programs: 6.5)[55] | ||
| University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | CA | 7.0 (apart from Luskin School of Public Affairs: 8.0)[56] | |
| IL | 7.0[57] | ||
| Yale University | CT | 7.0[58] |
Most top ranked UK universities,[47] as listed by the THE 2020 World University Rankings, accept IELTS scores as a proof of English language proficiency for admissions purposes. Minimum IELTS score requirements often vary between undergraduate and graduate courses of study with a minimum overall score of between 6.5–7.0. For example:
| University | Country | Minimum IELTS score (May 2015) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 6.5 (apart from Law, Econ, Medicine and English: 7.0)[59] | ||
| England | 7.5 (no subscore less than 7.0)[60] | ||
| England | 6.5[61] | ||
| Scotland | 6.5[62] | ||
| England | 6.0 undergraduate admissions (School of Medicine: 6.5)[63] | ||
| England | 7.0 (apart from Medicine, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Law and Humanities: 7.5)[64] | ||
| London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) | England | 7.0 (no subscore less than 7.0)[65] | |
| England | 7.0 (apart from Manchester Business School: 6.5)[66] | ||
| England | 7.5 (no subscore less than 7.0)[67] | ||
| University College London (UCL) | England | 6.5 (apart from UPSCE: 5.5)[68] |
IELTS is accepted by over 750 organisations in Canada[69] Most top ranked Canadian universities,[47] as listed by the TES 2015 World University Rankings, require a minimum score of 6.5 with a minimum subscore of 6.0 for each individual part.
Most top ranked Australian universities,[47] as listed by the TES 2015 World University Rankings, require a minimum score of approximately 6.5. For example:
| University | State/Territory | Minimum IELTS score (May 2015) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian National University | ACT | 6.5[70] | |
| University of Technology Sydney | NSW | 7.5[71] | |
| Vic | 6.0 undergraduate admissions (no subscore less than 6.0)[72] 6.5 postgraduate admissions (no subscore less than 6.0) | ||
| University of Melbourne | Vic | 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in writing)[73] | |
| University of Sydney | NSW | 6.5 undergraduate and postgraduate admissions (no subscore less than 6.0), Nursing / Vet Science: 7.0 (no subscore less than 7.0), Law and Media Communication: 7.5 (no subscore less than 7.0)[74] |
| University | Location | World University Ranking 2014–15 | Minimum IELTS score (May 2015) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Hong Kong (HKU) | 43 | 6.0–6.5[76] | ||
| The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (UST) | New Territories | 51 | 6.5[77] |
Most top ranked universities in non-native English speaking countries,[47] as listed by the TES 2015 World University Rankings, require a minimum score between 6.0 and 7.0 For example:
| University | Country | World University Ranking 2014–15 | Minimum IELTS score (May 2015) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KU Leuven | Belgium | 55 | 6.5[78] | |
| Ghent University | Belgium | 90 | 5.5–7.0 depending on the course[79] | |
| Peking University | China | 48 | 7.0 Master Programs in Public Policy and International Relations[80] | |
| Tsinghua University | China | 49 | 6.5 Master of Public Administration in International Development[81] | |
| University of Helsinki | Finland | 103 | 6.5 (6.0 in writing)[82] | |
| Ecole Polytechnique | France | 61 | 6.5[83] | |
| Ecole Normale Superieure | France | 78 | 6.5[84] | |
| Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich | Germany | 29 | 6.5[85] | |
| Heidelberg University | Germany | 70 | 6.5[86] | |
| Humboldt University of Berlin | Germany | 80 | 6.5[87] | |
| Kyoto University | Japan | 59 | 6.0[88] | |
| Tokyo Institute of Technology | Japan | 141 | 6.5[89] | |
| Leiden University | Netherlands | 64 | 6.0 undergraduate admissions, 6.5 postgraduate admissions[90] | |
| Delft University of Technology | Netherlands | 71 | 6.5[91] | |
| Erasmus University Rotterdam | Netherlands | 72 | 6.5[92] | |
| Wageningen University and Research Center | Netherlands | 73 | 6.0 (minimum 6.0 in speaking)[93] | |
| University of Amsterdam | Netherlands | 77 | 6.5[94] | |
| Seoul National University | Republic of Korea | 50 | 6.5[95] | |
| Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) | Republic of Korea | 52 | 6.5[96] | |
| Chulalongkorn University | Thailand | 247 | 6.5–7 | |
| Thammasat University | Thailand | 600 | 5.5–6.0 |
A number of Commonwealth countries use IELTS scores as a proof of prospective immigrants' competence in English.[97]
Australia's immigration authorities have used IELTS to assess English proficiency of prospective migrants since May 1998, when this test replaced the 'access:' test that had been previously used.
There are different IELTS score requirements for different types of visa.[98]
| Department of Immigration Level of English | Minimum IELTS score (Mar 2019) | Visas | |
| Functional English | 4.5 every subscore | Permanent and provisional skilled visas (to avoid paying the English Language Charge) | |
| Vocational English | 5.0 every subscore | 457 visa, ENS and RSMS visas through the Temporary Residence Transitional stream for people who have held a 457 visa for 2 years with the employer | |
| Competent English | 6.0 every subscore | ENS and RSMS visas through the Direct Entry Stream, Skilled migration (6.0 is the minimum threshold, but receives 0 points) | |
| Proficient English | 7.0 every subscore | Points Tested Skilled visas (to obtain 10 points) | |
| Superior English | 8.0 every subscore | Points Tested Skilled visas (to obtain 20 points) |
New Zealand has used the IELTS test since 1995. There are different IELTS score requirements for different types of visa and type of applicant.[99]
| Visa category | Minimum IELTS score required if the applicant is not demonstrating the minimum standard in another way (May 2015) | |
| Skilled Migrant | Principal applicant: 6.5. Partners and children aged 16 and over: 5.0 | |
| Business categories (Investor, Entrepreneur, Long Term Business Visa, Employees of Relocating Business) | Principal applicants: 5.0. Partners and children aged 16 and over: In some cases partners and children are not required to meet the minimum level of English at the time the application is lodged, but can provide evidence at a later stage. |
Originally, applicants who could not achieve the required score could pay a NZ$20,000 fee instead, which would be fully or partially refunded later if the migrant were able to successfully take the test within a certain period (3 to 12 months) after his or her arrival to the country. A few years later, the policy was changed: the fee was reduced, and, instead of being potentially refundable, it became treated as a "pre-purchase" of post-arrival ESL tuition.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) uses IELTS and/or TEF as evidence of one's ability to communicate in English and/or French. The CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) test scores are an alternative to IELTS.[100]
The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) are the national standards used in Canada for describing, measuring and recognizing the English language proficiency of prospective immigrants.[101] The following table shows the IELTS scores needed for each CLB level.[102]
| Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking | |
| 10 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 | |
| 9 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | |
| 8 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 6.5 | |
| 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | |
| 6 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | |
| 5 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | |
| 4 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
There are different language requirements for different types of immigration program as shown below:
| Visa category | Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) required (May 2015) | |
| The Federal Skilled Worker Program | CLB 7[103] | |
| The Federal Skilled Trades Program | CLB 5 for speaking and listening, CLB 4 for reading and writing[104] | |
| The Canadian Experience Class | CLB 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs, CLB 5 for NOC B jobs[105] | |
| Business start-up visa | CLB 5[106] | |
| Provincial Nominee Programs | CLB 4 for NOC C and D jobs[107] |
Submitting one's IELTS scores is also one of the several ways to prove one's proficiency in an official language when applying for Canadian citizenship (minimum of CLB level 4 required).[108]
On 6 April 2015, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) changed its English language requirements for UK visa and immigration applications.
IELTS assesses all four language skills and is accepted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) at levels B1 to C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
A new test, IELTS Life Skills, assesses Speaking and Listening at CEFR level A1 and at CEFR Level B1. IELTS Life Skills can be used to meet the English language requirements for some classes of visa application, including 'family of a settled person' visas and indefinite leave and citizenship.
To be used for visa and immigration purposes, IELTS and IELTS Life Skills must be taken in test centres approved by the UKVI.
| Visa | Minimum CEFR level required (May 2015) | Minimum IELTS score required overall and in each skill (May 2015)[109] | |
| Tier 1 (General) visa | C1 | 7.0 overall, and in each of the four skills | |
| Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa | B1 | 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills | |
| Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa | B1 | 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills | |
| Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa | B1 | 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills | |
| Tier 2 (General) visa | B1 | 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills | |
| Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa | A1 | 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills | |
| Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa | B2 | 5.5 overall, and in each of the four skills | |
| Tier 4 (General) student visa - below degree level | B1 | 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills | |
| Tier 4 (General) student visa - degree level and above and including some pre-sessional courses | B2 | 5.5 overall, and in each of the four skills | |
| 'Family of a settled person' visa | A1 | IELTS Life Skills at A1 – Pass, IELTS – 4.0 in Speaking and Listening | |
| Indefinite leave to remain (to settle) or citizenship | B1 | IELTS Life Skills at B1 – Pass, IELTS – 4.0 in Speaking and Listening |
For UK visa purposes the test is designed to meet certain administrative requirements specified by UKVI. These Test Report Forms are slightly different, to show that the test taker has taken the test at an IELTS UKVI session. The actual test taken is the same – same content, examiners, format, level of difficulty, scoring and so on.[109]