Minimum IELTS Score For Different Countries: Latest Guide

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. IELTS is an examination of your proficiency in English, your vocabulary, your writing and reading skills. It is a test that is conducted worldwide and recognized by the world’s top universities as a scale of a student’s grip on English.

Most universities in the world require you to take the IELTS exam before applying for admission. This test is also conducted for people looking to work in a foreign country and is used in the selection process while an individual is applying for a visa for immigration. Minimum IELTS score for different countries are given below. There are two kinds of IELTS exams that an examinee can take for different purposes. They are:

• IELTS Academic Test: This test is taken by students who are planning to apply for higher studies in foreign universities. This test is required for admission at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• IELTS General Test: This test is taken by people who are looking for secondary education, training programs or planning to work in an English language environment. This test is more focused on the individual’s general skills in relation to social or workplace surroundings.

Specifics about the IELTS exam

Before appearing for the IELTS exams, the student should know the following specifics:

• Anyone can appear for the IELTS exam at any age; however, it is advised to not take the test until you are at least 16 years old.
• The test can be taken in various manners depending on the exam centre. The reading, writing, and listening tasks are done on the day of the test. The speaking task may be conducted on the same day as the other tasks or two days after the test date or seven days before the test. It depends on the arrangements made by the exam centre.
• Your score in your class 12th exam does not hold any significance in relation to your IELTS exam.
• Watches are not allowed in the exam centre. For tracking time, you can use the clock at the exam centre.
• There is no minimum score to pass the IELTS exam. The score you are aiming for should depend on the university you are trying to get into.
• The bands range from 1 to 9 for the test, and for people who do not attempt the exam on the test date will be put into ‘band zero.’
• The IELTS exam score has a validity of 2 years starting from the test date.

Marking

The IELTS exam marks or scores the students in bands. The bands differentiate the students on their reading, writing, speaking and listening ability in the English language. The band scores are ranges that range from 1 to 9. Every range has the following meaning in terms of the individual’s capability:

• 9 – Expert user
• 8 – Very good user
• 7 – Good user
• 6 – Competent user
• 5 – Modest user
• 4 – Limited user
• 3 – Extremely limited user
• 2 – Intermittent user
• 1 – Non-user

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Band requirements by Country

The minimum IELTS requirements for any foreign task such as university application or visa is not the same in every country. It depends on the country an individual is planning to study in or migrate to. Here is the average IELTS score by country.

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U.S.

The U.S. is a favoured destination for students and people looking to work alike. Living the American dream is what everyone wants. The U.S. is a host to some of the world’s best universities in every field. The minimum band requirement for going to the US for work or studies is 6.0 and differs according to the institution you are trying to get into. The following are the minimum IELTS score for some of their top universities:

• Harvard University – 7.0
• University of Chicago – 7.0
• Yale University – 7.0
• Princeton University – 7.0
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology – 7.0

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France

France is an attractive destination for students looking to pursue a career in fashion, as well as people looking to work in the fashion industry with some of the world’s top brands. Studying in France sometimes requires proficiency in both French and English, depending on the course you are pursuing. If the course is French focused, you need to take the French proficiency test or take a language course in French. For English based courses, the individual must score a minimum of 6.5 in the IELTS exam. The criteria for admission for some of France’s top universities is as follows:

• Ecole des ponts ParisTech – 7.5
• Sorbonne University – 6.5
• University of Montpellier – 6.0
• University of Grenoble – Alpes – 6.0 or more
• Sciences Po – 6.0

Canada

Canada is also a favourite destination for Indian students due to the high presence of Indians in the country and the attractive scholarships offered to Indian students. The minimum IELTS score requirements for Canada differ from university to university. Some of them are as follows:

• McGill University – 6.5
• University of Toronto – 6.5 overall with no band below 6
• University of British Columbia – 6.5 overall with no band below 6
• University of Calgary – 7.0 overall with no band below 7
• McMaster University – 6.5 overall with no band below 5.0

Germany

The land famous for its beautiful machinery is favoured by some Indian students due to its low fees structure and affordable student accommodation. Germany is home to more than 300 of the world’s top universities and provides a growth prospect to budding students. The band requirements for moving to Germany is set at a minimum of 5.0 in the IELTS exam.

Australia

Australia is known for its beautiful lifestyle and supportive populace. The universities of Australia have diverse cultures, globally recognized courses and are home to students from all over the world. Students who wish to move to Australia to study abroad require a minimum IELTS score of 5.5. A score of 6.0 is preferred by universities and can rise up to 8.0 if you are planning to go to some of their top universities.

United Kingdom (UK)

The United Kingdom is the home of the English language and the administrators of the IELTS exam. The UK houses some of the world’s most renowned universities under its roof. The minimum IELTS band requirement for selection in the visa process for moving to the UK is 5.53.

The IELTS band requirement for some of their top universities are as follows:

• Oxford University: 7.0 for undergraduate and 7.5 for postgraduate
• Cambridge University – 6.5 for both undergraduate and postgraduate
• University of Warwick- 6.5 for both undergraduate and postgraduate
• King’s College London – 7.0 for both undergraduate and postgraduate
• London School of Economics and Political Science – 7.0 for undergraduate and 7.5 for postgraduate

Conclusion

The IELTS band score requirements are crucial for your selection in the student visa process as well as for admission into your dream university. The preparations for the test should be done in line with the college you are aiming for. For guidance on how to excel in different tasks of the IELTS exam, you can go through the number of articles and blogs on our website and prepare better for your exam.