Which English proficiency test suits an LLB graduate applying to Singapore or UK with 3 years of work experience?

Requirements vary considerably between the two countries, so the safest strategy is to choose the one test both markets clearly accept, then aim well above the minimum rather than the exact cutoff, given the strength your 3 years of legal experience already adds to your profile.

Why IELTS Academic Keeps Both Markets Open

Singapore Management University's LLM currently accepts IELTS Academic 6.5 or TOEFL 90, but explicitly does not accept Duolingo, IELTS One Skill Retake, or TOEFL MyBest. In the UK, requirements vary widely by university, from around 6.5 at the University of Nottingham to as high as 7.5 with no band below 7.0 at University College London.

Comparing the Tests

What Score to Actually Target

With an LLB and 3 years of experience, I would not aim for the bare minimum. Target 7.5 overall with no band below 7.0, which comfortably covers even University College London's stricter requirement and gives you a much wider UK shortlist than aiming for a 6.5 cutoff school alone.

This Information Is Also Available On

Singapore Management University's own LLM admission criteria page, University College London's own LLM entry requirements page, and the University of Nottingham's own International Law LLM course page, current as of their published 2026 listings.

My Advice

Do not confuse an LLM's English test requirement with the separate rules for actually practising law in Singapore. Your LLB and 3 years of experience do not automatically qualify you for Singapore Bar admission, which the Ministry of Law and the Singapore Institute of Legal Education govern separately from any university's LLM admissions requirements.