Register your score requirements
When deciding on the most appropriate IELTS scores for entry to your organisation, you should consider the following:
- the demands placed on language ability in your working context
- the type of applicants you are likely to attract
- the type and level of language skills required – giving presentations, carrying out research, teaching and so on.
- This will help you to set your overall IELTS band score, and individual scores for the four components – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
Guidance for educational institutions
The table below gives guidance on acceptable IELTS band score requirements for different programmes. However, it should be noted that many diverse variables can affect student performance, of which language ability is but one.
| Band Score | Linguistically demanding academic courses | Linguistically less demanding academic courses | Linguistically demanding training courses | Linguistically less demanding training courses |
| 7.5 – 9 | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| 7.0 | Probably acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| 6.5 | English study needed | Probably acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| 6.0 | English study needed | English study needed | Probably acceptable | Acceptable |
| 5.5 | English study needed | English study needed | English study needed | Probably acceptable |