Top UK Universities Accepting IELTS Score: The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a test that measures the language proficiency of those people who want to study or work in countries where English is used for communication. The test is available in tow formats namely, Academic and General. IELTS Academic test is for people applying for higher education whereas the General test is meant for those who are going to English-speaking countries for secondary education, work experience, training or seeking migration. The test assesses your abilities in four skills – listening (30 minutes), reading (60 minutes), writing (60 minutes) and speaking (10-15 minutes) – in less than three hours. The Listening, Reading and Writing components of the IELTS Score in UK are completed on the same day, with no breaks in between them. The Speaking component, however, can be completed up to a week before or after the other tests. Test dates are available round the year, for up to twice or sometimes thrice each month. Students must register at least 10 days in advance to the test date.
The IELTS Score Scale
IELTS results are available within 13 working days of taking the test. All scores are valid for 2 years. The test center can send up to five original copies of results directly to Universities for free. Candidates are given a score from 1 to 9 for each part of the test. The average score across the four skills areas produces the overall band score. One can score whole (e.g., 5.0) or half (e.g., 5.5) bands. There are no passing or failing grades.
| Band Score | English Proficiency/Interpretation |
| 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 |
| 0 | Did not attempt the test |
IELTS Scores for Universities
Score requirements vary from university to university but here’s what the two top schools are looking for:
- Oxford University: An overall score of 7.0 with at least 7.0 in each of the four components.
- Cambridge University: An overall score of 7.5 with 7.0 or above in each of the four components for undergraduate studies.
Minimum IELTS score for entry to British postgraduate courses varies from between 6 and 7. The minimum requirement for postgraduate entry in most British universities is 6.5. Higher scores are required for disciplines which require higher degrees of literacy for instance; English Literature may require a score of 7.5. As a rule of thumb, a score of 7.0 is generally considered adequate evidence of English-language competency for all academic programs.
A General Breakdown of minimum requirement over the UK is as follows:
| Level (Courses) | English Requirement |
| University Foundation | IELTS 4.5 (4.0+ in all skills) |
| Bachelor’s Degree | IELTS 6.5 (6.0+ in all skills) |
| Pre-Master’s | IELTS 5.0 (5.0+ in all skills) |
| Master’s Degree | IELTS 6.5 (6.0+ in all skills) |
British Visa
UK universities and the UK Border Agency have different English language requirements. UK Border Agency granting a Tier 4 or student visa is usually looking for a comparatively lower IELTS score with IELTS scores ranging from 4.0-5.5.
