IELTS Accepted Countries in the World

IELTS is accepted across 140 countries. IELTS is required for work, study, and migration in English-speaking countries like Australia, the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Ireland. The IELTS (International English Language Testing System), is an internationally accepted standardized English language proficiency test for non-native English language speakers.

Each country has its own IELTS band score requirements which vary depending on the type of visa. The IELTS test is conducted by the British Council, IDP IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English. It is recognised by 11,000 organisations in IELTS accepted countries including universities, companies, government organisations, and migration agencies. This test grades your listening, reading, speaking, and writing abilities on a scale of 1 to 9.

List of Countries Accepting IELTS

• Australia
• Canada
• France
• Ireland
• New Zealand
• UK
• US

Top IELTS Test Preparation Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

List of Countries Accepting IELTS

Top 7 countries that accept IELTS -

1. Australia
2. Canada
3. France
4. Ireland
5. New Zealand
6. UK
7. US

Australia

Candidates seeking an Australian visa for immigration must demonstrate their English proficiency to the Department of Home Affairs. All professional agencies recognize the IELTS score. The validity of the IELTS test is two years. A minimum score of 5.5 in each module - reading, listening, speaking, and writing is a must. This test is part of Australia's point-based immigration system and is approved by the government for visa and immigration purposes. The required IELTS score may vary depending on the visa's purpose.

To study in Australia, the IELTS score requirement varies depending on the course you are enrolling in. For undergraduate courses, a minimum overall score of 6.0 is required, while for postgraduate courses, a minimum overall score of 6.5 is necessary, with no band lower than 6.0. However, for medical courses, a band score of 7.0 is necessary. Top universities in Australia have their own minimum IELTS score requirements, which can be found in the table below.

Check Minimum IELTS Band Score Required for Australia.

Canada

To get a Canadian visa, applicants are required to demonstrate their English language proficiency to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is accepted by all organizations and educational institutions in Canada, including Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). A minimum IELTS score is required to work in Canada. To pass the IELTS exam, a score of at least 6 is required, with no band below 5.0 in all four modules, and a total score of 6.5 is recommended for travelling to Canada. The IDP IELTS is also accepted for Canadian PR (Permanent Residency).

When applying to study in Canada for graduate programs, a minimum IELTS score of 5.5 in each section and an overall score of 6.0 is required. For postgraduate courses, a minimum score of 6.0 in all sections and an overall score of 6.5 is necessary. In Canada, a minimum IELTS score of 5.0 in all modules is required to study. The top universities in Canada have varying minimum IELTS requirements, but a minimum score of 5.5 in each section and an overall score of 6.0 is needed.

Check Minimum IELTS Band Score Required for Canada student visa.

France

In France, universities have comparatively lenient IELTS requirements. The majority of universities expect a band score between 6 and 6.5. There are exceptions such as ISC Paris which don't require applicants to submit IELTS marks in order to enrol. Thus, prospective students seeking to study in France may find that the IELTS requirements vary depending on the university to which they are applying.

Ireland

The minimum IELTS score to study in Ireland for undergraduate courses in Irish universities ranges from 5.5 to 6.0. For postgraduate courses, it ranges from 6.0 to 6.5. To meet the IELTS band requirement, a minimum overall score of 6.5 with a score of 6.0 in each module is necessary.

New Zealand

To get a New Zealand visa, you have to submit your IELTS score to Immigration New Zealand. The minimum score varies depending on the type of course or organization you are applying to. For skilled migrants, an overall IELTS band score of 6.5 for either the Academic or General Training is required, with scores not less than 5.5 in each module.

The IELTS score requirement for New Zealand varies depending on the type of course and level of study. For diploma courses, top universities in New Zealand require a minimum overall score of 5.5. For undergraduate programs, the minimum score required is 6.0 overall with no band lower than 5.5 in each module. For postgraduate degrees, a total score of 6.5 is mandatory. For teaching or engineering courses, the minimum IELTS score allowed is 7.0.

UK

IELTS Academic and General is recognized by UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) as proof of English proficiency. Individuals seeking to work, immigrate or settle permanently in the UK through the 'leave to remain' or 'long residence' routes, can take IELTS. For UK immigration, an individual must score at least 6.5 in each module and achieve an overall score of 7 on their IELTS test.

To study in the UK, an overall band score of 6.5 in IELTS is required for a bachelor's or postgraduate degree, with some top universities like Oxford and Cambridge requiring a score of 7-7.5. The minimum IELTS requirement varies across universities, with most universities in the UK requiring a minimum score of 6.

Check Minimum IELTS Score for UK Universities and Student Visa

US

IELTS is widely accepted as proof of English language proficiency by over 3,000 institutions in the United States of America. The minimum IELTS score to study in the USA varies depending on each university. While the minimum band requirement in the US ranges from 6.0 to 7.0, top universities in the USA expect a score of at least 7.0, while less competitive institutions accept scores of 6.0 or above.

Check IELTS Score for US Universities.

Top IELTS Test Preparation Tips

1. Understand the IELTS test format
Know the IELTS test format beforehand. There will be 4 sections - reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Get to know the time allotted for each section and prepare accordingly.

2. Practice well
The IELTS test takes 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete. You must be consistent and should practice daily to cover all test sections and improve your language skills. Regular practice can help improve your reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities, even if you struggle with the language. Speak English frequently with others, receive their feedback, and work on your weaknesses.

3. Give relevant answers
Your answers to the IELTS questions should be relevant and on point. Elaborating your answers unnecessarily will not give you extra marks and you will lose time. Answer the questions with only the required information.

4. Vocabulary and Grammar
As a language test, vocabulary, and grammar are important here. If you have a weak vocabulary, you may lose time thinking about the answers. It is also important that you answer the questions in a grammatically correct way.

5. Avoid repetition
Try to avoid repetition of words, phrases, sentences, or ideas in your answer. The relevancy of the answers matters more than their length. For this, you must have a good vocabulary.

6. Don't memorise the answers
In the speaking and writing tests, your answers must be natural. If you try to give memorized answers, the examiner can easily find out.

Check IELTS preparation tips for a higher band score.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which country does not accept IELTS?

A few universities in countries like Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, European countries, Norway, Germany, Holland, the USA, Malaysia, and India do not accept IELTS.

2. Which country accepts the IELTS test?

Australia, the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Ireland are the English-speaking countries that accept the IELTS test.

3. Is IELTS very difficult?

IELTS is not difficult for those who have learned English from their school days. If you are learning English to go abroad, then you may have to put in extra effort to pass the test.

4. How long is IELTS valid for different countries?

The validity of IELTS results is 2 years. For Skilled Migration applications, IELTS results are valid for a period of three years. If you want to work in Australia, you have to take the IELTS Academic test. Different job roles have different IELTS score requirements.

5. Can I go to the USA without IELTS?

IELTS is mandatory to go to the USA. But, if you have completed an international baccalaureate or come from an English-speaking country, you don't need IELTS.