How to set IELTS entry scores

Establishing IELTS score requirements

When establishing the IELTS scores required for entry to your organisation, it's important to consider several factors.

These considerations will help you set your overall IELTS band score, as well as individual scores for each section: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.

Your organisation’s English proficiency expectations.

The preferred skill sets of applicants.

The standard of language skills required

(e.g. for presenting, researching, teaching etc.).

Guidelines for educational institutions

The tables below outline the required IELTS band scores for different courses.

Remember that many factors may affect students’ performance, with language ability being just one of these factors.

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