IELTS Band Requirements For UK Universities 2024
Are you applying to UK universities and need to take the IELTS? Our guide has all you need to know, with our table of IELTS requirements for entry to the top 50 UK universities, charts of IELTS Academic band scores, and a comparison of IELTS and equivalent scores.
Table of Contents
About IELTS
The International English Language Testing System, more commonly known as IELTS, is an English proficiency test that may be used for entry to UK universities. If you’re looking to study or work in the UK, you are required to take a Secure English Language Test (SELT) as part of your visa requirements and IELTS is one of these options.
There are three or four sittings for IELTS per month. This means that it’s possible to sit for the test on any given week. However, IELTS is very popular so it’s recommended that you register a few weeks before you intend to sit for the test, especially in the months leading up to the UK university application deadlines.
Once you have taken the tests, your results will come in the form of component or section scores and an overall band score. If you’re unhappy with your results, you can retake the IELTS – there are no limits for this, though you will have to pay the full fee each time you resit the test. IELTS scores are valid for two years.
How To Take the IELTS in Malaysia?
There are a few places where you may sit for the IELTS. You may take the test at any branch of a British Council office, such as those in Kuala Lumpur and Mutiara Damansara. You could book a spot for the test in person at these branches (you can find their contact page here) or you could also make a booking online here. Alternatively, you could contact us here and we can register you for the test.
For entry to UK universities, you may need to take the IELTS UKVI Academic test. As English proficiency is a UK visa requirement, the IELTS UKVI Academic test shows your results along with some necessary information to show that you have sat for the test at an official test centre approved by the UK Home Office. As of 2023, the IELTS UKVI Academic test costs RM 935 to sit for.
Once you have sat for all IELTS tests, your results will be available on the 13th day after your written test. Your test scores will be valid for two years and it needs to be current at the time of application to UK universities.
IELTS Test Format
The IELTS is available in two formats – a paper-based test and a computer-delivered test. These have to be taken in an official test centre, such as a British Council office.
There are also two types of IELTS tests for English: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. The IELTS Academic tests are designed for those pursuing tertiary education while the IELTS General Training paper is adequate for other purposes. According to IELTS, roughly 80% of test-takers sit for IELTS Academic.
The test has four sections:
- Listening – 40 questions, 30+10 minutes
- Speaking – three-part interview, 15 minutes
- Academic Reading – 40 questions, 60 minutes
- Academic Writing – two tasks, 60 minutes
IELTS Band Requirements for the Top 50 UK Universities
| UK Ranking | University | Minimum IELTS Band Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Oxford | 7.0 |
| 2 | University of Cambridge | 7.5 |
| 3 | London School of Economics and Political Science | 7.0 |
| 4 | University of St Andrews | 7.0 |
| 5 | Imperial College London | 7.0 |
| 6 | Durham University | 6.5-7.0 |
| 7 | Loughborough University | 6.5 |
| 8 | UCL (University College London) | 6.5-7.0 |
| 9 | University of Warwick | 6.5 |
| 10 | University of Bath | 6.5 |
| 11 | Lancaster University | 6.5 |
| 12 | University of Edinburgh | 6.5 |
| 13 | University of Manchester | 6.5 |
| 13 | University of Exeter | 6.5 |
| 15 | University of Southampton | 6.0-7.0 |
| 16 | University of Glasgow | 6.5 |
| 17 | University of Bristol | 6.5-7.0 |
| 18 | University of York | 6.5 |
| 19 | University of Birmingham | 6.5 |
| 20 | University of Leeds | 6.0 |
| 21 | King's College London | 6.5-7.0 |
| 22 | University of East Anglia UEA | 6.0-6.5 |
| 23 | Heriot-Watt University | 6.0 |
| 24 | University of Nottingham | 6.5 |
| 25 | Cardiff University | 6.5 |
| 26 | University of Sheffield | 6.0 |
| 27 | University of Essex | 6.0 |
| 28 | University of Dundee | 6.0 |
| 29 | Swansea University | 6.0 |
| 30 | University of Liverpool | 6.0-6.5 |
| 30 | University of Strathclyde | 6.5 |
| 32 | Royal Holloway, University of London | 6.5 |
| 33 | Harper Adams University | 6.0 |
| 34 | Queen's University Belfast | 6.5 |
| 35 | University of Surrey | 6.5 |
| 36 | University of Reading | 7.0 |
| 37 | Newcastle University | 6.5 |
| 38 | University of Stirling | 6.0-7.0 |
| 38 | University of Aberdeen | 6.0 |
| 40 | University of Leicester | 6.0-6.5 |
| 41 | Queen Mary University of London | 6.0-6.5 |
| 41 | University of Sussex | 6.0-7.0 |
| 43 | University of the Arts London | 6.0 |
| 44 | Ulster University | 6.0 |
| 45 | Nottingham Trent University | 6.5 |
| 46 | University of Lincoln | 6.0-7.0 |
| 47 | Aston University, Birmingham | 6.0-6.5 |
| 48 | SOAS University of London | 6.5 |
| 49 | Northumbria University, Newcastle | 6.0 |
| 50 | University of Kent | 6.5 |
The band requirements shown in this table are the overall IELTS Academic score required for most undergraduate programmes at the university. Certain subjects such as English require an advanced level of proficiency in English, which may reflect in a higher IELTS requirement. Top universities also tend to have higher IELTS requirements.
IELTS and Equivalent Scores
The chart below compares band scores for IELTS with a number of other tests such as TOEFL, A-Levels, IB, and Pearson.
Band Score for IELTS
Listening (Academic)
The chart below shows the IELTS band scores for the number of correctly answered questions in the IELTS Academic listening test.
Reading (Academic)
The chart below shows the IELTS band scores for the number of correctly answered questions in the IELTS Academic reading test.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum IELTS score that UK universities require?
Most courses in UK universities will require 5.5-6.5 overall at the IELTS. Some courses such as English and Medicine tend to have higher IELTS requirements.
What is considered a high IELTS score?
Many UK universities consider 8.0 overall at the IELTS to be an advanced level of English.
What is the period of validity for an IELTS score?
An IELTS score is valid for two years. UK universities will require your IELTS score to be valid at the time of application.
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