Conducting bodies like British Council or IDP hasn’t set any IELTS eligibility criteria. Most universities or educational institutions teach their curriculum in English therefore candidates who pursue to study abroad need to have a basic knowledge of English.

Check: Get IELTS Prep Guide

There are four major sections in IELTS Exam Pattern- Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Listening. There is no educational qualification required for those appearing for IELTS. 

IELTS General Training is for candidates to take the exam for employment or immigration purposes whereas IELTS Academic is for those who wish to pursue higher education.

Minimum IELTS Score Required

Each university has a different set of eligibility criteria to select prominent candidates for admissions. IELTS eligibility criteria are different for universities across the world. Before enrolling, candidates must know the class profile of the previous batch to understand the minimum IELTS score required for admissions. 

Mostly 5 countries take IELTS Eligibility criteria for Academic and Immigration purposes. The average overall band score varies from 6-7.5 out of a scale of 9. Most academic institutions take higher scores for IELTS. The score band for those who wish to travel to English-speaking nations for employment purposes is less than the score band for those who pursue higher education. With available data of 2018, Australia makes an increase of 52.89% in Indian student visas (both higher education and vocational education). It is analyzed due to financial growth, Australia accepts a higher number of students in the country. Same with migration statistics available for the UK. Visa granted for Indian nationalities has an increase of 40%. Compared with the last 3 years, the number has doubled. Therefore, candidates wishing to study abroad have to score better in IELTS as compared to those who wish to pursue employment opportunities. 

Universities Accepting IELTS Score

Different universities have distinct IELTS eligibility criteria for admission purposes. The minimum band score can be 6.5 but students who take admissions in universities are selected upon different aspects. Minimum IELTS score is as following 

Those who wish to travel to Canada for employment purposes require to score IELTS. These IELTS scores are translated to Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) level. Those who apply for permanent resident visas also need an IELTS score. For permanent resident visas, IELTS score is an important factor to calculate the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) required for applicants. 

IELTS Eligibility for UK

The UK government makes changes in English language ability for visa applications. IELTS is the most popular exam for global migration and higher education to grant any kind of UK visas. The applicants require to submit English language proof at the time of visa interview. Other than IELTS Academic and IELTS General training, a new kind of test has been introduced called IELTS Life Skills. In this test, candidates need to prove skills in speaking and listening at level A1 or B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Minimum IELTS Eligibility for the UK is given below

IELTS Eligibility for Australia

Australia has its own criteria for IELTS eligibility for immigration and higher education. IELTS score will be valid for 2 years from the date on which exam has been taken. For Australian immigration and PR, candidates should have a minimum overall band score of 6. Immigration points for Australia vary with its IELTS score.  Point Allocation in immigration for IELTS score  Australia follows its point-based system for PR and immigration. There are certain key profile factors like education, age, and English language proficiency to get points. If the candidate applies for PR or immigration in Australia, then he must score the most at the language proficiency factor. Point allocation for IELTS score in immigration to Australia is as follows 

For undergraduate degrees in the universities of Australia, candidates need to score a minimum of 6.0 (overall) in IELTS. Similarly for postgraduate degrees, candidates need to score a minimum of 6.5 (overall in IELTS. 

IELTS Eligibility for USA

USA is one of the most powerful countries in the world known for its strong economy, diversified communities, fantastic landscape, and higher GDP. Every year, USA employs lakhs of talented immigrants from overseas. To study in the top universities of USA, candidates need to score a minimum of 7.0 overall in IELTS. There are various kinds of employment visas for USA. Candidates have to get an overview of these working visas.

IELTS Eligibility for New Zealand

If the candidate wants to work or study in New Zealand, then the government requires minimum eligibility criteria for English proficiency. For skilled employment, applicants need to have a minimum score of 6.5 in IELTS Academic or General Training test module. Similarly, if an employee is relocating Business Category should have a minimum score of 5 in IELTS General Training or Academic module. Entrepreneur work visa requires an overall band value of 4 whereas investor category requires an overall band score of 3 in IELTS. To study in the top universities of New Zealand, candidates must have a minimum score of 6.5.