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IELTS Score for New Zealand

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Sayantani Barman

Experta en el extranjero | Updated On - Dec 6, 2022

New Zealand Band Requirement focuses on the minimum IELTS band score that candidates would need to work and study abroad. The IELTS Band Requirement is not just for candidates who want to study abroad. It is also required for skilled migrants, business and residence from work categories. As evidence of English language skills, the exam is important for candidates to achieve higher IELTS Score to fulfil New Zealand student visa IELTS requirement. The New Zealand band requirement for Student Visa along with IELTS Score for New Zealand PR has been mentioned below.

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Minimum IELTS Score for New Zealand 

To achieve the IELTS Score for New Zealand Student Visa, it is necessary for candidates to be aware of the minimum band requirement for New Zealand. The following table includes the different levels of study programs and the IELTS band score for New Zealand. Candidates need to ensure that they are able to fulfil the minimum requirements of IELTS score for new zealand student visa. The IELTS score validity for New Zealand is for two years. The following table includes the New Zealand student visa IELTS requirement based on the program of study. 

Program of Study New Zealand IELTS Band Requirement Minimum Academic Requirements
Diploma L5 & L6 6.0 with no band less than 5.5 Pass 12th Grade with 50-60%
Bachelor L7 6.0 with no band less than 5.5 Pass 12th Grade with 60%
Graduate Diploma L7 6.0 with no band less than 5.5 Bachelor with 55-60%
Post-graduate Diploma L8 6.5 with no band less than 6.0 Bachelor with minimum of 60%
Master Programme L9 6.5 with no band less than 6.0 Bachelor with 60% with two years of work experience

Top Universities IELTS Band for New Zealand 

The following table provides a list of the universities in New Zealand. This includes the New Zealand Band Requirement after 12 and New Zealand IELTS band requirement for Post Graduation. Candidates opting for diploma after 12 also need to ensure that they achieve the minimum IELTS Band Score of 5.5 for studying in the country. Candidates willing to study in New Zealand need to meet the minimum criteria. However, candidates can also opt for a PTE score for New Zealand Student visa for proving their English proficiency. Candidates can follow the below table to understand the New Zealand Band requirements for student visa along with the minimum band requirement for New Zealand per band.

University & College IELTS Requirements for Undergraduate Programs IELTS Requirements for Postgraduate programs
University of Auckland minimum overall score 6.0
(minimum of 5.5 per band)
minimum overall score 6.5
(minimum of 6 per band)
University of Otago minimum overall score 6.0
(minimum of 5.5 per band)
minimum overall score 6.5
(minimum of 6 per band)
Victoria University of Wellington minimum overall score 6.0
(minimum of 5.5 per band)
minimum overall score 6.5
(minimum of 6 per band)
Massey University minimum overall score 6.0
(minimum of 5.5 per band)
minimum overall score 6.5
(minimum of 6 per band)
Lincoln University minimum overall score 6.0
(minimum of 5.5 per band)
minimum overall score 6.5
(minimum of 6 per band)
University of Canterbury minimum overall score 6.0
(minimum of 5.5 per band)
minimum overall score 6.5
(minimum of 6 per band)
AUT University minimum overall score 6.0
(minimum of 5.5 per band)
minimum overall score 6.5
(minimum of 6 per band)
University of Waikato minimum overall score 6.0
(minimum of 5.5 per band)
minimum overall score 6.5
(minimum of 6 per band)

New Zealand IELTS Score for Job 

The IELTS rqeuirement for New Zealand for candidates who are willing to appear for IELTS exam for professional work need to achieve a definite IELTS Score. Candidates need to achieve more than 5 band for in IELTS for New Zealand. The IELTS Band for New Zealand for different categories of workers along with the IELTS requirement for New Zealand Permanent Residency can be explained as follows:

Skilled Migrants

For the skilled migrants, candidates appearing for IELTS New Zealand would be assessed based on various factors of age, work experience, qualifications.However, candidates need to fulfil the New Zealand IELTS band requirement for PR. Candidates are offered with skilled employment ensuring visa eligibility in New Zealand if they fulfil IELTS Score for New Zealand PR. Accordingly,  New Zealand Band Requirement for PR is a minimum overall IELTS band 6.5 in IELTS general or IELTS academic module.

Business Categories 

There are different categories for business workers who want to work in New Zealand. Accordingly, the New Zealand IELTS band requirement varies based on the categories of business as follows:

  • An employee of a relocating business category needs to have a minimum of 5 band for IELTS in New Zealand for IELTS Academic or IELTS general training sections.
  • Entrepreneur Residence or Entrepreneur Work Visa categories require candidates with an overall band score of at least 4 in the IELTS General or IELTS Academic module.
  • Investor (Investor 2 Category) would require a candidate with an overall band score of at least 3 in the IELTS General or IELTS Academic module.

Residence from Work

After a candidate has worked for two years in New Zealand, he/she is eligible for Residence status in the country. Following are the features for being eligible for residence from work:

  • Have been in New Zealand on a Work to Residence visa for two years.
  • Meet stipulated health and character requirements.
  • btain an IELTS certificate with an overall band score of at least 5 in the IELTS General or IELTS Academic section.

Study in New Zealand Without IELTS 

Candidates willing to study abroad and not appear for the IELTS can also apply for admission in the country. Accordingly, candidates can study in New Zealand without IELTS from India by fulfilling certain categories as follows:

  • Candidates can submit HSE or class 8-12 proof of English medium study.
  • Candidates can alternatively submit 5 years of English medium study in primary school and 3 years in senior school.
  • Candidates need to qualify for the interview conducted by New Zealand authorities applying without IELTS scores.
  • Marksheets need to be produced to prove that candidates schooling medium was English
  • Marksheet from school confirming that from VIII to XII candidates’ medium of education was English
  • A bonafide certificate that can validate candidates’ duration of study.

Hence, candidates willing to study in New Zealand need to ensure they achieve the New Zealand study visa band requirement and New Zealand IELTS Score for job. Candidates should also be aware that they can get admission in New Zealand Universities without IELTS by fulfilling the mentioned criteria.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

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