Who needs IELTS?
There are 3 types of IELTS tests: IELTS Life Skills; IELTS General Training; IELTS Academic
The IELTS test you choose to take will depend on the reason why you need IELTS (immigration / work / university studies), especially if it is for a specific type of visa.
At iPass IELTS we offer online training courses with 1-2-1 professional coaching to help students prepare for both Academic and General IELTS
Here is a brief explanation of the 3 different types of IELTS tests and who they are for:
IELTS Life Skills - a test of Speaking and Listening and is available at CEFR Levels A1, A2 and B2. It is designed to meet the requirements of UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for certain visa categories and other immigration purposes. It has to be taken at a UKVI test centre which means it has been selected by the UK government.
IELTS General Training - is for people who are going to English-speaking countries for secondary education, work experience or training programmes. It is also a requirement for migration to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK.
Academic IELTS - is for people applying for tertiary education (graduate or post-graduate level) or professional registration in an English speaking environment. For example, if you are applying for a job in the medical or teaching profession, Academic IELTS is required.
Thanks to Jenny and Nigel and all the help I received on the IELTS 7 Plus course, I got 8 in Listening, 7.5 in Reading and 7 in Speaking and Writing, overall 7.5, which exceeded my last band score of 6.5 and is enough to get my Canadian PR!! Thanks for all your help and support!
The following table shows which IELTS test you need for different types of visa applications and what band scores are required for each.
| Country | Type of visa | IELTS test | IELTS scores |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Basic Citizenship | General | 4 in Speaking / 4.5 in Listening (CLB 5) |
| Canada | Federal Skilled Worker (Express Entry) |
General | Minimum band 6 (CLB 7) |
| Canada | University applicant | Academic | Depends on institution Calgary university (band 8) |
| Australia | Permanent residency | General or Academic | Minimum band 6 (band 7 = 10 points / band 8 = 20 points) |
| Australia | Professional registration | Academic | Depends on professional body (see below) |
| New Zealand | Skilled Migrant Category (resident visa) |
General or Academic | Minimum of 6.5 overall |
| United Kingdom | Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) / Citizenship | Life Skills or General | Band 4 (B1 level) |
| United Kingdom | Tier 2 General Visa | General | Band 4 (B1 level) |
| United Kingdom | Tier 1 General Visa | General | Band 7 (C1 level) |
| United Kingdom | Tier 4 Student Visa | Academic | Below degree level (4) Degree level & above (5.5)* |
*When applying for graduate or post-graduate courses overseas, it is best to consult the university to see what their individual IELTS requirements are.
I needed to get 6 in all of the tests for my PR application to Canada. I had my first IELTS attempt last August and got Reading 5.5; Speaking 6; Listening 6; Writing 6.5. I felt totally frustrated so I booked the exam again and found iPass. I took the IELTS Express course because I only had 3 weeks to prepare. My second set of results were Reading 9; Speaking 6.5; Listening 7; Writing 6.5; overall 7.5! I was so happy to exceed my target and I want to say thank you so much for your fantastic lessons and motivation!
The following tables show the IELTS test requirements for different health professions in various English-speaking countries.
REGISTERED NURSES & MIDWIVES
| Country | Nursing Body | IELTS test | IELTS scores |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | NMC (Nursing & Midwifery Council) | Academic | Overall Band 7 (minimum of 6.5 in Writing / 7 in all other tests) |
| IRELAND | NMBI (Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland | Academic | Overall Band 7 (minimum of 7 in 3 sub-tests and 6.5 in any one sub-test) |
| CANADA | Registered Nurses Association of a specific province | Academic | Depends on province. Eg. British Colombia requires overall band 7 with 7.5 in listening |
| USA | Registered Nursing Board of a specific state | Academic (General for other medical posts) |
Overall Band 6.5 (7.0 in Speaking) |
| AUSTRALIA | Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency | Academic | Overall Band 7 (minimum of 7 in all 4 tests) |
| NEW ZEALAND | Nursing Council of New Zealand | Academic | Overall Band 7 (minimum of 7 in all 4 tests) |
I am a Registered Nurse from South India and last time I took IELTS, I scored 6.5 in speaking, but I needed band 7 in all modules. That’s when I came across iPass and I enrolled on their IELTS Speaking course. I had 3 practice sessions with my tutor and it was very effective. She helped correct my mistakes and gave me tips to get a higher score. I felt more confident and got better with each practice session and it reflected in my IELTS scores. I scored 7.5 in speaking and 7 in all other modules. Thank you iPass!!
REGISTERED DOCTORS / PHYSICIANS
| Country | Professional Body | IELTS Test | IELTS Scores |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | GMC (General Medical Council) | Academic | Overall Band 7 (minimum of 7 in all 4 tests) |
| IRELAND | Medical Council | Academic | Overall Band 7 (minimum of 6.5 in each test) |
| CANADA | Medical Council of Canada | Academic | Depends on province. Eg. British Colombia requires overall band 7 with minimum of 7 in each test |
| USA | American Board of Medical Specialities | Need to consult medical board for individual states | |
| AUSTRALIA | Australian Medical Council | Academic | Overall Band 7 (minimum of 7 in all 4 tests) *can be in two test sittings within 6 months |
| NEW ZEALAND | Medical Council of New Zealand | Academic | Overall Band 7.5 (with 7.5 in Speaking and Listening) |
Thanks to my iPass tutors on the IELTS 7 Plus course, I got the required score to register for the GMC in the UK to practise as a doctor. I took the UKVI Academic IELTS in New Delhi in September and I got the following result: L 8, R 8.5, W 7.5, S 7.0 (overall band 8). Thanks iPass!
