IELTS entry scores are the minimum scores you need to be eligible for migration to a country, admission to an educational institute, and even working for an employer overseas. They are to prove your English language skill for a new country you have chosen to live, study or work in, and make sure you can comfortably communicate with native people. But who sets them and based on which criteria?!
This article will look at how IELTS entry scores are set and what scores you need to be eligible for entry to your dream country or university.
How are IELTS entry scores set?
IELTS is the gold standard for English language testing, recognized by more than 11,000 organizations worldwide in a wide range of sectors. Still, when it comes to setting IELTS entry scores, each country has its immigration laws, each university has its unique criteria, and each particular employer has its conditions. They try to make sure applicants can effortlessly live in their new country, pass courses or perform well in their new workplace by having the required language proficiency.
The IELTS band score requirement for each purpose is different and depends on how fluent you need to be in each specific situation. Sometimes there are even certain requirements for the minimum score in each one of the modules of the IELTS exam (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking), based on each visa category.
When it comes to education, the program you want to enrol in will define what IELTS entry score is needed. For example, a band score of 7.5 will be required in a linguistically demanding academic course such as advanced English literature, and even a band score of 7 will probably be acceptable, but any lower band score will need further English study. On the other hand, the same band score of 7 will be required for a linguistically less demanding academic course such as accountancy, and 6.5 will probably be acceptable, but 6 will need further English study.
Linguistically demanding training courses will set the same requirement for a band score of 6.5, probably accept 6 and ask for more English study for any lower band score. In contrast, linguistically less demanding training courses will set 6 as required and 5.5 as probably acceptable.
For immigration purposes, IELTS entry scores depend on the visa category you choose as the language demand is different for a skilled worker than for someone seeking family migration. Even industrial benchmarks are considered, but it is the prerogative of each employer. Certainly, a physician who deals with both the scientific community and ordinary patients has different language requirements than a hairdresser.
As you can see, setting IELTS entry scores depends on criteria dictated by the type of program or industry you apply for, and individual organizations and authorities do it.