A world of opportunity awaits international students who apply to study in the USA. If you are planning to study abroad in an English-speaking country, an IELTS test will form part of your visa and university application requirements. Use this guide to understand what score you should be aiming for when you take the IELTS test.
How does IELTS prepare you for a USA university?
As the world’s most trusted English test, IELTS sets the standard for testing Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking skills. IELTS is recognised by universities, immigration authorities and organisations across the USA.
When you take IELTS, the universities you apply to will be able to understand how well you can communicate in English and determine whether you will thrive as a student abroad. IELTS is also a great way to boost your confidence and assure yourself that you will be able to keep up with university course work, interact with people from all over the world and have a positive experience of the culture in a new country.
What is the IELTS score requirement?
IELTS tests are assessed according to a band scoring system, with separate band scores calculated for the Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking sections. The average result for all four parts of the test will give you an overall band score, which is what universities want to see in your IELTS Test Report Form.
The maximum band score a test taker can obtain is 9, which is allocated to expert users. This score means you have a full operational command of the language, your use of English is appropriate, accurate and fluent and you show complete understanding. Find out what each band score meanshere.
Most universities in the USA will accept a minimum IELTS band score of 6.0 – 6.5 for undergraduate courses. This score means you are a competent user with an effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies. For post graduate programmes, a score of 6.5 – 7.5 is generally accepted.
It is important to confirm with the universities you plan to apply to what their minimum IELTS band score requirement is. Higher scores may also be expected for certain undergraduate courses, such as medicine, where the IELTS requirement is 7.0.
Prepare to get your required IELTS score
Whether you have been speaking English all your life or learned it as a second language, adequate IELTS preparation is very important if you want to achieve a high score. Preparation material and practice tests that cover each section of IELTS in detail is essential to your success.
IELTS Ready Premium is our most comprehensive preparation course, designed to ensure test takers achieve their goals. With tools to create a personalised study plan, interactive exercises, tutorial videos and plenty of practice tests, IELTS Ready Premium is worth $60. When you register for IELTS with us, you can access IELTS Ready Premium for free right up until your test date.
What if you don’t get your required IELTS score?
Be sure to book IELTS on Computer so you can access One Skill Retake in case you do not obtain the required score the first time around. With One Skill Retake, you can re-write one section of IELTS without having to complete or pay for the whole test again. This is a great way to ensure you get the score you need to achieve your goals of becoming a student abroad.
Register for IELTS with us and plan to succeed as a student in the USA. No one prepares you for the future like we do!