When you’re embarking on your academic journey, picking the right English proficiency test isn’t just a box to check - it’s a crucial step on your path to success. An internationally recognised test like IELTS is more than just a test. It’s trusted globally to open doors to new opportunities.
Worldwide, many renowned universities trust and accept IELTS as proof of English proficiency. Beyond studies, IELTS scores are recognised in professional fields and for immigration purposes worldwide. This broad recognition means that whether you’re applying for a job or a visa, IELTS opens doors.
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Why choose IELTS over others?
IELTS is the most recognised English test because of its fair and high quality testing. It’s trusted by over 12,500 organisations in more than 150 countries worldwide.
Of course, there are other English tests available, but it's worth noting that all leading universities and professional bodies accept IELTS, underscoring our test's unmatched quality and trustworthiness. Our reputation is built on rigorous standards and widespread recognition.
Tips: if you’re thinking about pursuing studies in the UK, the IELTS for UKVI (Academic) may be what you need. Read here to know more about IELTS for UKVI. Get in touch with our education counsellor for if you’re not sure.
Employers and professional bodies around the world also rely on IELTS to help them select the right people. For example, if you want to become an Early Childhood Teacher in Australia, you must get a positive skills assessment from the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). AITSL only accepts IELTS Academic for assessment purposes. This exclusive recognition speaks volumes about the trust and preference IELTS enjoys in both academic circles and beyond.
It’s important to choose a trusted English test like IELTS. Requirements may change but IELTS remains the benchmark when it comes to English proficiency tests, making it the trusted standard.
Consistent and clear requirements
IELTS has always been clear and straightforward. Top universities like University of Melbourne and UNSW stick to a consistent minimum IELTS score of 6.5 for undergraduate degrees, whereas the score for other tests may change, making it unclear which score to aim for.
Recently, Australian universities are correcting English language standards to focus on quality applicants.
University of Melbourne
While IELTS scores remain unchanged, the University of Melbourne has reviewed their equivalency settings of PTE-A against the IELTS standard benchmark:
IELTS | PTE (old) | PTE (new) |
|---|---|---|
Overall 6.0 | 50 | 60 |
Overall 6.5 | 58 | 64 |
Overall 7.0 | 65 | 72 |
Curtin University
Curtin University has recently completed a review of our English requirements for meeting entry into all courses offered by Curtin. There are no changes to IELTS, but the following changes to the PTE Academic scores will apply:
IELTS | PTE (old) | PTE (new) |
|---|---|---|
Overall 6.5 | 58 | 69 |
No sub-score below 6 | 50 | 59 |
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney has also reviewed its equivalency settings of PTE-A against the IELTS standard benchmark:
IELTS | PTE (old) | PTE (new) |
|---|---|---|
Overall 6.5 | 61 | 64 |
Overall 7.0 | 68 | 72 |
With IELTS, your required score remains consistent across time and institutions. These recent updates to PTE scoring by top universities only reinforce IELTS as the more trusted option for its clarity, reliability, and strong alignment with academic needs.
Why Universities Continue to Trust IELTS Over Time
As universities revise their English language entry requirements, one thing remains clear: IELTS continues to set the standard. These recent shifts reflect changing expectations and reveal why top institutions consistently place their confidence in IELTS.
IELTS is the Benchmark for Accuracy
When universities adjust their PTE scores upwards to align with IELTS bands (e.g. from 58 to 69 for an IELTS 6.5), it signals that IELTS is seen as the gold standard.
Institutions are essentially treating IELTS as the more accurate reflection of real English proficiency and using it as the reference point for setting fair and consistent entry requirements.
Stronger Confidence in IELTS Scoring
These adjustments show that universities trust IELTS scores more when making high-stakes decisions, like for admissions and visa endorsements.
PTE’s scores may have appeared to be too easy at certain bands, which led to a correction or adjustment in equivalencies. This reflects a higher level of confidence in IELTS to provide consistent, research-backed results that better align with the language demands of academic study.
Stability Builds Trust
While PTE scores have changed across many institutions, IELTS score requirements have remained the same. This consistency supports the idea that IELTS is a reliable and stable measure of English proficiency — something universities can trust year after year without needing changes.
Setting You Up for Success with IELTS
IELTS is designed to help you succeed, not just to test your skills. Each of the four sections - Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking - has clear band scores and test format, making the preparation easy and focused. Through preparation, you’ll be able to improve your English proficiency and acquire transferrable life-long skills that you can use to prepare you for study or work.
IELTS offers a wide range of official preparation resources, including many that are available for free. Explore IELTS Prepare for everything from practice tests to videos and webinars, providing you with tailored learning tools for each skill, so you're well-prepared to hit your target scores.
If you need to improve on one part of the test, you can retake just that section through the IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR) - no need to sit a full test again like you’d need to with other tests.
With IELTS, the Speaking test feels more like a real conversation. You’ll talk to a human examiner who understands and accepts different accents and can clarify questions without rushing you.
Choosing IELTS is to choose a widely trusted standard, unlike other tests that have ambiguous or unclear requirements. For aspiring students and professionals like you, IELTS is all you need to study, work, or migrate internationally.
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