Use your International English Language Testing System certificate

  1. Summary
  2. Use your qualification
  3. Use your International English Language Testing System (IELTS) certificate
  1. Use your Occupational English Test (OET) certificate
  2. Countries where English is the first and native language

We may be able to accept your IELTS certificate as evidence of your knowledge of English.

Types of IELTS we can accept

We can accept your IELTS certificate as long as it was the academic version of the test (including UKVI) and you’ve achieved our minimum scores.

We accept:

We do not accept the IELTS Indicator test.

Our minimum scores

For us to accept your certificate, it must demonstrate that:

  • you took the academic version of the test
  • you achieved a score of at least 7.0 in each testing area and an overall score of at least 7.5
  • you achieved these scores in the same test
  • you achieved these scores in your most recent sitting of the test
  • you have the test report form (trf) which has the number and original stamp.

If you haven’t met the minimum scores

Where you do not achieve our minimum score in one section of the full test, we will accept a One Skill Retake (OSR) pass in that section that achieves the required score.

You are eligible for One Skill Retake, only once, if you meet all the following requirements.

  • You have completed a full test at a centre that offers IELTS One Skill Retake.
  • You sit your IELTS One Skill Retake within 60 days of their full IELTS test.
  • Your full test was an IELTS on computer test – One Skill Retake is not available for the online or on paper tests.

More information and a video summarising the key information about One Skill Retake can be found on the IELTS website.

IELTS certificate validity

IELTS certificates are valid for two years. 

When sitting the AARA-KT, your certificate must be valid on the day you sit the exam. 

If your IELTS certificate is more than two years old, please refer to the next section of this guidance.

Please note, IELTS may not be acceptable evidence of your English language skills for the purposes of obtaining a UK visa. You will need to check with UK Visa and Immigration for their requirements.

Your IELTS certificate is more than two years old

If your IELTS certificate is over two years old, you may be able to provide additional evidence to demonstrate you’ve maintained your language skills to sit the AARA-KT.

In this instance, you can submit your IELTS certificate plus references from a tutor or lecturer of a postgraduate course or from an employer completed in a country where English is the first and native language. 

All references submitted for consideration must cover at least three months full-time study or employment within the last two years. Please email us for further information on how your references can be submitted.  

Previous Use your qualification Next Use your Occupational English Test (OET) certificate