IELTS has released a new comprehensive guide to help educational institutions, professional bodies, and other organisations worldwide set appropriate English language requirements. The guide supports institutional goals and student success.
The Guide to understanding and using IELTS scores (PDF 3 MB - 27 pages) provides higher education admissions teams, faculty, and decision-makers with essential tools. It helps organisations understand how they can align what the IELTS Academic test assesses with their course or role’s unique needs.
Supporting better outcomes through informed score-setting
Research has found that minimum English proficiency requirements vary widely across university degrees and related professions, sometimes creating barriers to student success after graduation.
We know that applicants who aren't assessed correctly may struggle – academically and socially.
Accurate score-setting will give organisations the best chance of recruiting applicants who are most likely to do well – and will help you set them up for success.
The guide addresses a critical challenge facing higher education institutions and professional services: setting English language requirements that are neither too restrictive nor too lenient.
A structured approach to score-setting
The new guide introduces a proven 5-step method for setting IELTS score requirements:
- Form a decision-making group – bringing together diverse expertise from admissions, faculty, student support, and English language specialists.
- Review existing requirements and gather evidence – taking an evidence-based approach using institutional data and stakeholder input.
- Run a collaborative score-setting workshop – ensuring all perspectives are considered in final decisions.
- Communicate requirements clearly – both internally and to prospective applicants.
- Utilise the IELTS Results Service – streamlining verification and admissions processes.
Resources for confident decision-making
The guide provides detailed insights into the IELTS 9-band scale and includes practical resources such as:
- quick-start recommendations for linguistically demanding and less demanding academic courses
- detailed band score descriptions to understand applicant capabilities
- alignment with Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) levels
- access to authentic sample answers and examiner commentary
- suggested institutional policy text for websites.
Addressing quality and accessibility
IELTS is the world’s most widely used and widely taken test of English language proficiency. The guide emphasises that over half of IELTS Academic test takers achieve band scores of 6.5 or above demonstrating that institutions have unrivalled access to a global pool of well-prepared applicants.
It also highlights IELTS's commitment to fairness and accessibility, including cultural neutrality testing and accommodations for individuals with specific needs, ensuring results represent a fair measure of all applicants' English ability.
Global trust and recognition
With organisations worldwide trusting IELTS as a valid, secure, and reliable indicator of English language proficiency, the test continues to help millions of people achieve their professional, personal, and academic ambitions each year.
The IELTS Academic test is designed for undergraduate and postgraduate applicants. It’s for those planning to study where courses are delivered in English and for those seeking professional registration.
About IELTS
IELTS sets the standard for English language tests globally and is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP IELTS, and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. The test meets strict professional standards, including the Q-mark quality indicator from the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE), ensuring educational institutions and employers can be confident in results.
Learn more and download your guide to understanding and using IELTS scores (PDF 3 MB - 27 pages).