English Language Requirements

IELTS equivalents

IELTS Academic *	*TOEFL IBT†**	PTE Academic*	University of Lincoln PEASS course
IELTS 6.0 overall Reading: minimum level 5.5 Listening: minimum level 5.5 Speaking: minimum level 5.5 Writing: minimum level 5.5	79 overall Reading: 18 Listening: 17 Speaking: 20 Writing: 20	58 overall Reading: 51 Listening: 51 Speaking: 51 Writing: 51	Pass at 40% or above
IELTS 6.0 overall Reading: minimum level 6.0 Listening: minimum level 6.0 Speaking: minimum level 6.0 Writing: minimum level 6.0	79 overall Reading: 19 Listening: 18 Speaking: 21 Writing: 22	58 overall Reading: 58 Listening: 58 Speaking: 58 Writing: 58
IELTS 6.5 overall Reading: minimum level 6.0 Listening: minimum level 6.0 Speaking: minimum level 6.0 Writing: minimum level 6.0	90 overall Reading: 21 Listening: 20 Speaking: 22 Writing: 24	61 overall Reading: 58 Listening: 58 Speaking: 58 Writing: 58	Pass at 50% or above
IELTS 7.0 overall Reading: minimum level 6.5 Listening: minimum level 6.5 Speaking: minimum level 6.5 Writing: minimum level 6.5	100 overall Reading: 24 Listening: 24 Speaking: 23 Writing: 27	76 overall Reading: 61 Listening: 61 Speaking: 61 Writing: 61	Pass at 60% or above

* Valid for two years from date of the test
† Accepted for students who do not require a Tier 4 visa

Other qualifications accepted in lieu of IELTS 6.0

Cambridge English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Cambridge English: Advanced, commonly known as the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) – overall score of 169, with no less than 162 in each element
Cambridge English: Proficiency, commonly known as the Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) – overall score of 169, with no less than 162 in each element
Cambridge B2 First - overall B grade, with no less than 170 in any individual element. Accepted for students who do not require a visa to study in the UK

University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)

GCE O Level English Language (Syllabus 1119/1120/1125/1126/1127) - grade C or better (must include reading, writing, listening and speaking and grades achieved in
each element must be equivalent to at least CEFR B2)
IGCSE First Language English (Syllabus 0500) – grade C or better (must achieve at least CEFR B2 in reading and writing and Grade 2 in Listening and Speaking components)
IGCSE First Language English (Syllabus 0522) – grade C or better (must achieve at least CEFR B2 in reading, writing, listening and speaking)
IGCSE English as a Second Language (Syllabus 0510 and 0511) – grade A (must achieve at least CEFR B2 in reading, writing, listening and speaking)

Edexcel

IGCSE English as a Second Language – grade C or better (must include reading, writing, listening and speaking)
IGCSE English Language (Specification A) – grade C or better

Please note that English Language (Specification B) does not test speaking or listening and is therefore not accepted).

Country-specific English language qualifications

The following qualifications may be accepted in place of IELTS 6.0.

Country	Qualification	Minimum grades required
Antigua & Barbuda	Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)	1-3
Australia	English language within Provincial Secondary/Senior School Certificate or Diploma	50%
Australia	Academic qualification assessed as being equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree by UK NARIC	-
Austria	Reifeprüfung / Matura	2 ('Gut')
Bahamas	GCSE / GCE O Level	A-C
Bahamas	Academic qualification assessed as being equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree by UK NARIC	-
Barbados	Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)	1-3
Barbados	GCE Ordinary Level	A-C/1-6
Barbados	Academic qualification assessed as being equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree by UK NARIC	-
Belgium	Certificat d'Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur	8/10 (80%)
Belgium	Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs	8/10 (80%)
Belize	Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)	1-3
Belize	GCE Ordinary Level	A-C/1-6
Belize	Academic qualification assessed as being equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree by UK NARIC	-
Botswana	Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (BGCSE)	A-C
Cameroon	GCE Ordinary Level	A-C
Canada	High School Diploma (or regional equivalent)	A-C
Canada	Academic qualification assessed as equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree by UK NARIC If studied in a French-speaking province, you will need to provide a letter from the institution confirming that the degree was taught in English	-
Cyprus	Apolytirion of Lykeion	15
Denmark	Bevis for Højere Forberedelseseksamen (HF)	7
Dominica	Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)	1-3
Dominica	GCE Ordinary Level	A-C/1-6
Dominica	Academic qualification assessed as being equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree by UK NARIC	-
Europe	European Baccalaureate Diploma	7
Germany	Abitur / Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife - English as a 'Leistungskurse'	10 ('Gut')
Ghana	WASSCE	A1-C6
Grenada	Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)	1-3
Grenada	Academic qualification assessed as equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree by UK NARIC	-
Guyana	Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)	1-3
Guyana	Academic qualification assessed as equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree by UK NARIC	-
Hong Kong	HKDSE	4/5
Iceland	Studentsprof (from Gymnasium)	9
India	Standard XII (awarded by a Metro/State Board)	70%+
Ireland	Academic qualification assessed as equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree by UK NARIC	-
Jamaica	Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)	1-3
Jamaica	GCE Ordinary Level	A-C/1-6
Jamaica	Academic qualification assessed as equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree by UK NARIC	-
Kenya	Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)	A-C
Malawi	Malawi School Certificate of Education	1-6
Malaysia	Cambridge GCE O'level Syllabus 1119	A-C
Malta	Advanced Matriculation / Matriculation Certificate	E
Netherlands	VWO	8
New Zealand	National Certificate in Educational Achievement at level 2/3	Achieved
New Zealand	Academic qualification assessed as equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree by UK NARIC	-
Nigeria	NECO Senior School Certificate	A1-C6
Nigeria	WAEC WASSC	A1-C6
Norway	VVO	4/5
South Africa	National Senior Certificate	5
St Kitts & Nevis	Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)	1-3
St Kitts & Nevis	GCE Ordinary Level	A-C/1-6
St Kitts & Nevis	Academic qualification assessed as equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree by UK NARIC	-
St Lucia	Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)	1-3
St Lucia	Academic qualification assessed as equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree by UK NARIC	-
St Vincent & The Grenadines	Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)	1-3
St Vincent & The Grenadines	Academic qualification assessed as equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree by UK NARIC	-
Sweden	Slutbetyg / Avgångsbetyg från Gymnasieskolan	VG (15+)
Tanzania	Secondary School Leaving Certificate	A-C
Tanzania	Certificate of Secondary Education	A-C
Trinidad & Tobago	GCE Ordinary Level	A-C/1-6
Trinidad & Tobago	Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate	1-3
Trinidad & Tobago	Academic qualification assessed as equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree by UK NARIC	-
Uganda	Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE)	1-6
Uganda	East African Certificate of Education (EACE)	1-6
USA	High School Graduation Diploma	C
USA	Academic qualification assessed as equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree by UK NARIC	-
Various	International Baccalaureate Diploma - HL English A: Language and Literature	5
Various	International Baccalaureate Diploma - SL English A: Language and Literature	5
Various	International Baccalaureate Diploma - HL English A: Literature	5
Various	International Baccalaureate Diploma - SL English A: Literature	5
Various	International Baccalaureate Diploma - HL English B	5
Various	International Baccalaureate Diploma - SL English B	6
Zambia	Zambia School Certificate / General Certificate of Education	1-6
Zimbabwe	Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education O Level	A-C

Please note that requirements for some programmes may be higher than those listed in the table above.

We would usually expect the qualification to have been completed within 5 years of you enrolling at the University of Lincoln.

IELTS equivalents

Other qualifications accepted in lieu of IELTS 6.0

Country-specific English language qualifications

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