English Language Requirements

International English language test system (IELTS) equivalents

	IELTS	TOEFL Internet Based*	Pearson	University of Lincoln PEASS course
Required IELTS of 6.0 or equivalent	IELTS 6.0 Listening: minimum level 5.5 Speaking: minimum level 5.5 Reading: minimum level 5.5 Writing: minimum level 5.5	N/A	Overall score 54 Listening: minimum level 51 Speaking: minimum level 51 Reading: minimum level 51 Writing: minimum level 51	Pass at 40% or above
Required IELTS of 6.5 or equivalent	IELTS 6.5 Listening: minimum level 6.0 Speaking: minimum level 6.0 Reading: minimum level 6.0 Writing: minimum level 6.0	Overall score  90 Reading  21 Writing   22 Speaking 22 Listening 20	Overall score 61 Listening: minimum level 54 Speaking: minimum level 54 Reading: minimum level 54 Writing: minimum level 54	Pass at 50% or above
Required IELTS of 7.0 or equivalent	IELTS 7.0 Listening: minimum level 6.5 Speaking: minimum level 6.5 Reading: minimum level 6.5 Writing: minimum level 6.5	Overall score  100 Reading  23 Writing   23 Speaking 23 Listening 22	Overall score 67 Listening: minimum level 61 Speaking: minimum level 61 Reading: minimum level 61 Writing: minimum level 61	Pass at 60% or above

*Please note that the TOEFL test is no longer accepted for students who 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

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

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.

International English language test system (IELTS) equivalents

Other qualifications accepted in lieu of IELTS 6.0

Country-specific English language qualifications

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