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IELTS Validity: How Long Does the IELTS Score lasts ?

Written by  Vishesh Chogtu

Published on Fri, April 22, 2022 11:15 AM   Updated on Fri, July 29, 2022 5:53 AM   13 mins read
Source : Entertainment·WHYS

IELTS which means International English Language Testing System is the testing agency that helps students or the candidates who want to immigrate to English-Speaking countries like the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, etc. Moreover, the IELTS test can be taken as many times as wanted by the candidates to get the best scores according to the University requirements or for the Visa requirements. But, The IELTS test has validity. The IELTS validity is for 2 years from the time the test is taken. Whatever the exam type like IELTS General or IELTS Academic the IELTS validity is the same. So, students who want to apply abroad need to apply before the IELTS validity is over. 

IELTS score Validity

Students or Candidates who want to immigrate overseas need to write the English proficiency test IELTS. In fact, students can attempt the IELTS exams as many times as possible. However, The IELTS score validity is for 2 years from the time the test scores are out from the testing agency. Moreover, the IELTS scores are the same for 2 years for any country like USA, UK, and Canada except for Australia. 

IELTS band score

The IELTS band score will show you the English level you are in and the meaning of the English level. The IELTS band score and its description is the same for all the IELTS section’s band marks. This IELTS band score will help students or candidates to assess their English level and the level required by the Visa authority or the Universities.

IELTS Band scoreEnglish Skills levelIELTS band Score Descriptor
9Expert UserCandidates has a complete understanding of the English language, has full command of the language, and uses it fluently, appropriately, and accurately. 
8Very Good UserTest-seekers has fully operational command over the language but might make some rare errors in unfamiliar situations. Though complex detailed arguments are handled well, occasional unsystematic inaccuracies might occur.  
7Good UserCandidates have operational command over English but can make inappropriate and inaccurate usage of the language and misunderstandings in some situations. 
6Competent UserCandidates had an effective command over English, even though they make some errors at times. They Can make the proper use and understanding of fairly complex language in familiar situations. 
5Modest UserCandidates will have a partial command of English but can cope with the overall meaning and make frequent mistakes. Does not have the capability to deal with complex situations well. 
4Limited UserTheir language proficiency is limited to handle only familiar situations and faces frequent problems in expressing and understanding.  
3Extremely limited UserCandidates Can only understand and convey the general meaning in familiar situations and communication breakdowns occur frequently for them. 
2Intermittent UserCandidates have very difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
1Non-UserCandidates cannot use  English  except for some isolated words
0Did not attend the examCandidates did not  answers to the questions

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IELTS Validity for Canada

IELTS is an exam that is accepted by more than 160 countries. International students who want to study or immigrate to work in foreign countries need to take the IELTS exam to prove their English skills. But, in Canada, this IELTS validity is measured with the CLB score created by the Canada Immigration authority to check the IELTS validity for Canada. However, The IELTS validity for Canada is for 2 years from the time exam results were issued. Moreover, the candidate doesn’t have an option for showing the IELTS score whatever they have. Only the recent score of IELTS is Validity for Canadian immigration.

IELTS Validity for Canada PR

As students are taking various types of English proficiency exams to prove their English skills, the Canada Immigration department creates its own standard value to measure the scores of students. It is called the CLB score. CLB means Canada Language Benchmark. It is not an exam but; it evaluates the scores by matching them with exam scores like IELTS, TOEFL etc.

The following are the IELTS validity for Canada PR along with CLB levels :

CBL LevelWritingReadingSpeakingListening
129999
1188.589
107.587.58.5
97778
86.56.56.57.5
76666
65.555.55.5
55455
443.544.5
332.533.5
221.522
11111

IELTS TRF Validity

IELTS TRF means IELTS Test Report Form which is a paper-based report card sent by the IELTS testing authority. Students or Candidates will receive this IELTS TRF within 13 days from the time they attempt the test. The IELTS TRF Validity is 2 years from the time it was given. However, the IELTS TRF validity does not extend for more than 2 years. If any student or Candidate’s IELTS TRF validity expires he/she needs to take the exam again to get the valid IELTS certificate or test report form. 


Recommended Read : Complete Guide for IELTS linking words Task 2


IELTS Validity in India

International English Testing System (IELTS) is the common exam taken by the students who want to study or work in foreign countries. Even the IELTS Validity is checked in India as India also accepts IELTS scores. In India, Top Institutions are accepting the IELTS scores from the students. The IELTS validity for India is 2 years the same as the USA, UK, Canada, and New Zealand. However, in India, the IELTS exam is conducted by IDP but not by the British Council. There are about 50+ IELTS centers all over India.

IELTS Validity Extension

The IELTS Validity will not be extended for more than 2 years from the test taken a year. But, due to the Covid-19 crisis, Many international Universities accept the scores of IELTS without a test card. And also, except for the Australia GSM visa, the IELTS validity is 2 years. Only for Australia GSM visa is 3 years as the Australian immigration authority changes the terms regarding this issue. 

How to extend IELTS validity?

As we all know the IELTS validity can’t be extended at any cost but there is a way to extend its period for some time. But, this will only work for a US EB-3 visa.

If your US EB-3 Visa preference data is present and the IELTS validity is expired then it will delay the process of Visa. However, if the EB-3 visas for the nurses from countries like the Philippines, where the visas are delayed in process, then your IELTS validity will expire before you get the visa. To avoid this issue, there is a way to extend the IELTS validity by using a small trick.

Those who are taking a US EB-3 Visa should start their Visa screen right after they complete their IELTS exam. This Visa screening will satisfy the requirements of the US federation and allow them to issue the Visa which has a validity of 5 years. In this way, you can get a Visa for another 3 years even after your IELTS validity expires.

IELTS Validity for UK

The IELTS validity for the UK is 2 years which is the same as countries like the USA, Canada, New Zealand, etc. However, the IELTS band scores for the UK are different for all its visa types. And few of the UK Visas even need the IELTS life skills scores for IELTS validity for the UK.

The following is the IELTS band score for different UK visas along with CEFR(Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) levels :

UK visa typesCEFR levelsIELTS band scores
Tier 1( General Visa)C1IELTS for UKVI overall score -7.0 in including all components
Tier 1 ( Exceptional talent Visa)B1IELTS for UKVI – overall score -4.0 in including all components
Tier1( Entrepreneur Visa)B1IELTS for UKVI overall score -4.0 in including all components
Tier 1 ( graduate Entrepreneur Visa)B1IELTS for UKVI overall score -4.0 in including all components
Tier 2( General Visa)B1IELTS for UKVI overall score -4.0 in including all components
Tier 2 ( sportsperson Visa)A1IELTS Life skills A1 – passIELTS for UKVI  overall score -4.0 in including all components
Tier2 ( Minister of Religion Visa)B2IELTS for UKVI overall score – 5.5 in including all components
Tier 4( general Visa- below degree level or sessional courses)B1IELTS for UKVI overall score -4.0 in including all components
Tier 4 ( general Visa – above degree level or equal to degree level)B2IELTS for UKVI³ overall score – 5.5 in including all components
Family route :Spouse/partnerParent of dependentA1IELTS life skills A1 – passIELTS for UKVI overall score – 4.0 in including all components
Family route:spouse/partnerParent of dependentA2IELTS life skills A2 – passIELTS for UKVI overall score -4.0 in including all components
Indefinite leave to remain or CitizenshipB1IELTS life skills B1 – passIELTS for UKVI overall score -4.0 in including all components

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IELTS Validity : Band score for UK Universities

The IELTS band score for UK Universities varies from University to University. However, the minimum IELTS band score for UK Universities is 6.5 overall with 6.0 in all IELTS sections for both UG and PG degree. But, some universities like University of Oxford, University of Cambridge etc which are top Universities in the UK and in the World require a minimum  of 7.0 or 7.5 overall IELTS band score. 

QS rankingsUniversity nameIELTS score for UG degreeIELTS score for PG degree
2University of Oxford7.07.5
3University of Cambridge7.57.0
7Imperial London College6.56.5
8UCL6.56.5
16The University of Edinburgh6.56.5
27The University of Manchester6.06.0
35King’s School of London7.57.5
49London School of Economics and Political Science7.07.0
61University of Warwick6.06.5
62University of Bristol6.56.5
92University of Leeds6.06.0
95University of Sheffield6.06.0
117Queen Mary University of London6.06.5
103University of Nottingham 6.06.0
82Durham University6.56.5

IELTS general Validity

As IELTS is having 2 types of test forms: IELTS general and IELTS Academic. Students can take any type of test form for attending the IELTS exam. The IELTS Validity for General test score is of 2 years time period same as IELTS Academic. As the IELTS exam is world-famous, the Testing agency reserved the IELTS Validity for any test form for 2 years. However, the IELTS general is designed for the candidates who want to work, train, or study at the Secondary School level in Foreign countries. Also, candidates who want to migrate to English-speaking countries can take the IELTS general exam to prove their English skills.


Check out : Ielts result and score


IELTS Score Validity for USA

Even though over 3,400 Institutions in the USA are accepting the IELTS scores, the IELTS validity is for 2 years like in other countries. And the USA government doesn’t set any minimum IELTS score required for a USA Visa. However, The minimum IELTS validity score for USA Universities is 5.5 in IELTS overall band score. But, the Top Universities in the USA required at least an IELTS band score of 7.0 which shows the English skills of the person as a “Good User”. 

The following is the IELTS scores for USA Universities for both UG and PG courses :

QS world rankingsUniversity nameIELTS score for UG CoursesIELTS scores for PG courses
1Massachusetts Institute of Technology77
2Stanford University77
3Harvard University77
4California Institute of Technology77
9University of Chicago77
13Princeton University77
14Cornell University77.5
15Yale University77
16Columbia University77
19University of Pennsylvania77
34NorthWestern University7.57.5
63University of Texas at Austin6.56.5
100Purdue University6.56.5
190University of Colorado Boulder6.56.5
115University of Southern California6.56.5
141Michigan University6.56.5
203Texas A&M University6.06.0
180University of Florida6.06.5

You Should know : IELTS Test Centres


IELTS Validity in Australia

The IELTS validity in Australia is also for 2 years except for the Skilled Migrant Workers. Previously, it also had a 2 years validity period, but because of some reasons, the Australian Immigration department changed the IELTS validity for 3 years to General Skilled Migrant workers. However, IELTS became one of the main components to issue the Visa for the Skilled workers.

The Minimum IELTS Overall score required is 6.0 and also in all the Components in IELTS. The points are also allotted based on the IELTS score. Higher the IELTS score, the higher the points. And the IELTS scores are divided into 3 bands Competent, Proficient, and Superior.

IELTS score securedPoints
Competent( IELTS score equal to 6.0 or more)0
Proficient( IELTS score equal to 7.0 or more)10
Superior( IELTS score equal to 8.0 or more)20

The following table shows the IELTS scores and IELTS sections along with the English proficiency bands for Australian Permanent Residency :

English language proficiencyIELTS sectionsIELTS scores


Competent
             Writing               Reading              Speaking               Listening                    6                       6                    6                       6


Proficient
             Writing               Reading              Speaking               Listening                    7                       7                    7                       7


Superior
             Writing               Reading              Speaking               Listening                     8                        8                     8                        8

Moreover, the IELTS validity for the study visa for Australia is also 2 years and every university has its own requirements for IELTS band score for both UG and PG courses. The minimum IELTS validity score for Australian Universities is 5.5 in each IELTS component along with 6.0 points in IELTS overall band score for UG courses. And for the PG courses, students need to get a minimum of a 6.0 point in each IELTS component with an overall of 6.5 in IELTS band score. However, for the degree in Engineering, and Educational studies a minimum of 7.0 IELTS score is required.

The following table shows the IELTS band score for both UG and PG courses in some Australian Universities :

World rank of the UniversityUniversity nameIELTS overall score for UG coursesIELTS overall score for PG courses
24Australian National University6.57.0
39University of Melbourne7.07.0
42University of Sydney6.56.5
48University of Queensland6.56.5
45University of New south wales6.56.5
59New Monash University6.56.5
114University of Adelaide6.56.5
160University of Technology Sydney6.06.5

FAQs

✅ Is IELTS Validity extended to 3 years?

Ans: No, the IELTS validity is not extended for 3 years. The IELTS validity is 2 years from the time the candidate took the Exam. But, the candidate who wants to migrate to Australia for work purposes and applied for an Australian GSM visa, has an extension of 3 years for some conditions. Other Than them, for any country the IELTS validity is not extended.

✅ How long is IELTS Validity?

Ans: The IELTS validity is for 2 years. Moreover, the IELTS exam is the common exam for proving the English proficiency levels of the students or for the workers. After the test is taken, the IELTS results are issued within 5-7 days for the computer-based test and the test report form is given within 13 days. However, the IELTS test is having an expiry period. It will expire after 2 years of the test taken.

✅ How much Validity of the IELTS certificate?

Ans: Yes, the IELTS certificate has a validity period. The IELTS Validity for Certificate is for 2 years from the time the certificate was issued.

Does the IELTS score have a lifetime validity?

Ans: The IELTS result is not valid for life. The validity of the scores varies by nation. While some nations need an IELTS assessment report to be no older than two years, others may accept test results up to three years old.

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Vishesh Chogtu

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