Manchester Central College

The IELTS is a measurement of English Language attainment designed to assess the four key skill areas of listening, reading, writing and speaking, each component being graded on a scale of 0 to 9, with half marks in between. It is internationally accepted, and indeed expected, for further/higher study and for immigration purposes. 

Valid for two years from the date of the test, the IELTS is available in two versions, the academic (for higher education study purposes) and the general training (for immigration purposes or study at lower levels). Listening and speaking components are identical for both versions but there are different versions for the reading and writing papers. 

Although there is no pass or fail as such in IELTS, an average overall grade for university study would be 6.0 or 6.5 (Competent User), for foundation studies 5.0 or 5.5 (Modest User) and for immigration purposes again 5.0 or 5.5. In each case, acceptance is the decision of the university/college or immigration authority in question. 

It is possible to sit the IELTS test as many times as you want as it is available all year round, usually twice or three times a month, though not always in the general training version. Locally, tests are sat at the University of Manchester Language Centre in Grosvenor Street and also in Liverpool and Sheffield. 

On the Council of Europe Framework of reference, the IELTS scores correspond as follows: 

• 3.0 to A2 or Cambridge KET
• 3.5/4.0/4.5  to B1 or Cambridge PET
• 5.0/5.5/6.0  to B2 or Cambridge FCE
• 6.5/7.0   to C1 or Cambridge CAE
• 7.5+   to C2 or Cambridge CPE