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 The IELTS is a wonderful multipurpose exam. This English proficiency test is not only used for applying to academic institutes but also for immigration purposes and work visas.

So the question is what mark do I need to attain on the IELTS to be successfully admitted to the school of my choice or to migrate to the country of my choice? Well, to be honest, the answer is not as simple or straightforward as many hope, as each country and academic program has different criteria to fulfill.

To start with, there are two versions of IELTS: Academic and General. Simply from the name, we can deduce that the General IELTS is required for most Immigration purposes and the Academic IELTS is needed for undergraduate and postgraduate programs. More specifically, the listening and speaking sections remain the same for both the Academic and General IELTS exams. However, students are given different reading and writing sections. Make sure you are taking the right type of IELTS for your ambitions.

Most undergraduate programs in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and other commonwealth countries require around 6.0/9.0 points on the Academic IELTS. However, certain schools may have higher standards. For example, Oxford University in the UK requires a score of at least 7.0 out of 9.0 for international students.

Yet, in general, postgraduate and MBA programs have higher minimum requirements than corresponding undergraduate programs. You will need to be aiming for a score of around 7.0-9.0. For Instance, to study a Masters of Science degree in Marketing at The University of Warwick, you need a minimum average of 8.0/9.0.  These are just rough guidelines to follow, but the best thing you can do is to check directly with the school and program what you need to attain on the IELTS.

For immigration purposes, every country will have specific requirements in correspondence with vocation or purpose. For some countries, an average mark is not enough and they require a certain mark for each module, including reading, speaking, listening and writing. In terms of English proficiency, to attain an Australian Independent Migrant Visa, you will need at least a 7.0 for each of the four modules on the General IELTS.

Finally, keep in mind your exam results are only valid for two years. Two years may seem like a long time; however, to be on the safe side, make sure your IELTS score is valid for at least 6 months from the application deadline. The worst thing would be to submit a nearly perfect application, only to have your school ask you to retake the IELTS test! Definitely not a situation you want to find yourself in.