IELTS
The most widely accepted English test for UK, Commonwealth and scholarship applications, reported on a 0–9 band scale.
- Provider
- British Council / IDP / Cambridge
- Score scale
- 0–9 (band)
- Format
- Four sections — Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Academic version for university entry; paper or computer-delivered.
- Length
- About 2 hours 45 minutes, with the Speaking interview sometimes on a separate day.
Where it's accepted
UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland universities and most scholarship schemes (Chevening, Commonwealth) publish IELTS-first requirements; widely accepted in the US too.
What score you actually need
Built from the verified programmes and universities in our catalogue that publish a requirement for this test — real numbers off official pages, not a brochure claim.
Most common required scores
Number of verified programmes asking for each overall score.
- 7143
- 6.589
- 7.541
- 632
- 5.513
- 51
- 81
Example programmes
The most selective bars across different universities. Open a university page for the full programme list.
| University | Programme | Requires |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia University | M.S. in Data Journalism | 8 |
| Harvard University | Master of Public Health (MPH) | 7.5 |
| London School of Economics and Political Science | MSc Law and Finance | 7.5 |
| New York University | MPH in Epidemiology | 7.5 |
| University College London | LLM in Environmental Law and Policy | 7.5 |
| University of Cambridge | MPhil in Environmental Policy | 7.5 |
| University of Oxford | Master of Public Policy (MPP) | 7.5 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences | 7.5 |
Preparing for IELTS?
Practise with real-exam material, then get band-calibrated writing and speaking feedback.
Free IELTS practice testsFrequently asked questions
What IELTS score do I need for a master's?
Across 320 verified programmes on Global Study Prep, IELTS requirements range 5–8, most typically 7 (median). Requirements vary by programme — confirm on the official page.
How is IELTS scored?
IELTS is reported on a 0–9 (band) scale.
How long is IELTS?
About 2 hours 45 minutes, with the Speaking interview sometimes on a separate day.
Where is IELTS accepted?
UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland universities and most scholarship schemes (Chevening, Commonwealth) publish IELTS-first requirements; widely accepted in the US too.
Score requirements vary by university, programme and scholarship — always confirm on the official page. Global Study Prep is independent and not affiliated with any test provider.