IELTS Exam Eligibility 2024: Age Limit and Qualification for Student Visa

If you plan to come to Canada to study or work, you must take the IELTS exam. Precisely, you must have a good command of spoken and written English.

If you are wondering who is eligible for the IELTS and whether it’s essential to qualify for a student visa, this article will provide all the information you need. 

Overview of the IELTS exam

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is a globally recognized language test, especially in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and the UK. It assesses knowledge of the English language through four sections: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. You can work on paper or electronically.

IELTS is often a mandatory requirement for admission to universities and colleges abroad. A good IELTS score increases students' chances of admission to the desired program.

The test types include IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, IELTS UKVI and IELTS Life Skills.

IELTS Eligibility in 2024

IELTS doesn’t require particular eligibility criteria so that all students can take the exam. 

IELTS Eligibility Criteria 2024: The only requirement is the age limit, meaning you must be at least 16 years old to be eligible for the test.

The basic eligibility requirements for taking the IELTS exam must be met for, and those are:

• The age criteria is a minimum of 16 years, but there is no maximum age limit
• There is no established educational qualification for taking the IELTS exam. Only those who wish to obtain higher education in English-speaking countries must refer to the academic institution's eligibility criteria
• An overall undergraduate degree requires a minimum of 6 IELTS, with each band not less than 5.5
• Student Direct Stream (SDS) overall involves a minimum of 6.0, and each band not less than 6.0
• An overall postgraduate degree requires a minimum of 6.5 IELTS, a
• each band not less than 5.5 or 6.0

IELTS Age Limit

Although it’s essential to have a record of English language proficiency for academic, immigration or professional purposes, there is a general rule and official position on the age limit for IELTS test takers.

Is IELTS Recommended for Those Under 16?

Although IELTS is available worldwide to anyone regardless of age, gender, race, nationality, or religion, it is not intended for people under 16.

At What Age Should You Take the IELTS Test?

As mentioned above, the optimal age for taking the IELTS regarding age-specific, skill-dependent, purpose-oriented, and proficiency-reflective requirements is 16 years old.

Is There a Maximum Age Limit for IELTS?

There is no maximum age limit for IELTS.

IELTS Academic vs. IELTS General Training And Preparation Tips

IELTS offers two tests: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. What is the difference, and which one should you take?

Here are a few key things that make them different:

• IELTS Academic is considered for higher education (university or college as an undergraduate or postgraduate student), and IELTS General Training for migration, work or secondary studies
• IELTS Academic is assessed through your knowledge of the English language at an academic level, and IELTS General Training tests your English in everyday life
• The IELTS Academic Reading test requires you to read three lengthy paragraphs, extracts from books, magazines or newspapers and then answer questions relating to those passages. On the other hand, the IELTS General Training Reading test requires you to read passages from brochures and advertisements, materials that you come across every day
• In the IELTS writing test for general training, you should write about general topics instead of academic ones. The Writing for IELTS Academic section is about writing topics from undergraduate or postgraduate studies

Which one you will do depends on your student goals, whether you are preparing for academic studies or navigating everyday life and the work environment.

IELTS Preparation Tips

An excellent score is achieved by good preparation. If you don’t know how to prepare effectively for the IELTS test, look at the preparation tips below, which will help you do your test as well as possible.

Take a Practice Test

Practice tests are significant in understanding the exam format. Here's why.

• Familiarise yourself with the format and structure of the IELTS exam
• You will be able to understand the types of questions in advance
• You can know where you are now and what you need to improve
• Learn how to manage your time effectively during exams

Recognize the Exam's Time Limits

If you want to manage your time during the exam, you should know specific strategies:

• Read all the questions so that you have a partial answer to the question in your head, and then start answering them
• Divide and set aside a specific amount of time for each section
• Answer more straightforward questions first to build confidence and save time for more complicated questions
• Allow a few minutes near the end of the test to review your answers

Understand the Test Structure

Taking the test necessitates preparation, namely the following 4 sections:

• Listening: The goal is to assess how well you understand the context of the conversation, the speaker's purpose, and how well you follow the development of arguments
• Reading: You need to read as quickly as possible, understand what it is about, separate important information from irrelevant information, and then answer questions related to the text you read
• Writing: They evaluate your writing skills, how meaningfully you write, what your vocabulary is like and whether you write grammatically correctly
• Speaking: Your speaking skills are evaluated, including your accent, what you say, how confidently you speak, and how you conduct a conversation with the interlocutor

Practice English with Other Activities

A good practice includes participation in certain activities. Everyday activities that can help improve English proficiency apply to:

• Reading books, online articles or newspapers
• Watch movies in English without subtitles, TV shows or videos on YouTube
• Listening to English podcasts, music or radio stations
• Participating in conversations with native English speakers
• Essay writing

Build a Broad Range of Reading Abilities

Tips for enhancing reading skills, necessary for the IELTS reading section, include:

• Read a variety of types of texts, from more difficult ones, such as academic articles, to newspapers and magazines
• Write down the words you are not sure how to read and practice them
• Focus on understanding the main idea and key information in the passage

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IELTS Registration Fees

IELTS registration fees vary from country to country or test center.

However, if you take the test in Canada, here are some fees in Canadian dollars:

1. IELTS Test Fee: $359.99
2. IELTS One Skill Retake Fee: $290.48
3. IELTS Package (test & course): $469.99
4. IELTS Textbook: $30.00
5. IELTS Preparation Course: $149.99
6. Additional Test Report Form (TRF) sent electronically (per TRF submission): $39.99
7. Test Report Form (TRF) Re-issue: $29.99

IELTS Band Scores

The IELTS band score is determined by the following skill levels:

• Expert: You have a complete command of the language, speak it fluently and understand it completely
• Very good: You master the language with the occasional incorrect use of certain words or grammatical errors. You may misunderstand the context in unfamiliar situations
• Good: You handle the language well, sometimes you make mistakes, but you use the oral and written language quite solidly
• Competent: You are qualified to speak in certain situations and to respond appropriately, with occasional mistakes that you can quickly correct
• Modest: You have a partial command of the language; you usually use general expressions without going deeper into the language. You can often make mistakes.
• Limited: You only find yourself in familiar situations. You have difficulty understanding and expressing yourself
• Extremely limited: You understand basic things and often make mistakes both in writing and speaking.
• Intermittent: It is tough for you to understand spoken and written English
• Non-user: You only know certain words, which is insufficient for normal and usual communication.
• Did not attempt the test: You didn’t respond to any answer

If you didn’t know, every IELTS report can be checked via the online IELTS Results Service. 

Minimum IELTS Score to Study in Canada And Minimum IELTS Score by Top Universities

The result varies depending on which program you apply for. If you are attending the undergraduate programme, you must have a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each module, and if you are attending the postgraduate programme, you must have up to 6.5 overall and 6.0 per module. 

This is a general presentation of the results, considering that some institutions and their programs require a slightly higher threshold for passing.

What is the minimum IELTS Score by Top Universities?

If you want to know the minimum IELTS scores required by some top universities around the world, check this list:

• University of Oxford, UK: Minimum IELTS score of 7.0 for undergraduate and 7.5 for postgraduate programs.
• Harvard University, USA: Minimum IELTS score of 7.0 for undergraduate and graduate programs.
• University of Melbourne, Australia: Minimum IELTS score of 6.5 for undergraduate and 7.0 for postgraduate programs.
• University of Toronto, Canada: Minimum IELTS score of 6.5 for undergraduate and 7.0 for graduate programs.
• National University of Singapore (NUS): Minimum IELTS score of 6.0 for undergraduate and 6.5 for postgraduate programs.
• ETH Zurich, Switzerland: Minimum IELTS score of 6.5 for undergraduate and 7.0 for graduate programs.
• University of Tokyo, Japan: Minimum IELTS score of 5.5 for undergraduate and 6.0 for gra

Key Takeaways

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is a well-known language test worldwide that assesses knowledge of the English language through  listening, reading, writing, and speaking
• You must be at least 16 years old to be eligible for the test
• IELTS offers two tests: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training
• IELTS registration fees may differ from country to country or test center
• There are IELTS band scores considering skill levels, from expert to very bad
• Minimum IELTS scores can vary from university to university, and each needs to be fulfilled for the educational institution
• Don’t forget to follow the preparation tips for taking the IELTS test. A good score is established based on a good practce

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Study Abroad Without IELTS?

Yes, it is possible. Individuals planning to come to Canada must provide proof of school certificates showing they have studied English. Some universities even require an intensive English language program.

Some alternatives to IELTS for studying abroad, such as TOEFL or PTE, are also available. If you want more details about other tests, you can learn about TOEFL vs. IELTS tests when studying abroad The conditions under which these tests are accepted vary by educational institution and country.

Can Working Professionals Give the IELTS Exam?

As a working professional, you can take the IELTS General Training and IELTS Academic tests. Each test complies with institutional regulations.

Passing the IELTS exam is understood as opening up many business opportunities, especially if you need a license or certification.

What If I Am Not a Citizen of the Country Where I Am Taking the Test?

It doesn’t matter where you take an IELTS exam.

Citizenship or nationality doesn't directly affect eligibility to take language-based tests. Some countries or institutions may have specific minimum score requirements for nationals of certain countries, especially for visa or immigration purposes.