Now that you've made the decision to study in the UK, it's time to make sure you have all you need for a successful application to a university!

You must exhibit the quality of your spoken and written English in order to support your admission as an international student. Taking the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) academic test will help you to achieve this.

Where can you take the IELTS Exam? 

If you have a branch of the British council near you, it is a good choice to apply to your IELTS exam via the British Council. 

When to Apply for IELTS exams?

It is best if you are preparing for the university to ensure you have your test results ready before your UCAS application is due. That means you would need to have your test date at least two weeks before the due date to ensure you have the results on time. 

How long does it take for a student to get his UCAS results?

If you have the regular IELTS exam on paper, the results usually appear within 13-14 days. On the other hand, if you have taken the computer exam, 5-7 days. Finally, if  you chose to take the life skills exam, results could appear as early as the next Wednesday. 

Can Students Get a Physical Copy of Their Test Results for Universities?

Unless COVID is affecting your area, most IELTS centers have the option of sending you your test results via mail or allowing you to pick  your report yourself. Sometimes you can even ask the centre to send the report directly to your university of choice. 

How Can I know what is the score of the University I wish to visit?

Depending on the university and programme, language requirements may vary from one university to another. A Tier 4 visa, which can only be obtained if you meet the English proficiency standards established by your university or institution, is required in order to study in the UK.

See how you are doing and where you need to improve by taking a look at the list of IELTS requirements for some of the top UK universities below:

• University of Oxford: Bachelor's: 7.0, Master's: 7.0
• University of Cambridge: Bachelor's: 7.0, Master's: 7.0
• Imperial College London: Bachelor's: 6.0, Master's: 6.0
• University College London: Bachelor's: 5.5, Master's: 5.5
• London School of Economics and Political Science: Bachelor's: 7.0, Master's: 7.0
• University of Edinburgh: Bachelor's: 6.5, Master's: 6.5
• King's College London: Bachelor's: 6.0, Master's: 6.0
• University of Manchester: Bachelor's: 5.5, Master's: 5.5
• University of Bristol: Bachelor's: 6.0, Master's: 6.0
• University of Glasgow: Bachelor's: 6.5, Master's: 6.5
• University of Warwick: Bachelor's: 5.5, Master's: 5.5
• Durham University: Bachelor's: 4.5, Master's: 4.5
• University of Sheffield: Bachelor's: 5.5, Master's: 5.5
• Queen Mary University of London: Bachelor's: 5.5, Master's: 5.5
• University of Southampton: Bachelor's: 6.5, Master's: 6.5
• University of Exeter: Bachelor's: 6.5, Master's: 6.5
• University of Leeds: Bachelor's: 6.0, Master's: 6.0
• University of Birmingham: Bachelor's: 6.0, Master's: 6.0
• University of St Andrews: Bachelor's: 7.0, Master's: 7.0
• University of Nottingham: Bachelor's: 7.0, Master's: 7.0
• University of Sussex: Bachelor's: 6.0, Master's: 6.0
• Lancaster University: Bachelor's: 4.0, Master's: 4.0
• University of Leicester: Bachelor's: 6.0, Master's: 6.0
• Cardiff University: Bachelor's: 6.5, Master's: 6.5
• Newcastle University: Bachelor's: 6.5, Master's: 6.5
• University of Liverpool: Bachelor's: 6.0, Master's: 6.0
• University of Aberdeen: Bachelor's: 6.0, Master's: 6.0
• University of Dundee: Bachelor's: 6.0, Master's: 6.0
• University of East Anglia: Bachelor's: 6.5, Master's: 6.5
• Royal Holloway, University of London: Bachelor's: 6.0, Master's: 6.0

On average, you can expect a minimum band of 5.5 for UK courses, with a band of 6.5+ for the top few universities. 

Don't expect acceptance based solely on your IELTS results; degree programmes and admissions officers will also take other factors like GPA and recommendations into consideration. Furthermore, different IELTS scores could be needed for various Master's programmes. Also, note that different courses offered by the same university may have different IELTS requirements. 

Check out these Tips to Prepare for IELTS that will significantly benefit you.