To gain an Australian visa, you will need to demonstrate your English abilities to the Department of Home Affairs.
IELTS is one of the world’s most popular high-stakes English language tests, with over three million tests taken in the past year. And it’s the English test of choice for educational organizations, professional associations and employers across Australia. In fact, all universities and colleges in Australia accept IELTS, as well as all professional associations that have set minimum language requirements for professional registration.
Find out about the test results required for your visa to Australia.
The IELTS score you need depends on the requirements of your visa, and the organization where you plan to study or work.
Find out who accepts IELTS and check the score required.
IELTS assesses your English proficiency on a scale from 1–9 in four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. You have a choice of two test types – IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training – depending on the requirements set by the organization where you plan to work or study.
Find out more about your test score
You can take an IELTS test in nearly 50 locations across Australia. There is a test center in each state capital city and in many regional cities.
Preparing for your test is an important part of the process. Take advantage of our free resources to help you improve your language and communication skills. Download the Information for Candidates booklet (PDF, 1,021KB) and check out the sample test questions online.
You can also order Official IELTS Practice Materials which include samples of past Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking tests, complete with sample answers and examiner comments. You can also purchase practice materials from local test centers.
Native English speakers are also strongly advised to prepare for the IELTS test. It is easy to feel overconfident about the test when you have been using English all your life. But, if you want to achieve the best possible score for your test, you need to familiarize yourself with the test format. You can also access preparation materials to ensure you are ready for test day.
IELTS for study
Thousands of education and training providers all over the world use IELTS results to select their students.
IELTS for work
Many professional registration bodies and employers rely on IELTS as proof of English language ability.
A test of four skills
IELTS is a task-based test covering the four language skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking).