International

Equivalent qualifications and tests

Every degree page on our website specifies an IELTS score as the minimum English Language requirement for that course. If you have taken a different English language test or qualification, this table shows the equivalent scores or marks you need to match the IELTS grade for your course.

Tests

Your test must have been taken within the past two years. Please see below for sub score requirements.

IELTS 5.5  6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5
IELTS Academic 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5
IELTS One Skill Retake 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5
IELTS Online 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5
TOEFL iBT   80 90 100 110
TOEFL iBT home edition 70  80  90 100  110 
Pearson Test of English (PTE)   59 61 68 75
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Online   59 61 68 75
Cambridge CPE and CAE (test taken after Jan 2015)   169 176 185 191
Duolingo English Test (DET) 95 105 120 130 140
Kaplan Test of English (KTE) - 426 459 495 527
Password Plus 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5
TEEP   6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5
OIBEC   Pass Pass Pass Pass
Cambridge ESOL (Skills for Life)   Level 1 Level 1 Level 2 Level 2
Trinity College ISE   ISE II with Distinction in all four components ISE III with Pass in all four components ISE III with Merit in all four components
Language Cert International ESOL B2 Pass High pass  High pass     
Language Cert Academic 60 65 70 75 80
Language Cert International ESOL C1 Pass  Pass  Pass  Pass  Pass/high pass 
Skills for English, PSI B2 Pass  B2 Pass with Merit  B2 Pass with Merit  C1 Pass  C1 Pass 
Cambridge Occupational English Test (OET) C/200+ C/250+ C/300+ B/350+ B/400+

International qualifications

Qualifications are valid, whenever you studied them.

IELTS 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5
GCSE English Language C C B B
A-level English Language C C B B
AS-level English Language C C B B
Cambridge O-level C C B B
Cambridge International GCSE, English as First Language C1
 C1
 B1
 B1
Cambridge International GCSE, English as Second Language
 B2 B2 A2 A2
European Baccalaureate
 80% in EL
 80% in EL
 90% in EL
 90% in EL
Irish Leaving Certificate (pre-2017) C C B B
Irish Leaving Certificate (2017 onwards) O4/H4 O4/H4 O3/H3 O3/H3
International Baccalaureate: English A 4 at SL or HL 4 at SL or HL 5 at SL or HL 5 at SL or HL
International Baccalaureate: English B 5 at SL or HL 5 at SL or HL 6 at SL or HL 6 at SL or HL
NECO English Language
 C6
 C6
 B3
 B3
Oxford AQA iGCSE, English as First Language C1 C1 B1 B1
Oxford AQA iGCSE, English as Second Language
 B2
 B2
 A2
 A2
Pearson Edexcel iGCSE, English as First Language C1
 C1
 B1
 B1

Pearson Edexcel iGCSE, English as Second Language

 B2
 B2
 A2
 A2
Scottish Advanced Higher or Higher English
 C C B B
WASSCE English C6 C6 C4 C4

Notes

  1. For Medicine and Clinical Science courses, at least 2 in Speaking:
    Cambridge syllabus 0500 and 0990
    Pearson Edexcel syllabus 4EA1 and 4EBO
    Oxford AQA syllabus 9270
     
  2. Not accepted for Medicine and Clinical Science courses

Country-specific qualifications

Qualifications are valid, whenever you studied them.

IELTS   6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5
Austria Matura / Reifeprüfung Grade 2 Grade 2 Grade 2 Grade 2
Brunei GCE/O-level 1120 Syllabus C C B B
Bulgaria Diploma za sredno Obrazovani Grade 5 Grade 5 Grade 5 Grade 5
Cameroon GCE O-level English C C B B
Denmark Bevis for Studentereksamen Grade 7 Grade 7 Grade 10 Grade 10
Finland Ylioppilastutkinto Grade 5 Grade 5 Grade 5 Grade 5
France Baccalauréat L’option International English Grade 12 Grade 12 Grade 12 Grade 12
France Baccalauréat General Grade 14 Grade 14 Grade 14 Grade 14
Germany Abitur, English Grade 12 Grade 12 Grade 13 Grade 13
Hong Kong HKDSE Grade 4 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 5
Hong Kong HKAL C C B A
Iceland Stúdentspróf, Compulsory English Grade 8 Grade 8 Grade 8 Grade 8
India National Board Standard XII 70% 70% 80% 80%
India State Board Standard XII 80% 80% 90% 90%
Luxembourg Diplome de Fin d’Etudes Secondaires 45 (bien) 45 (bien) 45 (bien) 45 (bien)
Malaysia English Language GCE-O (Syllabus 1119) C C B B
Malaysia SPM English 1119 (Bahasa Inggeris)1 CEFR B2 CEFR B2 CEFR C1 CEFR C1
Malta Matriculation Certificate, English C C B B
Mauritius Cambridge Overseas Schools (COS), English C C
 B B
Namibia HIGCSE C C B B
Netherlands VWO, English Grade 7 Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 8
Norway Vitnemål Grade 5 Grade 5 Grade 5 Grade 5
Poland Matura, Extended Level English language 70% 75% 80% 85%
Sri Lanka O-level in English Credit Credit Distinction Distinction
Sweden Fullständigt från Gymnasieskolan, English C/VG C/VG B/VG B/VG
Switzerland Maturità Grade 5
 Grade 5
 Grade 5
 Grade 5

Notes

  1. At least CEFR B2 required in all four components.

Minimum test scores

IELTS

  • Listening - 5.5
  • Reading - 5.5
  • Speaking - 5.5
  • Writing - 5.5

TOEFL (internet based)

  • Listening - 17
  • Reading - 18
  • Speaking - 20
  • Writing - 17

Pearson Test of English

  • Listening - 59
  • Reading - 59
  • Speaking - 59
  • Writing - 59

Duolingo English Test

  • Literacy - 95
  • Production – 95
  • Comprehension – 95
  • Conversation – 95

Kaplan Test of English (KTE)

  • At least 425 in all four components

Password Plus

  • At least 5.5 in all four components

LanguageCert

  • At least 33/50 in all four components (ESOL)
  • At least 60 in all four components (Academic)

Skills for English, PSI

  • At least Pass in all four components

Cambridge OET

  • At least C/200 in all four components

Cambridge ESOL Skills for Life

  • Listening, speaking, reading and writing - Pass
  • Listen and respond - Borderline
  • Speak to communicate - Borderline
  • Engage in discussion - Borderline

Cambridge ESOL Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)

  • Listening - 162
  • Speaking - 162
  • Reading - 162
  • Writing - 162

Cambridge ESOL Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

  • Listening - 162
  • Speaking - 162
  • Reading - 162
  • Writing - 162

Not sure if you meet our English Language requirements?

Please contact either admissions@leicester.ac.uk (for undergraduate courses) or pgadmissions@le.ac.uk (for postgraduate courses) and our staff will be happy to advise you.

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