If you are a foreigner planning to live, study, or work in the UK with your UK visa, and you don’t want to do menial jobs like cleaning, caregiver, salesperson, etc., there’s a way out for you. If you want to land a job of your dreams while studying or staying in the UK, you must have a required minimum IELTS score for UK work visa.
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Many foreigners left their home countries to the UK to look for a greener pasture and to better their lives, yet, they end up working tirelessly without nothing to show for it at the end of the month because they don’t have IELTS results, talkless of a required minimum score. Are you wondering where they went wrong? That’s because they had the wrong plan.
I faced a similar situation when I applied to study at a UK university. As an international student, I was given 20 hours to work a week when I had so many expenses to pay by the end of the month. Most of the jobs I applied for pay minimum wages (£ 11.44) or slightly above the minimum wage. Yet, I did not want to settle for less.
While my job applications are still under review, I was applying to other companies, particularly content management industries. In one of my applications, I was requested to present my test of English before I could get the job. Fortunately, I had my IELTS result with a band score of 7.5, when the required minimum IELTS score was band 6.5. This IELTS landed me a job of £ 30 per hour while I needed to work 20 hours a week. Cumulatively, I have £ 600 a week and £ 2,400 a month as a student.
Where am I driving at, whether you are a student or skilled worker in the United Kingdom, the best way to land a well-paying job is to ensure that you have the required minimum IELTS score for UK work visa. If you are not sure of the required minimum IELTS score for your dream job, we have simplified that for you in this article. Ensure that you read every bit of this article and land your first job with ease.
Table of Contents
The Types of IELTS Tests Suitable for Different Individuals
2. IELTS for UKVI – General Training
The Minimum IELTS Score for UK Work Visa
IELTS Scores for UK Skilled Worker Visa (General Work Visa)
IELTS Scores for Health and Care Worker Visa
IELTS Scores for Graduate Visa
What is IELTS?
The IELTS is an acronym for the International English Language Testing System, which is organized to test the English language proficiency of foreigners who are aiming to work, live, or study in the United Kingdom. Language proficiency is a basic need for anyone wishing to work in the UK or apply for a UK work visa.
However, the United Kingdom Visa and Immigration (UKVI) has given a particular standard for the IELTS score to be eligible for a work visa in the UK. This does not mean that you won’t be allowed to work in the UK if you do not have the required minimum IELTS score or proof of language proficiency.
If you are wondering why you must have proof of language proficiency as a foreigner seeking a greener pasture in the UK, you don’t need to stress further. As stated earlier in this article, having the best scores in your IELTS gives you the opportunity to land a high-paying job in the UK, and that can give you financial freedom.
This English test (IELTS) is a signal to recruiters that you can communicate fluently with native speakers without mincing words or bypassing during conversations. It also shows that you have an impeccable command of language, which could also be a signal that you are attentive to detail.
IELTS is an alternative proof of language proficiency. The UKVI uses the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to gauge the applicants’ level of language proficiency on a point-based system. Your language proficiency score will be calculated based on four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. These skills are discussed later in this article.
The Types of IELTS Tests Suitable for Different Individuals
During our research, we observed that many people are asking specific questions about the minimum IELTS score they must obtain before they can apply for a Visa with the UKVI. Some of these questions revolve around academics, general training, life skills, etc.
The saying “whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well ” is not less true in this matter. When applying for your visa with the UKVI, ensure that you have an outstanding IELTS result that will enable you to apply for any and all jobs in the UK. With that, you will be rest assured of your acceptance into any industry you feel like applying to.
Regardless, the following are the types of IELTS exam suitable for different people, depending on your motive of application.
1. IELTS for UKVI – Academic
Individuals eyeing to study abroad usually plan to take IELTS academic to secure admission into UK universities. However, in recent years, people planning to study in the UK do not necessarily need to take the IELTS test before they can secure admission.
Please note: the last sentence only applies to applicants seeking a partial scholarship or self-funding. Applicants seeking a fully funded scholarship are advised to prepare well for their IELTS test, which could be the only criterion for acceptance for a fully funded scholarship.
The IELTS comprises four modules: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The required minimum IELTS score for academic purposes in the UK is slated for 6.5 bands.
2. IELTS for UKVI – General Training
Are you planning to migrate to the United Kingdom to search for a greener pasture? Then, if you want your dreams to come to reality, you must apply for a UKVI work visa and take the IELTS test for general training. The general training IELTS language proficiency test will gauge your proficiency in the four language skills. Your listening, speaking, reading, and writing levels will be tested.
3. IELTS Life Skills
The UKVI Life Skills IELTS is an English Language test organized for individuals applying to settle in the UK. This language proficiency test differs from the IELTS Academic and the IELTS General training. Unlike the two IELTS tests mentioned above, the modules of questions to answer in IELTS Life Skills are the listening and speaking aspects. This is to show that the applicants can communicate fluently. Moreover, the IELTS Life Skills does not grade applicants based on bands but whether they pass or fail.
The Minimum IELTS Score for UK Work Visa
It is evident that there is no perfect IELTS score, but there is an ideal IELTS score requirement for work, study, and settlement in the United Kingdom. Regardless of the required minimum IELTS score for a UK work visa, we want to reiterate that you should beat all odds while applying for your work visa with the UKVI. You must ensure that you have up to Band 7.5 IELTS score to stand afloat in the ocean of your job search, whether you want to settle, work, or study abroad.
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Below are the required minimum IELTS scores for specific or diverse jobs in the UK:
IELTS Scores for UK Skilled Worker Visa (General Work Visa)
The general work visa, which has recently replaced the Tier 2 visa in the UK, is issued to applicants with visa sponsorship from a verifiable UK employer with a sponsor licence from the UK home office. This visa allows immigrants to live and work in the UK.
However, having a verifiable sponsor for your UK work visa is an important requirement. Another important requirement to enable you to work with the employer sponsoring your job is to have a B1 grade on your English proficiency test, equivalent to the minimum IELTS score of Band 4.0. This means you must have a minimum score of band 4.0 in each of your four language skills tested during your IELTS exam.
IELTS Scores for Health and Care Worker Visa
Medical practitioners with healthcare worker visas are allowed to stay and work in the United Kingdom, with the provision of working with the National Health Services (NHS). This healthcare work visa allows its holder to stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years, after which you can apply for a visa extension. However, you can be given a Permanent Residency (PR) after staying up to 5 years in the UK as a healthcare worker.
It is safe to know what is required before you apply for a healthcare work visa in the UK as a foreigner. Working as a medical professional abroad without adequate knowledge of English Language usage is nearly impossible. You must think that no one understands your language and English is the only language that connects you with everyone. Therefore, you must have an impeccable CEFR level B1 or minimum IELTS band score of 4.0. This means you must have a minimum IELTS score requirement of a band score of 4.0 on your four language skills tests (listening, speaking, reading, and writing).
IELTS Scores for Graduate Visa
Holders of IELTS graduate visas can work and stay in the UK for about three years after completing their studies. One of the criteria for being eligible for the graduate visa is that the applicant must have a UK student visa with an IELTS requirement (English language requirement for proficiency test). To be eligible, applicants in this category are expected to have a minimum band 5.5 IELTS score. If you want to ace your IELTS minimum score, you may have a practice test here for your IELTS preparation.
The IELTS Exam Formats
The IELTS body has structured English language proficiency tests in four important and technical aspects of language use. Foreigners applying to study, work, or settle in the United Kingdom can prove their eligibility through their English language proficiency.
To be eligible to work abroad, you must prove that you can communicate perfectly with a native speaker. Even if you are not fluent in English, communication must take place. The language proficiency tests are formatted into Listening, speaking, reading, and writing. These language skills will be explained in the next section of this article.
Listening
Your English language proficiency in listening will be tested by listening to audio and answering questions afterward. In some cases, you are not allowed to listen to the audio more than once, sometimes twice.
Before you listen to the audio, it is advisable to read the questions. That will help you identify where to note while listening to the audio. However, your listening test will last 30 minutes, and you will be slated for another day to prepare for another skill test. This will depend on the schedule across countries.
Speaking
This is another integral part of your language proficiency test. In the speaking test, you will be seated with an interviewer and have a conversational-like test. During the conversation, the examiner will note your spoken weaknesses and where you are more proficient. It is advisable to comport yourself and see your examiner as a friend. The speaking test will last about 15 minutes.
Reading
The IELTS reading test comprises 40 questions, which tend to test candidates’ reading skills. Some of the aspects to be tested in the IELTS reading test include reading for gist, attention to detail, and understanding logical arguments. The duration of the reading test is 60 minutes.
Writing
The IELTS writing test is characterized into two tasks. In task one, you will be requested to write a descriptive essay detailing visual information in at least 150 words within a time frame of 20 minutes.
However, in task two, you will be asked to write your point of view on a topic that focuses on argument (argumentative essay). In general, you are expected to use 60 minutes to answer your questions. It is important to note that your use of linguistic pointers (punctuation marks) is very important. If you are not good at it, please improve on that aspect.