We accept a range of English Language certificates for entry to our pre-sessional courses. Entry requirements for our pre-sessional courses are shown for IELTS scores.
You can use the information on this page to check which certificates we accept, and to find out the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) equivalencies for certificates other than IELTS.
Please carefully consider which test you take, as it may affect the type of visa you are eligible to apply for. Read more about visas.
We accept the following English Language certificates for entry to our pre-sessional courses:
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic. Please note that we cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
- IELTS for UKVI (United Kingdom Visas and Immigration) Academic. This test is a SELT (Secure English Language Test). Please note that we cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
- PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic. Please note that we cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
- PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic UKVI. This test is a SELT (Secure English Language Test). Please note that we cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
- LanguageCert International ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) (either the online or test centre test). Please note that we cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
- LanguageCert International ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) SELT (Secure English Language Test). Please note that we cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
- TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test). Please note that we cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
- Trinity College London ISE (Integrated Skills in English). Please note that we cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
- NCUK English Language Test. Please note that this qualification is no longer offered but we can accept existing results as long as they will be no more than two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
- Password Skills. Please note that although we accept this test we do not deliver or administer it.
- A suitable Cambridge English qualification
- iGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) English as a first or second language.
We don't accept IELTS Indicator, Password Skills Solo, TOEFL MyBest scores, TOEFL Paper-delivered Test or TOEFL iBT Home Edition.
Find your equivalent IELTS score
Entry requirements for our pre-sessional courses are shown for IELTS scores.
If you have a Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic, TOEFL iBT or LanguageCert ESOL test, use the following tables to find the IELTS equivalent for your test score. If you have another certificate from the previous list, contact langc@leeds.ac.uk.
Then visit our pre-sessional entry requirements pages for undergraduate applicants, Masters applicants or Research applicants to find the length of pre-sessional course you should study.
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic
| Your Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic score | Equivalent to IELTS 4.0 | Equivalent to IELTS 4.5 | Equivalent to IELTS 5.0 | Equivalent to IELTS 5.5 | Equivalent to IELTS 6.0 | Equivalent to IELTS 6.5 | Equivalent to IELTS 7.0 | Equivalent to IELTS 7.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 43 | 48 | 54 | 59 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 74 |
| Reading component | 43 | 48 | 54 | 59 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 74 |
| Writing component | 43 | 48 | 54 | 59 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 74 |
| Speaking component | 43 | 48 | 54 | 59 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 74 |
| Listening component | 43 | 48 | 54 | 59 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 74 |
TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test)
You must have at least the given score in each component, as well the overall score:
| Your TOEFL iBT overall score |
Equivalent to IELTS 4.0 | Equivalent to IELTS 4.5 | Equivalent to IELTS 5.0 | Equivalent to IELTS 5.5 | Equivalent to IELTS 6.0 | Equivalent to IELTS 6.5 | Equivalent to IELTS 7.0 | Equivalent to IELTS 7.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 54 | 64 | 72 | 80 | 87 | 92 | 100 | 103 |
| Reading component | 9 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Writing component | 13 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| Speaking component | 16 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Listening component | 12 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
LanguageCert International ESOL
For summer pre-sessionals, find the right course option using the following list. Contact us at langc@leeds.ac.uk if you will be studying an undergraduate course, or if you have any questions.
If your postgraduate degree requires an overall IELTS score of 6.0
- Your current score: B2 Communicator, one score other than writing below 33 allowed. No scores below 25. You need: 10 weeks
- Your current score: B2 Communicator, no scores below 33. You need: 6 weeks
If your postgraduate degree requires an overall IELTS score of 6.5
If you’ll be studying a course at Leeds University Business School, or the following Civil Engineering courses: Engineering Project Management, or International Construction Management and Engineering:
- Your current score: B2 Communicator, one score below 36 allowed. No scores below 33. Reading or writing scores between 33 - 35. You need: 10 weeks.
- Your current score: B2 Communicator, one score below 36 allowed. No scores below 33. Listening or speaking scores are between 33 – 35 you can study the 6 week pre-sessional. You need: 6 weeks
If you’ll be studying any other postgraduate course:
- Your current score: B2 Communicator, two scores below 36 allowed. No scores below 33. You need: 10 weeks
- Your current score: B2 Communicator, one score below 36 allowed. No scores below 33. You need: 6 weeks
If your postgraduate degree requires an overall IELTS score of 7.0
If you are studying MA TESOL:
- Your current score: B2 Communicator, two scores below 39 allowed. No scores below 33. You need: 10 weeks
- Your current score: B2 Communicator, one score below 39 allowed. No scores below 33. You need: 6 weeks
- Your current score: C1 Expert, four scores below 31 allowed. No scores below 25. You need: 10 weeks
- Your current score: C1 Expert, two scores below 31 allowed. No scores below 25. You need: 6 weeks
If you’ll be studying any other postgraduate course:
- Your current score: C1 Expert, four scores below 33 allowed. No scores below 25. You need: 10 weeks
- Your current score: C1 Expert, two scores below 33 allowed. No scores below 25. You need: 6 weeks