A high IELTS score can open many doors whether you want to study, live or work in Australia.  A score of 7 or above would be accepted in just about every area that Australian universities have to offer, from business to science and many others in-between, depending on your goals. In turn, this can help you accelerate your career, while also opening up doors for Australian skills migration.

Most businesses require overseas employees working in Australia to prove their English level with an IELTS Score. Some students have already got the qualifications they need from their own country. So, in Australia, they just study an IELTS Preparation course, achieve the score they require, and start working immediately. One Brazilian student, Paola, did just this. She studied IELTS, got a good score and started working for the accounting firm KPMG. Her English skills and work ethic were so good that she has now been offered sponsorship by KPMG, which means she has a career in her professional field in Australia.

Take another example: a student from Europe wanting to study a post-graduate course and work for a period after graduation.  International students who study at Australian universities can remain working in Australia for up to 4 years after graduating, which could then be extended depending on their situation.

Australian skills migration also uses IELTS as a requirement for applicants; in this case a band score of 7 or above can help you meet those, not to mention what might be expected of you from various other professional bodies in Australia.  However, you need to remember that your IELTS results will expire in two years and you will need to sit the test again. Having studied in your field at an academic institution for a period of time does not always help you maintain a high IELTS level.  If you used a 6.5 to enter a course such as a Masters of Civil Engineering, it might not be high enough for migration or skills registration, which usually asks for higher IELTS results (7+).

These are just some of the possibilities in Australia. However, IELTS is also accepted in numerous countries worldwide for education, migration and professional purposes.  Some students even take an IELTS test to gain academic credits for English subjects required for degrees studied in their native language.

Many people use IELTS for a variety of different reasons in most countries around the world. The first step is to work out YOUR goals, then research which IELTS Score you need to achieve them. Once you have this information, you can focus on studying hard in an IELTS Exam Preparation Course and take control of your future.