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English language and English tests

We accept a range of English language qualifications as evidence of your abilities. These qualifications are all checked by our International Centre for English to ensure they meet our requirements. 

Their syllabuses are mapped against the four components of listening, reading, writing and speaking to ensure they are comparable to CEFR level B2 in each of these components. 

For the majority of our courses, an IELTS of 6.0 overall (with no band below 5.5) is required, however, please note that some courses may require a higher IELTS score. Please check with the University if you are unsure.

Please note, some of these qualifications may have a validity of two years from the date of the test.

Please note that if you have a UK Bachelor Degree or an equivalent qualification that was studied in a majority English speaking country, you will not be required to hold one of these English language qualifications. 

English tests accepted

English Test Grade and Information

BCU English Proficiency Test

For online Presessional Course: Yes

For January 2021 Direct entry: Yes

For September 2021 Direct entry: Yes

BCU EPT Online:

https://store.bcu.ac.uk/short-courses/non-accredited-courses/preaccess-english-courses-tests/bcu-english-proficiency-test-onlinetake-ielts/book

IELTS

For online Presessional Course: Yes

For January 2021 Direct entry: Yes

For September 2021 Direct entry: Yes

IELTS 6.0 with no banding below 5.5

Please note select courses require higher IELTS

https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/book

Pearson test of English (PTE) - Academic 

For online Presessional Course: Yes

For January 2021 Direct entry: Yes

For September 2021 Direct entry: Yes

IELTS equivalentPTE Academic
4.0 43
4.5 48
5.0 53
5.5 59
6.0 64
6.5 70
7.0 76
Valid only for September 2020 intake and only for tests taken before 21st May 2020:
IELTS5.566.57
Reading 42 42 42 65
Listening 42 42 42 65
Speaking 42 42 42 65
Writing 42 42 42 65
Overall 42 50 58 65
TOEFL (if taken outside the UK) - Requirements based on IELTS equivalent 

For online Presessional Course: Yes

For January 2021 Direct entry: Yes

For September 2021 Direct entry: Yes

IELTS equivalentTOEFL Total/overallTOEFL readingTOEFL ListeningTOEFL SpeakingTOEFL writing
4.0 48 6 11 17 14
4.5 56 10 13 18 15
5.0 64 14 15 19 16
5.5 72 18 17 20 17
6.0 80 20 18 21 19
6.5 88 22 20 23 21
7.0 95 24 22 25 24
LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2

(Available at UKVI approved test centres only)

For online Presessional Course: Yes

For January 2021 Direct entry: Yes

For September 2021 Direct entry: Yes

Pass/High grading
LanguageCert IESOL B2 ExamIELTS 5.5 equivalance
(all skills)		IELTS 6.0 or 6.5
equivalance (all skills)
Written Exam Pass High Pass
Spoken Exam Pass High Pass

Numerical Scores by Skill

LanguageCert IESOL B2 Exam Non-SELTLC score (IELTS 5.5 equivalence)LC score (IELTS 6.0 equivalence)LC score (IELTS 6.5 equivalence) 
Listening 25-32/50 33-38/50 39-50/50
Reading 25-32/50 33-38/50 39-50/50
Writing 25-32/50 33-38/50 39-50/50
Speaking 25-32/50 33-38/50 39-50/50

Only when both Written and Spoken exams are taken within fourteen (14) days of each other.

The qualification should be valid for two years from the date of issue and should still be valid on the date of issue and should still be valid on the date on enrolment onto a BCU course

LanguageCert International ESOL B2 (non-SELT)

(available online or at a test centre)

For online Presessional Course: Yes

For January 2021 Direct entry: Yes

For September 2021 Direct entry: No

Pass/High Pass Grading

LanguageCert IESOL B2 ExamIELTS 5.5 equivalance
(all skills)		IELTS 6.0 or 6.5
equivalance (all skills)
Written Exam Pass High Pass
Spoken Exam Pass High Pass

Numerical Scores by Skill

LanguageCert IESOL B2 Exam Non-SELTLC score (IELTS 5.5 equivalence)LC score (IELTS 6.0 equivalence)LC score (IELTS 6.5 equivalence)
Listening 25-32/50 33-38/50 39-50/50
Reading 25-32/50 33-38/50 39-50/50
Writing 25-32/50 33-38/50 39-50/50
Speaking 25-32/50 33-38/50 39-50/50

Only when both Written and Spoken exams are taken within fourteen (14) days of each other.

The qualification should be valid for two years from the date of issue and should still be valid on the date on enrolment onto a BCU course.

https://www.languagecert.org/certifications/English/LanguageCert-International-ESOL-31/languagecert-communicator-b2-level-1-diploma-in-esol-international-2281

LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B1

(available at UKVI approved test centres only)

For online Presessional Course: Yes

For January 2021 Direct entry: Yes (for presessional courses only)

For September 2021 Direct entry: Yes (for presessional courses only)

Pass/High Pass Grading

LanguageCert IESOL B2 ExamIELTS 4.0 equivalance
(all skills)		IELTS 4.5 or 5.0
equivalance (all skills)
Written Exam Pass High Pass
Spoken Exam Pass High Pass

Numerical Scores by Skill

LanguageCert IESOL B1 Exam SELTLC score (IELTS 4.0 equivalence)LC score (IELTS 4.5 equivalence)LC score (IELTS 5.0 equivalence)
Listening 25-32/50 33-38/50 39-50/50
Reading 25-32/50 33-38/50 39-50/50
Writing 25-32/50 33-38/50 39-50/50
Speaking 25-32/50 33-38/50 39-50/50

Only when both Written and Spoken exams are taken within fourteen (14) days of each other.

The qualification should be valid for two years from the date of issue and should still be valid on the date on enrolment onto a BCU course.

LanguageCert International ESOL B1 (non-SELT)

(available online or at a test centre)

For online Presessional Course: Yes

For January 2021 Direct entry: Yes (for presessional courses only)

For September 2021 Direct entry: Yes (for presessional courses only)

Pass/High Pass Grading

LanguageCert IESOL B1 Exam Non-SELTIELTS 4.0 equivalance
(all skills)		IELTS 4.5 or 5.0
equivalance (all skills)
Written Exam Pass High Pass
Spoken Exam Pass High Pass

Numerical Scores by Skill

LanguageCert IESOL B1 Exam Non-SELTLC score (IELTS 4.0 equivalence)LC score (IELTS 4.5 equivalence)LC score (IELTS 5.0 equivalence)
Listening 25-32/50 33-38/50 39-50/50
Reading 25-32/50 33-38/50 39-50/50
Writing 25-32/50 33-38/50 39-50/50
Speaking 25-32/50 33-38/50 39-50/50

Only when both Written and Spoken exams are taken within fourteen (14) days of each other.

The qualification should be valid for two years from the date of issue and should still be valid on the date on enrolment onto a BCU course.

https://www.languagecert.org/certifications/English/LanguageCert-International-ESOL-31/languagecert-achiever-b1-entry-level-3-diploma-in-esol-international-2279

IELTS Indicator

For online Presessional Course: Yes

For January 2021 Direct entry: Yes

For September 2021 Direct entry: No

The same band scores as IELTS

https://www.ieltsindicator.com/

Qualifications accepted

Please note the grades shown below are equivalence to IELTS 6.0 with no skills lower than 5.5. If higher scores are required from your course, you will need to achieve higher grades in your qualification.

Qualification

Grade

Brunei Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary level – syllabus 1120 C and above
Bulgarian High School Diploma 5.0 English Foreign Language I

Cambridge English Qualification: C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge English: Advanced/CAE)

IELTS

5.5

6.0

6.5

7.0

Reading

162

169

176

185

Listening

162

169

176

185

Speaking

162

169

176

185

Writing

162

169

176

185

Overall

162

169

176

185
European Baccalaureate

Language 1 – 6.0 / 60%

Language 2 – 7.0 / 70%

Language 3 – 7.5 / 75%
Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) - Level 5 course in communications 50% and above, on a case by case basis
GCSE: AQA Board Grade 4 and above
GCSE: Edexcel Board Grade 4 and above
GCSE: OCR Board Grade 4 and above
GCSE: WJEC Board Grade 4 and above
IGCSE: Cambridge Board (1st Language) Grade 4/ C  band 3 and above in Speaking (5 highest)
IGCSE: Cambridge Board (2nd Language)

Before March 2017 – Grade 7 (Grade A)

After March 2017 –
Syllabus 0511 – Grade C
Syllabus 0510 – Grade C with 2 and above in Speaking
(1 highest)
IGCSE: Edexcel Board

English as first language – Grade 4 (Grade C)

English as second language – Grade 7 (Grade A)
Indian Standard XII

65% and above in the following boards: CBSE, CISCE, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
International Baccalaureate Diploma

English B (Standard/Higher Level) – 5

English A: Language and Literature, Literature, Literature and Performance (all at Standard/ Higher Level) – 5
INTO – INTO English Language Assessment Requirements based on IELTS equivalent

IELA

IELTS

162 - 168

5.5

169 - 175

6.0

176 - 184

6.5

185

7.0

 

INTO – University of East Anglia (UEA) Requirements based on IELTS equivalent

English Language and Study Skills

IELTS

55%

5.5

60%

6.0

65%

6.5

70%

7.0

 

INTO – University of Exeter

Requirements based on IELTS equivalent

 Overall 6.0 with no banding below 5.5
Kaplan Language for Study 3 (LS3)

Overall score of 60 with:

A minimum of 60 in Listening

A minimum of 55 in Reading, Writing and Speaking

Kaplan PBEP – Diploma in Professional Business English, Level 5 

(Singapore, on-campus)

 

BCU Courses English Requirement-overall IELTS band

Kaplan PBEP Level 5 Grades

6.0 (no skill less than5.5)

Pass (P) 50-64

6.5 (no skill less than6.0)

Credit (C) 65-74

7.0 (no skill less than6.5)

Distinction (D) 75-84

Kaplan Pre-sessional English and Academic Skills (PS) in Thailand, on campus
BCU courses overall IELTS requirement Kaplan band Research project %
6.0 60 or above (no less than 55 in each skill) 40% or above
6.5 65 or above (no less than 60 in each skill) 50% or above
7.0 75 or above (no less than 70 in each skill) 65% or above

Kings Education Advanced Level Foundation Year-English for Academic Purposes

(UK Colleges: Bournemouth, Brighton, London, Oxford)

 

BCU Overall IELTS English Language Requirement

Kings Education CSS Module Final Grade

6.0 

60%

6.5 

65%

7.0 

70%

Latvian High School Diploma / Certificate of General Secondary Education

B2 test at 80% or above
Lithuanian High School Diploma / Brandos Atestatas (Secondary School Leaving Certificate / Maturity Certificate) B2 test at a score of 8 or above
Malaysia Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary level (syllabus 1119) 1 – 6 before 2008 / C or above after 2008
Mauritius Cambridge International General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level – syllabus 1125/1126 Grade C and above
Navitas Academic English 2 (AE2) and Academic English 3 (AE3)

Overall pass of 55% in AE2 for programmes requiring IELTS 5.5

Overall pass of 60% in AE3 for programmes requiring IELTS 6.0

Overall pass of 65% in AE3 for programmes requiring IELTS 6.5

Overall pass of 70% in AE3 for programmes requiring IELTS 7.0

NCUK, English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Syllabus

Requirements based on IELTS equivalent

NCUK EAP

IELTS

D (40 - 49%)

5.5

C (50 - 59%)

6.0

B (60 - 69%)

6.5

A (70-79%)

7.0

Romanian Baccalaureate

 

BCU overall IELTS requirement

RB Grade

5.5

6.0

6.5

B2 in at least 3 language components

7.0

N/A

Singapore Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary level – syllabus 1127 and 1128 C and above
Sri Lanka General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level English Language C and above
South and City College Birmingham, Pre-Sessional English 6.0 with no banding below 5.5

Thailand: Assumption University International English Language Test (AUIELT)

Requirements based on IELTS equivalent		 Overall 6.0 with no banding below 5.5
The Study Group: Academic English Skills (Previously English and Skills for University Study (ESUS) modules 1-3)

Overall score of 40% with 40% in each component for programmes requiring IELTS 5.5

Overall score of 50% with 40% in each component for programmes requiring IELTS 6.0

Overall score of 60% with 40% in each component for programmes requiring IELTS 6.5
WASSCE (West Africa Senior Schools Certificate Examination): West African Examination Council (WAEC) A to C or 1 to 6
Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education English Language Syllabus (1122) (ZIMSEC) Grade C and above

For Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programmes you will be required to complete a BCU in-house English Language test if you do not hold a GCSE grade C/4 or above or an approved Level 2 equivalent in English Language. You would need to obtain an IELTS with an overall score of 7.0 with no bands below 6.5. This will also be the same for Mathematics and Science.