Universities in Australia Accepting Low IELTS Scores

IELTS band scores are a common eligibility requirement for admission to Australian universities. Among all foreign universities, Australian universities have a comparatively lenient approach to English proficiency test scores and the presence of online courses is a major factor in this phenomenon.

That said, even with a lenient approach, the minimum requirements are not scrapped. In fact, while Australian universities have achievable minimum band score requirements, they are very particular about their final decision. Even the alternatives offered imply that you need to improve your language skills.

Nevertheless, sometimes low scores are unavoidable, especially when admissions are right around the corner. Hence, here are all the universities in Australia accepting low IELST scores, and the various alternatives, which you can use to your advantage when applying for these universities.

Our study abroad experts are highly competent and can support you throughout the admission process to Australian universities.

IELTS Band Score Calculation

IELTS band score calculation is an important consideration for students to apply for admission at Australian universities. To satisfy the admission requirements, it is necessary to ensure that you have enough band scores that will help you in satisfying the eligibility criteria of your course. You must focus on your overall band score and sectional band score to get optimise your performance. Let us discuss both of them briefly to understand more about the universities in Australia accepting low IELTS scores:

• Overall IELTS Band Score: It is the total band score obtained in all four sections of the IELTS exam. Your IELTS scorecard contains the overall score required and you must get at least 5.5 to 6.5 IELTS bands to get into Australian universities.

• Sectional IELTS Band Score: It is the minimum score that you require in each section of the IELTS exam. Mostly the sectional IELTS score requirements are lower than the overall band score required for university admissions. Sometimes, some courses require certain specific sectional requirements. The sectional cut-off for each section can vary and be different. 

Students must maintain a good IELTS score for easy admission. However, there are several universities to study in Australia without IELTS. 

Which IELTS Band Scores are Low for Australia?

The IELTS band score requirement depends largely on the course and university you are applying for. A low IELTS score is any score that is below the minimum score required by the university for its admission process. 

The IELTS low score is not restricted to the minimum requirements. As an applicant, you must achieve at least 0.5 to 1 band higher than the minimum score mentioned. However, this stricture does not apply to IELTS section-wise requirements. 

Universities offer concessions and relaxations for overall IELTS band scores under certain conditions but failing to meet the sectional cut-off can impact the admission decisions miserably. 

Many Australian universities consider students with 5.5 band scores for admissions, however below that students are generally disqualified. Hence, you must be careful that getting a score below 5.5 will significantly reduce your chances of admission and you might have to retake the test in similar circumstances. For postgraduate courses, the stakes are higher. Universities may even set 6.0 and 6.5 as the minimum scores required for enrollment. 

Minimum IELTS Score Requirements in Australia

When applying to Australian universities with IELTS band scores, you will have to check out specific score requirements. However, if you have yet to decide upon which university or universities are suitable for you, you can refer to the average common minimum requirements of Australian universities. This will give you a rough idea of the IELTS minimum requirements of the university of a certain ranking.

Here are all the minimum IELTS score requirements applicable for admission to Australian universities varied qualifications and courses:

Note: These minimum IELTS requirements are for overall scores. The section-wise requirement for each of them is half bands lower, for example, for an overall IELTS band score of 6.0, the section-wise requirement of the course is 5.5 IELTS bands.

Australian Universities Accepting Low IELTS Scores

As talked about previously, you will have to refer to shortlisted universities' minimum score requirements to figure out the IELTS band scores that are acceptable for admission to the preferred courses.

A good IELTS score, such as 7.0 or above, will easily get you admission to any Australian university. However, it is the IELTS low scores that will make you search for universities that can be applied. Clearly, the lower your IELTS score, the more it will be impossible to apply to higher-ranking universities in Australia.

Universities Accepting IELTS 5.5 Bands

If you wish to use the IELTS exam for admission, 5.5 IELTS low score must be your limit. The reason is that though there are universities in Australia accepting a low score, they are only a handful. You can expect certain difficulties and high competition when applying with an IELTS low score of 5.5 bands.

Here are some of the universities that will let you apply to their bachelors courses with the 5.5 IELTS bands:

Universities Accepting IELTS 6.0 Bands

Even if it is better than 5.5 bands, 6.0 is still among IELTS low scores for admission to Australian universities, especially if you wish to apply for masters courses. It will be tricky to get admitted to universities of high-ranking, though their bachelors courses will accept the score as a minimum requirement. A strong profile may be helpful to get a competitive edge over other applicants for admission.

Here are some of the popular universities in Australia which will readily accept 6.0 IELTS bands scores for admission:

Universities Accepting IELTS 6.5 Bands

It is one of the most common IELTS band score minimum requirements for admission to Australian universities. However, it is still considered among IELTS low scores. The reason is many universities, not ranked as well by global charts, mention a minimum requirement of 7.0 and above. This makes the most popular requirement become redundant as a mere recommendation, that is you will be eligible to get your admission application considered, however, a college acceptance letter would not be issued.

Regardless, here are some high-ranking universities accepting IELTS band scores in the range of 6.0 bands:

IELTS Alternatives in Australia

You can apply to Australian universities for admission to their courses with other alternatives if your IELTS low scores are more likely to not be of help. Some of the best alternatives to IELTS band score requirements in Australia are:

• TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo: You can choose other English proficiency tests in place of the IELTS exam. You must, however, make this decision before attempting the IELTS exam. You can fill out forms for all the alternative exams, or simply choose the ones whose exam patterns you can easily understand. This way, you can the results of other exams in case of an IELTS low score.

• MOI: If your preceding education until the application to Australian universities has been in English, then you can use this as a basis for test requirement waiver. Your medium of instruction along with your academic transcripts will establish you as a proficient language user, and you might not have to rely on IELTS low scores at all.

• Strong Student Profile: A strong student profile for admission to foreign universities is extremely important, which only amplifies in the case of IELTS low scores. You will have to ensure that all the other aspects of your application, from GPA to work experience, work in your support, making the university ignore the low scores.

• Foundational Courses: You may get a negotiation of foundation courses from the university to continue for full-time courses. However, you can apply for the foundational course at first, and improve your language proficiency over time. These courses have comparatively low IELTS score requirements, making them favourable for you.

• Online Courses: If you wish to study a course with any Australian university, however you can forego flying to Australia for education, then online courses may work in your favour. Even if you wish to study on-campus in Australia, you can apply for online courses as you have IELTS low score. You can use your first year to grow your language proficiency, and gain a good GPA to apply for a transfer to the on-campus course in your second year.

Can I Get Australia Visa With Low IELTS Scores?

As established, IELTS band scores are an inevitable aspect of admission to Australian universities, however, they are not an absolute requirement. Hence, you have alternative options and salvaging courses available even if you might have performed not so well in your IELTS exams.

That said, proper preparation can become your support and you might not need to look for corrective measures. Hence, it is better advised that you prepare for your IELTS test while there is still time.

Our study abroad test experts can support you throughout your preparation process. You can write to abroad@collegedekho.com to reach out to them.