The application season is now beginning: foreign universities are opening admissions, deadlines for fall intake are approaching, and the IELTS certificate remains a key requirement. For admission, a score of IELTS 6.5–7.0 is typically required, with 6.5 being the minimum threshold for most programs and 7.0 or higher considered competitive, especially for top UK universities that demand 7.5 and above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each section.

The minimum score is the threshold at which a university starts reviewing an application, but it does not guarantee admission. For instance, if a university specifies "IELTS 6.5 overall and no less than 6.0 in each section," this allows documents to be submitted, yet on popular programs like law, international relations, or medicine, the actual level of admitted students is often higher. Therefore, applicants should focus on the competitive range rather than the lower limit, with the Writing section being particularly crucial for humanities and legal programs.

University requirements vary by country: in the UK and Australia, bachelor's programs usually require 6.5–7.0, in the US and Canada 6.5–7.5, and in Europe and Asia 6.0–7.0. For master's programs, these figures are often 0.5 points higher. If achieving the required score is challenging, alternative routes exist, such as foundation and pathway programs, as well as conditional offers, which are common among applicants from Uzbekistan.

In Uzbekistan, the IELTS exam is administered by British Council and IDP Education in Tashkent, with a cost of 2,664,000 soums for 2026. According to the EF Education First report, Uzbekistan ranks 104th in the global English proficiency index, classified as a low level. Notably, Writing and Speaking skills are higher than Listening, reflecting preparation specifics. Thus, for Uzbek applicants, achieving scores of 6.5–7.0 requires targeted preparation, especially in academic writing and listening.

Source: kun.uz