Your score in the IELTS is valid for two (2) years. If you have not put it to good use by then, it may be either deemed incomplete or may be refused as a valid document for the application you’re making.
Is the IELTS Validity Universal?
Maybe, you have a couple of friends who took the IELTS test with you but they’re still using theirs, while you’re required to renew yours.
The fact is that IELTS validity is not as universal as you think. The validity or duration of the usage depends on the organization or institution you’re submitting it to and the country.
IELTS Score Validity by Country
You may get up to 3 years of usage before the current IELTS score will be deemed outdated. The country you’re migrating to determines how long the result will last.
UK, USA & New Zealand
The aforementioned countries follow the 2-year validity of the IELTS score. This is in line with the concept of attrition or second language loss.
While these countries allow you to use the same score for 2 years, the following also applies:
- You can request the details of the result and appeal within 6 weeks of the release date.
- It is up to individual institutions or organizations to choose the IELTS validity period that meets their needs.
Canada
A 2-year validity also applies to Canada. It is imperative to keep the following in mind:
- Applying for Permanent Residency (PR) in Canada requires the IELTS result dates to be within the last 24 months (2 years) to be deemed valid.
- The IELTS test validity must be submitted within 12 months (1 year) of applying for Canadian immigration.
Australia
Australia is one country that extends the validity of IELTS scores. As part of the changes to the GSM Visa Program, the validity was extended to three (3) years for the Skilled Migration applications.
Conclusion
Your scores in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are valid for 2 years in the U.S., New Zealand, Canada and the UK. If applying to the Skilled Migration visa program in Australia, you’ll get an extra year, thus, extending the validity to three (3) years.