Does IELTS Really Expire?
If you have already decided to take the IELTS, you have probably read that it is not valid after 2 years. This is obviously bad news for you. This article looks at what it really means for the exam to expire, what contexts it applies to, and whether there are permanent alternatives that are acceptable if you are thinking about taking another exam. Let’s take a look!
Table of Contents
Knowing the Validity of IELTS
To understand the reason behind the expiration, it is essential to understand the history of the exam. The IELTS was developed to ensure that a foreign student could enroll and successfully complete a university course in the United Kingdom. IELTS can only guarantee that, indeed, the student has the level to be able to adapt to an academic linguistic immersion environment, when the exam is recent. Think about any skill you may have…now imagine that you don’t practice it in 10 years, what do you think will happen to your level? This is why after two years they are not responsible for certifying the candidate’s level. IELTS has no way of guaranteeing that you have maintained your level of English proficiency beyond that deadline.
Do Other Exams Also Expire?
The other validation exams, TOEFL and Duolingo English Test, use the same method to verify your level. They determine your level over a two-year period, just like IELTS. The Cambridge exams are a little more difficult to interpret. Your Cambridge qualifications and certifications do not expire, but each individual institution (universities, governments, businesses, etc.) decides how long they recognize their validity. That is to say, at an effective level they are exactly the same as IELTS, since it will be the university that requires that your Cambridge certificate have an issuance period of less than 2 years. Since the limitations are set by educational institutions and governments, it can be seen that, practically speaking, all exams act the same way.
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Who Will Request My IELTS Score?
As we have already mentioned, many English-speaking institutions originally used the IELTS exam to confirm that a candidate had the essential English proficiency to enroll in their courses. The application areas of IELTS have grown over time, and it is now also frequently used by governments and companies. To help you better understand IELTS expiration, let’s examine each area separately:
- Educational institutions: The IELTS academic exam (along with TOEFL) is the one that is most widely accepted by these institutions worldwide. While each institution determines the requirements for the IELTS, no university has ever accepted an English qualification that is more than two years old. In other words, if you took the IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo English Test or Cambridge exams more than two years ago, they will not be accepted for your access to an Erasmus, a Master’s degree or to study abroad.
- Governments: You may need to provide proof of a specific level of English proficiency to apply for a visa. Each government will impose its own rules, as with academic institutions. The differences between policies are notable, so be sure to do your research for the country you wish to apply for a visa for.
- Companies: Companies usually take the CEFR scale as a reference in their selection processes. IELTS is universally recognized so each IELTS score is equivalent to a certain CEFR level. If you do not have a way to certify your level of English, the IELTS is an excellent option since the process, both of preparation and of being able to take the exam, is very quick. When the objective is for curriculum reasons you should not worry too much about whether the exam expires or not. Human resources departments generally only assess whether you meet the language requirements without worrying too much about the age of the degree. The usual thing is that to validate if you have the level, in addition to looking at your resume, they make you part of the interview in English.
Conclusion
- Your IELTS score expires after two years, just like the TOEFL and the Duolingo English test.
- It doesn’t make much sense to compare the due dates of IELTS and Cambridge exams. In practical terms, the application requirements will define how long your score will be valid. It is always the institution (university) that determines whether they consider a score to have expired or not. The exam (IELTS, TOEFL, DET or Cambridge) has nothing to say about it .
- Since all exams are valid for the same amount of time if you are preparing to submit an application to a university. Choose your exam based on other factors (speed, price, accessibility, difficulty,…).
- If you’re using your English test score on your resume, try not to worry too much about the approval date of your score. If you provide the level they request, you will probably advance in the process and will have to demonstrate your real ability in the use of English during the interview.
We hope this article has answered your questions. If you have any questions regarding your IELTS preparation give us a call and we will be happy to explain how EPIC PREP can help you achieve your goals. On the other hand, if you prefer to read on, we leave you a link to our IELTS courses.
