In order to study in the United Kingdom, as an international student, it is imperative to have a qualification in English, proving your language ability.
These qualifications are commonly referred to as International English Language Testing System (IELTS), PET, FCE, CAE and CPE. IELTS being the most common and popular qualification.
There are two versions of the IELTS, the Academic Version and the General Training Version:
The Academic Version is intended for students enrolling to universities and other institutions of higher education.
The General Training Version is intended for those planning to undertake non-academic training or to gain work experience, or for immigration purposes.
IELTS is accepted by most English speaking countries worldwide.
No minimum score is required to pass the test. An IELTS result or Test Report Form is issued to all candidates with a score from «band 1» («non-user») to «band 9» («expert user») and each institution sets a different threshold.
For example, Oxford university demand an IELTS overall score of 7.0 (with at least 7.0 in each of the four components)