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Acceptable English Language tests

This page contains a guide to the only acceptable English language tests that can be used to meet a condition of offer (normally made in terms of IELTS scores) made by the University of Reading.

If the test you are intending to take is not listed, please contact the Admissions Team for advice using the details on the right.

Please note that this information may change as rules on acceptability change so please do keep checking back.

Tests acceptable for entry onto a Pre-sessional English programme

Test provider

Test name

Cambridge

IELTS (Academic) for UKVI SELT
(test must have been taken at a UKVI approved centre)

Cambridge

IELTS (Academic) non-UKVI
(acceptable for online PSE only)

Cambridge

IELTS Online
(acceptable for online PSE only)

Cambridge

Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)/C2 Proficiency
(currently acceptable for online PSE only)

Note: Name change to C2 Proficiency from 2018 onwards.

Cambridge

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)/C1 Advanced
(currently acceptable for online PSE only)

Note: Name change to C1 Advanced from 2018 onwards.

Duolingo

Duolingo English - please note that for 2023/4 programmes we accept 'Integrated' sub scores but for 2024/5 programmes onward we only accept 'Individual' sub scores.
(currently acceptable for online PSE only)

ETS

TOEFL: Internet (our DI code is 0769)
(currently acceptable for online PSE only)

ETS

TOEFL at homeiBT
(currently acceptable for online PSE only)

LanguageCert

LanguageCert Academic SELT
(test needs to have been taken at a UKVI approved centre unless you are applying for online PSE)

LanguageCert

LanguageCert International ESOL SELT (B1 level or above)
(test needs to have been taken at a UKVI approved centre unless you are applying for online PSE)

Pearson

PTE (Academic)
(currently acceptable for online PSE only)

Pearson

PTE (Academic) UKVI
(test must have been taken at a UKVI approved centre)

Trinity

Integrated Skills in English (ISE) I, II, III
(test must have been taken at a UKVI approved centre)

Tests acceptable for entry onto The International Foundation Programme

Test provider

Test name

Cambridge

Cambridge English: Business English Higher (BEC Higher)/C1 Business Higher- For Business, Economics and Related programmes only.
(currently only acceptable for the Online programme)

Note: Name change to C1 Business Higher from 2018 onwards.

Cambridge

Cambridge English:Advanced (CAE)/C1 Advanced
(currently only acceptable for the Online programme)

Note: name change to C1 Advanced from 2018 onwards.

Cambridge

Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)/C2 Proficiency
(currently only acceptable for the Online programme)

Note: Name change to C2 Proficiency from 2018 onwards.

Cambridge

IELTS (Academic) for UKVI SELT
(test must have been taken at a UKVI approved centre)

Cambridge

IELTS (Academic) non-UKVI
(only acceptable for students who do not require a student visa to study in the UK)

Cambridge

IELTS Online
(only acceptable for students who do not require a student visa to study in the UK)

ETS

TOEFL: Internet (our DI code is 0769)
(only acceptable for students who do not require a student visa to study in the UK)

ETS

TOEFL at homeiBT
(only acceptable for students who do not require a student visa to study in the UK)

LanguageCert LanguageCert Academic SELT 
(test needs to have been taken at a UKVI approved centre)

LanguageCert

LanguageCert International ESOL SELT (B1 level or above)
(test needs to have been taken at a UKVI approved centre)

Trinity

Integrated Skills in English (ISE) I, II, III
(test must have been taken at a UKVI approved centre)

Pearson

PTE (Academic)
(only acceptable for students who do not require a student visa to study in the UK)

Pearson

PTE (Academic) UKVI
(test must have been taken at a UKVI approved centre)

ONCAMPUS

ONCAMPUS Test of English (OCTOE)
(only acceptable for students who do not require a student visa to study in the UK)

Various

GCE English O level (from Cambridge Examinations)
(only acceptable for students who do not require a student visa to study in the UK)

Various

GCSE English
(only if awarded by an Ofqual regulated awarding body and you have spent time studying at a UK school under the age of 18.)

Tests acceptable for entry onto an Undergraduate/ Postgraduate Taught or Postgraduate Research programme

Test provider

Test name

BGCS

Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education

Brit Language Centre Thailand Heriot Watt University PSE Course 

Cambridge

Cambridge English: Business English Higher (BEC Higher)/C1 Business Higher - For Business, Economics and Related programmes only.

Note: Name change to C1 Business Higher from 2018 onwards.

Cambridge

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)/C1 Advanced

Note: Name change to C1 Advanced from 2018 onwards.

Cambridge

Cambridge English:Proficiency (CPE)/C2 Proficiency

Note: Name change to C2 Proficiency from 2018 onwards.

Cambridge

GCE O Level English Language 1119 Malaysia (Awarded up to 2020)

Cambridge

IELTS (Academic)

Cambridge

IELTS (Academic) for UKVI SELT 

Cambridge

IELTS Online

CBSE/ ICSE/ State boards

Indian Standard XII English (English Core/ English Elective/ Functional English)

CSE

National Examinations Council of Tanzania Certificate of Secondary Education (or Secondary Leaving Certificate)

Duolingo

Duolingo English please note that for 2024/5 programmes we accept 'Integrated' sub scores but for 2025/6 programmes onward we only accept 'Individual' sub scores.
Note: Not acceptable for Speech & Language Therapy programmes

ETS

TOEFL: Internet (our DI code is 0769)

ETS

TOEFL at home iBT

French Ministry for National Education

Baccalauréat
(only if you are applying for an undergraduate programme)

Germany

Abitur
(only if you are applying for an undergraduate programme)

Hong Kong diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)

A score of 4 or 5* in English depending on programme applied for
(only if you are applying for an undergraduate programme)

International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO)

International Baccalaureate Diploma
(only if you are applying for an undergraduate programme)

KCSE

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education

LanguageCert LanguageCert Academic (SELT and Online versions)

LanguageCert

LanguageCert International ESOL SELT (B2 level or above) (SELT and Online versions)

Malawi SCE Malawi School Certificate of Education
Malaysian SPM1119 awarded 2021 onward English (Bahasa Inggeris) 

Mauritius (awarded by Cambridge)

Mauritian School Certificate in English (awarded by Cambridge)

NECO (verified)

Senior School Certificate (only verified NECO results can be accepted)

National Examinations Council of Tanzania

Certificate of Secondary Education/ Secondary School Leaving Certificate

ONCAMPUS

ONCAMPUS Test of English (OCTOE)
(only if you are applying for an undergraduate programme or one of the named PGT Pre-masters pathway degrees)

Oxford International Education Group Oxford ELLT

Pearson

PTE (Academic)

Pearson

PTE (Academic) UKVI

South Africa

National Senior Certificate/ Senior Certificate

Swaziland GCSE

Swaziland General Certificate of Secondary Education

Trinity

Integrated Skills in English (ISE)II, III, IV

UCE

Uganda Certificate of Education

University of Reading

Test of English for Educational Purposes (TEEP)

Various

GCE English O level (from Cambridge Examinations)

Various

GCSE English

Various

IGCSE English as a first language.

Various

IGCSE English as a Second language(grade B minimum).

WAEC (verified)

Year 12 certificate in English (only verified WAECs are accepted)

Zambia

School Certificate/ General Certificate of Education

Zimbabwe

GCE O level

My offer asks for an overall score of 7.5 in IELTS

My offer asks for an overall score of 7.0 with no element less than 6.5 in IELTS

My offer asks for an overall score of 7.0 with no element less than 6.0 in IELTS

My offer asks for an overall score of 6.5 with no element less than 6.0 in IELTS

My offer asks for an overall score of 6.5 with no element less than 5.5 in IELTS

My offer asks for an overall score of 5.5 with no element less than 5.5 in IELTS

My offer asks for an overall score of 6.0 with no element less than 5.5 in IELTS

My offer asks for an overall score of 6.0 in IELTS

My offer asks for an overall score of 5.5 in IELTS

My offer asks for an overall score of 5.0 in IELTS

Contact Admissions

International Foundation Programme

ifpadmissions@reading.ac.uk

Undergraduate Programmes(full- and part-time)

ugadmissions@reading.ac.uk

Postgraduate (taught and research) Programmes

pgadmissions@reading.ac.uk

PGCE Programmes

teachertraining@reading.ac.uk

Pre-sessional English Language Programmes

psadmissions@reading.ac.uk