Tip 1: Understand the required score for your visa
When you’re thinking of migrating to New Zealand on a temporary visa or a permanent visa such as the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa or any other permanent visa, you may have to meet Immigration New Zealand's English language requirements. Some visas require you to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and meet English requirements.
Immigration New Zealand trusts and accepts IELTS as proof of English language proficiency for all visa categories. In fact, IELTS is the only test accepted by all immigration authorities of Australia, the UK, New Zealand and Canada.
Read the English language tests requirements for New Zealand Visas
Tip 2: Understand the IELTS test
Maybe you’ve never done an English test before. Or it’s been a while since your last IELTS test. Either way, you should start with reading about and understanding the IELTS test -- you can do this by downloading our IELTS Preparation Guide.
It’s our official guide to the test with more than 30 pages of IELTS information to get you test-ready:
An overview of IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training
IELTS nine-band scale descriptors
Tips for the Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking test
How your skills are assessed
How to complete the answer sheets
Sample Speaking tests
IELTS preparation checklist
What to expect on test day
How to receive your results
This way, you may get a better idea of the IELTS test and prepare with confidence.
Tip 3: Prepare for your IELTS test
Even if English is your first language, or you consider yourself a native speaker, you should still practise for the IELTS before taking it. Our free IELTS Masterclasses are designed to help you target an advanced level of English. You’ll get tips on how to achieve a higher score. We’ll explain the marking criteria and help you avoid mistakes.
We also have an IELTS Study Plan. Whether you’re new or familiar to IELTS, let us help you to get the IELTS score you need. We’ll guide you with the best preparation material.
Tip 4: Get some extra help from an official IELTS coach
'Practice makes perfect' is a well-known idiom which means that it is possible to learn something or develop a skill if you practise enough (if you’re interested in other idioms, check this). One way to increase your skills in a certain area of the IELTS test is by getting feedback on your performance. Reach out to your nearest IELTS test centre to see what additional help they can provide for your test preparation.
Tip 5: Book an IELTS test
IELTS offers you a choice: you can book IELTS on computer, or IELTS on paper. And, if you need to to a test for your New Zealand visa, you may also be able to take IELTS General Training.
We asked IELTS test takers about their experience with computer-delivered IELTS. 90% of test takers at IDP IELTS Melbourne found the IELTS on computer easier than IELTS on paper. Take advantage of having multiple test session options a day and receiving results in 3-5 days. Get to know IELTS on computer .