There is a demand for teachers in New Zealand. It is projected to grow marginally until 2023, before dropping year-on-year in the longer term. Whilst the demand for secondary teachers is still projected to grow year-on-year out to 2024.
The Kiwi lifestyle makes New Zealand a favourite place for overseas qualified teachers as it's a life-changing experience that can benefit both you and the children you teach. You can share your knowledge and skills with students from other cultures, while also learning about their own unique perspectives.
Teaching registration and IELTS
You’ve completed your teacher education qualification overseas and want to be registered and gain a practising certificate (or be granted a Limited Authority to Teach).
If this is you, chances are you need to meet the Education Council’s language requirements. IELTS is accepted by more than 12,000 organisations globally, including the Teaching Council of New Zealand, and is the most trusted test of English in the world.
It’s the leading English test to demonstrate your language skills to get a qualified teacher in New Zealand.
Submitting multiple IELTS test results
There are several types of evidence that you can choose to provide to demonstrate English language competency.
For IELTS, the Teaching Council of New Zealand requires an IELTS band score of 7.0 in all four components (Writing, Reading, Listening and Speaking) to demonstrate your English language competency.
The good news is you can submit multiple test results. As long as you have a minimum score of 7 in each respective area of the test, this can be achieved across multiple tests. Let’s look at some examples:
Example 1
On your first attempt, you get band 7s for three skills and a band 6.5 in Listening. In your second test, you achieve a Band 7 in Listening. You can add these two tests together and submit them. This would be considered an acceptable ‘pass’ by the Education Council of New Zealand.
Example 2
Or, earlier this year you sat IELTS on paper and got a 7.5 for Listening and an 8.0 for Speaking. Your Reading and Writing were both 6.5. After a bit of practice, you booked an IELTS on computer test. This time you increased your Writing and Reading scores to 7.0. Therefore, you can now combine both results and meet the English language requirements of the Education Council of New Zealand.
Time frame of submitting your IELTS results
If you need to combine your IELTS test results from two (or more tests), then the IELTS tests must all take place within two years of submission of results to the Teaching Council.
IELTS is available at more than 1,100 test centres globally, including over 15 test venues in New Zealand. We know getting the results you need is important. That’s why we also offer you more free practice material than any other language test.
Practice makes perfect
Preparing early for your test is essential. It allows you to get familiar with the test format and understand how you will be marked and scored. The good news is we have a range of free and paid material to give you feedback from official IELTS experts on your progress. This can help you focus your preparation.
Additionally, don't forget to access your study plan and get IELTS tips from our IELTS Experts during our Masterclasses.
Once you're ready, book your IELTS test here!