English Language Entry Criteria
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English Language Entry Criteria
English Language Entry Criteria
The language of instruction on all our courses is English and it is vital that all students have a good command of the language.
You will not be required to provide evidence you meet our English language requirement when you apply. However, if you are not a national of a majority English speaking country (see ‘National of a majority English speaking country’ below) and you are made an offer of study, you will be required to provide us with evidence that you meet our English language requirement to join your course.
The deadline to provide the School with evidence of meeting the English language entry requirement is usually in late April. If you receive your offer from early April onwards your deadline will usually be in mid-June.
English language requirement for Guildhall School’s courses
The English language requirement you will need to meet depends on the course you want to study. See ‘Programme specific English requirements’ for more information on the requirement for your course.
If you are made an offer and we ask you provide evidence you meet our English language requirement, you will be able to meet our requirement through a range of English language tests. We are also able to accept some countries’ school leaving qualifications.
Offer holders who require a Student visa
If you require a Student visa to study at Guildhall School, we will need you to provide evidence that you have met our English language requirement before we can issue you with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) to apply for your visa.
Guildhall School complies strictly with the entry levels in English set by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). As such, the entry criteria for all our courses meets the requirements set by the UKVI, and we will only accept qualifications and evidence that we are satisfied demonstrate the standard of English for entry to the course.
How to meet our English language criteria
Tests we accept
We accept the following tests for entry to Guildhall School.
- IELTS (Academic) / IELTS (Academic) for UKVI / IELTS Indicator (Academic) / IELTS Online (Academic)
- Trinity College London - Integrated Skills in English II or III
- Pearson PTE Academic/ PTE Academic UKVI/ PTE Academic Online
- LanguageCert Academic (including both the In-person and Online versions)
- LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator (In-person version only)*
- Cambridge: B2 First or C1 Advanced
- TOEFL iBT /TOEFL iBT Home Edition
- Oxford ELLT English Language Level Test (Digital and Global versions)
*As of April 2024 LanguageCert no longer offer the International ESOL. However, we will continue to accept completed tests that meet our score requirements and which were taken within a valid time period.
Length of time tests are valid for
We are able to accept tests that were taken up to two years before the start date of your course. For example, if you have taken one of the accepted tests but your certificate is dated more than two years before the start of the course, it will not be accepted and you must re-sit one of the approved tests.
Preparing for your test
We strongly recommended you begin studying towards the required standard as soon as you decide to apply to Guildhall School. If you are offered a place with an English language test as a condition of entry, you must submit your test results by the deadline or your offer may be withdrawn.
It can take several weeks for test results to be released, so make sure you plan and book your test well in advance.
Click here for further details of English language tests we accept.
If you are a national of a majority English speaking country, as defined by the UK Home Office, you will not usually need to provide evidence of your English language ability. You will however need to provide us with a copy of your current passport.
The UK Home Office considers the following countries to be majority English speaking:
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
The Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
The British Overseas Territories
Canada
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Jamaica
Malta
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
UK
United States of America
If you have studied in and been awarded a degree from a majority English speaking country, as defined by the UK Home Office, you will usually meet our English language requirement. If you are yet to complete your degree, then we will make English a condition of your offer and you may be able to meet this requirement by providing us with evidence that you have been awarded your degree.
If you will need a Student visa to study at Guildhall School you should be ready to supply us with evidence you have been awarded your degree so we can issue you with your CAS. If you do not think you can do this (and you do not need your degree to meet our academic requirement) you may need to take an English language test instead.
Students who hold a degree from one of these countries, as decided on by the Home Office, will meet our English language requirement:
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
The Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
The British Overseas Territories
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Jamaica
Malta
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
UK
United States of America
Guildhall School will accept GCSE or A Levels in English Language or English Language & Literature. We will also accept Scottish National 5 or Scottish Higher in English.
We will consider iGCSEs and International A levels in English on a case by case basis, and will usually look to see that these have included a Spoken and/or Listening endorsement with suitable grades. Additionally, the endorsement must be clearly stated on your official statement of results.
If you require a Student visa you must usually have taken the qualification at a UK school you attended during school age (typically up to and including 19 years of age), and we will only be able to accept them if you completed your school exams up to 3 years before the start date of your course. For example, if your course starts on 18 September 2024 you must have completed your exams no earlier than 18 September 2021.
For courses requiring IELTS 5.5 with 5.5 in each skill
GCSE English Language or Language & Literature Grade C/4 or above
A Level English Language or Language & Literature Grade E or above
Scottish National 5 English at grade C or above
Scottish Higher English at grade D or above
For courses requiring 6.5 with 6 in each skill, 7.0 with 5.5 in each skill and 7.0 with 6 in each skill
GCSE English Language or Language & Literature Grade B/6
A Level GCSE English Language or Language & Literature Grade C
Scottish National 5 English at grade B or above
Scottish Higher English at grade C or above
We will accept the following school qualifications for all our courses. You should have studied the qualifications at a school you attended when you were school age (typically 14 to 19), and we will only be able to accept them if you completed your school exams up to 3 years before the start date of your course. For example, if your course starts on 18 September 2024 you must have completed your exams no earlier than 18 September 2021.
Click here for further details of international school qualifications we accept.
Please send evidence of your English test results or achieved qualification showing you have fully met our English requirements to your admissions coordinator. These should be a scan of the test certificate or qualification. You should do this as soon as you get them. If you have taken an English test that can be verified online you should also send us your test reference number so we can verify your results.
Further programme-specific information
Please check the programme you want to study for the IELTS requirement you will need to begin your studies. If you want to know which other tests and qualifications we accept and the grades you would need, have a look through the information on the rest of this page (above).
Additionally, applicants from overseas should refer to the International Students page for more information on life at the School.
Applicants must be completely fluent in English.
Applicants who are not native speakers of English will be required to provide evidence that they can communicate in English at a minimum overall score of 6.5 in the IELTS Academic Training examination with no individual component score below 6.0 (or equivalent).
Applicants who are not native speakers of English should have achieved a minimum overall score of 6.5 in the IELTS Academic Training examination with no individual component score below 6.0 (or equivalent).
Applicants who are not native speakers of English should have achieved a minimum overall score of 6.5 in the IELTS Academic Training examination with no individual component score below 6.0 (or equivalent).
Applicants who are not native speakers of English should have achieved a minimum overall score of 6.5 in the IELTS Academic Training examination with no individual component score below 6.0 (or equivalent).
Applicants who are not native speakers of English must have achieved a minimum overall score of 5.5 in the IELTS Academic Training examination with no individual component score below 5.5 (or equivalent)
Applicants who are not native speakers of English should have achieved a minimum overall score of 7.0 in the IELTS Academic Training examination with no individual component score below 6.0 (or equivalent)
Applicants who are not native speakers of English should have achieved a minimum overall score of 7.0 in the IELTS Academic Training examination with no individual component score below 6.0 (or equivalent).
Applicants who are not native speakers of English should have achieved a minimum overall score of 7.0 in the IELTS Academic Training examination with no individual component score below 5.5 (or equivalent).
Given the high English language threshold for this programme, ideally applicants should demonstrate that they have met the language requirements before the second round interviews which are held in the spring.
Where there are more suitable applicants than places at second round, evidence that an applicant meets this entrance requirement will be taken into account when offers are made.
Applicants who are not native speakers of English should have achieved a minimum overall score of 6.5 in the IELTS Academic Training examination with no individual component score below 6.0 (or equivalent).
In exceptional circumstances this requirement may be replaced by the submission of an essay of adequate standard.
The School reserves the right to require non English speaking students to attend a non credited class in the English language.
Applicants who are not native speakers of English should have achieved a minimum overall score of 7.0 in the IELTS Academic Training examination with no individual component score below 6.0 (or equivalent).
Applicants who are not native speakers of English should have achieved a minimum overall score of 6.5 in the IELTS Academic Training examination with no individual component score below 6.0 (or equivalent).
All other Music applicants who are not native speakers of English must have achieved a minimum overall score of 5.5 in the IELTS Academic Training examination with no individual component score below 5.5 (or equivalent).
English language tests
| Test | Minimum scores required |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) / IELTS (Academic) for UKVI / IELTS Indicator (Academic) / IELTS Online (Academic) | Overall score of 5.5, with a minimum of 5.5 in all four skills (reading, listening, speaking, writing). |
| Trinity College London - Integrated Skills in English II or III | Pass in all 4 components (reading, listening, speaking, writing). |
| Pearson PTE Academic/ PTE Academic UKVI/ PTE Academic Online | Overall score of 59, with a minimum of 59 in all four components (reading, listening, speaking, writing). |
| LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator (In-person version only) |
Overall Pass, including minimum component scores of: Reading with 33/50, Listening with 33/50, Speaking with 33/50 and Writing with 33/50. Applicants must sit all 4 exams. *As of April 2024 LanguageCert no longer offer the International ESOL. However, we will continue to accept completed tests that meet our score requirements and which were taken within a valid time period. |
| LanguageCert Academic (both Online and In-person versions) | Overall score of 60 with a minimum of 60 in each component score. |
| Cambridge: B2 First or C1 Advanced | Overall score of 160 and no less than 160 in any component. |
| TOEFL iBT /TOEFL iBT Home Edition | Overall score of 72, including minimum component scores of: Reading with 18, Listening with 17, Speaking with 20 and Writing with 17. |
| Oxford ELLT English Language Level Test (Digital and Global versions) | Overall score of 5 with a minimum of 5 in each component score. |
| Test | Minimum scores required |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) / IELTS (Academic) for UKVI / IELTS Indicator (Academic) / IELTS Online (Academic) | Overall score of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in all four skills (reading, listening, speaking, writing). |
| Trinity College London - Integrated Skills in English II or III | Pass in all 4 components (reading, listening, speaking, writing). |
| Pearson PTE Academic/ PTE Academic UKVI/ PTE Academic Online | Overall score of 65, with a minimum of 65 in all four components (reading, listening, speaking, writing). |
| LanguageCert International ESOL B2 (Communicator) |
Overall High Pass, including minimum component scores of: Reading with 39/50, Listening with 39/50, Speaking with 39/50 and Writing with 39/50. Applicants must sit all 4 exams. *The LanguageCert International ESOL is being phased out. We will continue to accept tests that meet our score requirements and were taken within a valid time period. |
| LanguageCert Academic | Overall score of 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component score. |
| Cambridge: B2 First or C1 Advanced | Overall score of 176 and no less than 176 in any component. |
| TOEFL iBT /TOEFL iBT Home Edition | Overall score of 92, including minimum component scores of: Reading with 18, Listening with 17, Speaking with 20 and Writing with 17. |
| Oxford ELLT English Language Level Test (Digital and Global versions) | Overall score of 7 with a minimum of 6 in each component score. |
| Test | Minimum scores required |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) / IELTS (Academic) for UKVI / IELTS Indicator (Academic) / IELTS Online (Academic) | Overall score of 7.0, with a minimum of 5.5 in all four skills (reading, listening, speaking, writing). |
| Trinity College London - Integrated Skills in English II or III | Pass in all 4 components (reading, listening, speaking, writing). |
| Pearson PTE Academic/ PTE Academic UKVI/ PTE Academic Online | Overall score of 59, with a minimum of 59 in all four components (reading, listening, speaking, writing). |
| LanguageCert International ESOL B2 (Communicator) |
Overall Pass, including minimum component scores of: Reading with 33/50, Listening with 33/50, Speaking with 33/50 and Writing with 33/50. Applicants must sit all 4 exams. *The LanguageCert International ESOL is being phased out. We will continue to accept tests that meet our score requirements and were taken within a valid time period. |
| LanguageCert Academic | Overall score of 75 with a minimum of 60 in each component score. |
| Cambridge: C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | Overall score of 185 and no less than 162 in any component. |
| TOEFL iBT /TOEFL iBT Home Edition | Overall score of 95, including minimum component scores of: Reading with 18, Listening with 17, Speaking with 20 and Writing with 17. |
| Oxford ELLT English Language Level Test (Digital and Global versions) | Overall score of 8 with a minimum of 5 in each component score. |
| Test | Minimum scores required |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) / IELTS (Academic) for UKVI / IELTS Indicator (Academic) / IELTS Online (Academic) | Overall score of 7.0, with a minimum of 6.0 in all four skills (reading, listening, speaking, writing). |
| Trinity College London - Integrated Skills in English II or III | Pass in all 4 components (reading, listening, speaking, writing). |
| Pearson PTE Academic/ PTE Academic UKVI/ PTE Academic Online | Overall score of 65, with a minimum of 65 in all four components (reading, listening, speaking, writing). |
| LanguageCert International ESOL B2 (Communicator) |
Overall High Pass, including minimum component scores of: Reading with 39/50, Listening with 39/50, Speaking with 39/50 and Writing with 39/50. Applicants must sit all 4 exams. *The LanguageCert International ESOL is being phased out. We will continue to accept tests that meet our score requirements and were taken within a valid time period. |
| LanguageCert Academic | Overall score of 75 with a minimum of 65 in each component score. |
| Cambridge: C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | Overall score of 185 and no less than 169 in any component. |
| TOEFL iBT /TOEFL iBT Home Edition | Overall score of 95, including minimum component scores of: Reading with 18, Listening with 17, Speaking with 20 and Writing with 17. |
| Oxford ELLT English Language Level Test (Digital and Global versions) | Overall score of 8 with a minimum of 6 in each component score. |
International school qualifications
| Country | Qualification(s) | Grade(s) required |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple: International Baccalaureate | International Baccalaureate |
English A (English Language/Literature/Language & Literature): Higher Level 4 or Standard Level 5 English B (English Language): Higher Level 5 or Standard Level 7 |
| Multiple: European Baccalaureate | European Baccalaureat |
Pass English L1 at 70%, or pass English L2 at 80% |
| Australia | ATAR | Pass English language at a high pass grade |
| Austria | Reifeprüfung | Pass English at 2 (gut) in both written and oral |
| Belgium |
Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs Brevet van de Aanvullende Secundaire Beroepsschool Certificat d'Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur |
Pass English at one of, 80%, 16 out of 20, 'grote onderscheiding' or 'avec grande distinction' |
| Denmark |
Højere Forberedelseseksamen (HF) (Higher Preparatory Examination Certificate) Bevis for Studentereksamen (Secondary Education Graduation Certificate) |
Pass English (A or B) or grade 7 |
| France |
Baccalaureat Option Internationale du Baccalaureat |
Baccalaureat: Pass English at 13 where English is the first foreign language (LV1/LVA) Option Internationale du Baccalaureat: Pass English at 12 |
| Finland | Ylioppilastutkinto / Studentexamen |
Pass English at 5 (M) magna cum laude approbator in English at the Advanced Level |
| Germany | Abitur |
Pass English at 12 or Gut when taken as a Hauptfach, Leistungskurs or Kurs mit erhöhtem Anforderungsniveau |
| Hong Kong | Diploma of Secondary Education |
Pass English with grade 4 |
| Iceland | Stúdentspróf |
Pass English at 9 (when taken as a compulsory language) |
| India | Standard XII: CBSE (All India Senior School Certificate Examination - AISSCE) OR CISCE (Indian School Certificate - ISC) only |
Pass English with a minimum of 85% overall and in each year of study* Please note these must be evidence through submitting the original certificate and a copy of the Digilocker verified score report |
| Netherlands | Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO) |
Pass English at 8 (goed) |
| Luxembourg | Diplôme de Fin d'Etudes Secondaires |
Pass English at 45 (bien) |
| Norway |
Vitnemål for Videregående Opplæring
|
Pass English at 4 when taken as a Common Core Subject |
| Singapore | O Level and Integrated Programme |
Singapore O Level: Pass at grade B4 in English Language Singapore Integrated Programme: Pass at grade B in English Language / Language Arts |
| Sweden | Högskoleförberedande Examen |
Pass English at grade C (a minimum of 150 credits) |
|
Switzerland |
Certificat de Maturité / Maturitätszeugnis / Attestato di Maturità |
Pass English with 5 (bien/gut/bene) |
| USA | High School Diploma |
English Language at grade B or above / overall GPA of 3.0* *For non US citizens, and only when studied in its entirety in the US |
