In determining your proficiency in the English language, the Board considers:

  • Whether your qualifications for registration have been undertaken in English in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, The United Kingdom, English-speaking Canada or the United States of America.; or
  • Your results in one of the following:
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
    • International Second Language Proficiency Ratings (ISLPR)

The Board may accept the results of an English language proficiency test undertaken by the applicant within 2 years from the date the Board receives the application for registration. Any costs associated with the English language tests will be the responsibility of the applicant.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

IELTS is available in two test formats – Academic and General Training. The Board requires that the applicant complete the IELTS test in the Academic format.

In IELTS a band score of 8 indicates a very good user who has full operational command of the language and handles complex and detailed argumentation well. A band 7 score indicates an operational command of the language.

The Board requires an overall band score of 7.5 across all four parts of the test (Speaking, Reading, Listening and Writing) in the Academic format provided there is:

  • No score below 7 in Reading and Writing
  • No score below 8 in both Speaking and Listening

IELTS tests are administered at centres in over 110 countries. A full list of centres is available on the IELTS website.

To sit the IELTS test in the Northern Territory applicants can contact:

AU 120 - IELTS Administrator
Centre for Access and ESL
Charles Darwin University
Darwin NT 0909 AUSTRALIA
Phone: +61-8-8946 6878
Fax: +61-8-8946 7144
Web: www.cdu.edu.au

International Second Language Proficiency Ratings (ISLPR)

In ISLPR a score of 4 means Vocational Proficiency i.e. the person can use English fluently and accurately on all levels - personal, social, and in situations pertinent to their own 'vocational' fields. The Board requires that the applicant be awarded 4 or higher in each of the macro skills of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. For applications received after 1 January 2011, the test must be undertaken at an approved testing site where the assessment is teacher-focused.

Page last updated: 4 March 2020