Does IELTS score add to your application?

Question

I've an IELTS score of 8 but my writing is 6.5. i don't have to send my IELTS score to universities since my education medium was English. Will not sending my IELTS score affect my application? Will there be any benefit to sending it if it's optional?

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vv65 · Answer

If you know for sure that an IELTS/TOEFL score is not needed, then you don't need to send it. (The reason for the doubtful tone is that applicants from south Asia need to submit IELTS scores even if their education medium was English.)

Anyway, the IELTS score matters to the extent that you must meet the baseline cutoff. Beyond that, a lower/higher score does not usually affect chances of admission. The typical cutoff is Band 6.5, higher in more selective programs. A student of mine had to repeat the IELTS after scoring Band 8, because his Writing score was Band 6.5 and his univ needed at least Band 7 in all four components.

Logxn97 · Answer

I'm from India, is the score mandatory even if my education medium was English? I was planning to avoid sending my score to universities that didn't specifically ask for it

vv65 · Answer

Requirements differ in different universities. For example, some do not require the score from applicants who studied in English, while others require the score from all non-native speakers.

The university website usually states the policy for English language tests: 
- who needs to submit scores
- which tests are accepted 
- what the minimum score requirement is

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Does IELTS score add to your application?

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