New Zealand is globally recognized as one of the best places to live and study as the country possesses only 8 universities with all of them ranking among the top 500 universities in the world. International students in particular, prefer to migrate to the country to pursue their higher education across a variety of disciplines. To study in New Zealand, one needs to meet the criteria set by both the government and the specific universities. Luckily there are not many exams required in terms of subject aptitude, as the universities focuses on the academic scores of individuals. but English language proficiency is one thing you cannot compromise on.
English Proficiency Exams to Study in Netherlands
New Zealand’s official language is English, and hence almost all higher education institutions conduct programs with English as the medium of instruction. If you are not a native English speaker, you will need to take a proficiency test to certify that you have the necessary skills in the language. This certification is required not just during university applications, but also to get a student visa to New Zealand.
| University | IELTS Score | TOEFL iBT Score | PTE Score | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UG | PG | UG | PG | UG | PG | |
| University of Auckland | 6.0 | 6.5 | 80 | 90 | 50 | 58 |
| University of Otago | 6.0 | 6.5 | 80 | 95 | 58 | 64 |
| University of Canterbury | 6.0 | 6.5 | 80 | 90 | 50 | 58 |
| Victoria University of Wellington | 6.0 | 6.5 | 80 | 90 | 50 | 58 |
| University of Waikato | 6.0 | 6.5 | 80 | 90 | 50 | 58 |
The language level required varies on the type of visa you are applying for and the institution you are joining. If you have dependents along with you who do not meet the criteria, you have the option of paying for ESOL tuitions.
IELTS
One of the go-to options for proof of English language proficiency is IELTS. If you are taking admission in New Zealand require IELTS Academic exam, which consists of Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking sections, for 14,700 INR. On average, academic institutions require a band of 6.0 that is not older than two years. Immigration New Zealand normally asks for an IELTS score of 6.5.
IELTS for New Zealand Student Visa: IELTS band scores vary for the different programs of study in New Zealand. IELTS scores for New Zealand student visa are listed below:
- For Diploma Programs – Overall band score of 5.5 with 5.0 band in each component
- For Bachelor’s Program – Overall band score of 6.0
- For Graduate Diploma – Overall band score of 6.0
- For Master’s Program – Overall band score of 6.5
TOEFL
A close second to IELTS in terms of popularity, TOEFL is also a proof of English skills accepted by New Zealand universities. Most students prefer taking the TOEFL iBT over the PBT or CBT, which are different modes of the exam.
The test costs 14,500 INR to sit the exam, which contains the four sections of Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. Universities ask for an overall score of around 80-90, which must not be older than two years. TOEFL scores (except for the iBT Home Edition) are accepted for visa purposes as well, and the cutoff is 79 overall.
PTE
PTE Academic test is one of the most convenient proficiency tests, with the three parts - Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening - being done within three hours on a computer at a recognized test center.
You can access the results within 48 hours of giving the exam, and the results can be sent to as many institutions as you like without paying more than the standard exam fee of 13,000 INR. Universities in New Zealand ask for a score of 50-58, while the requirement for a visa is 58.
OET
Candidates who are looking to enroll in one of the healthcare courses like MBBS and Nursing in New Zealand may benefit from taking OET. This exam is required for admission to courses like Dentistry, Dietetics, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Radiography, Speech Pathology, and Veterinary Science.
The exam tests you specifically on English language skills required at the workplace for healthcare professionals. The exam fee is INR 33,162, and you can use the results for visa purposes with the cutoff being a Grade B in all sections, as it is for most colleges as well.
Subject Specific Assessments
Undergraduate and graduate students may need to give certain tests, along with their academic transcripts, as proof of their ability in a particular subject. These are not applicable across all fields of study and are mostly needed by students enrolling in business and medicine programs.
GRE
Students who wish to apply to science colleges in New Zealand may have to supply their GRE scores to the university of choice. The GRE Subject Test you take will depend on which course you want to do, of which some of the common streams are biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, and mathematics. Students who are joining courses in business or law can opt for the GRE General Test. The exam fee is INR 15,562.
GMAT
In order to do an MBA in New Zealand, or any other graduate-level management course, it is recommended that the candidate take the GMAT. Although it is not mandatory, many top business colleges in New Zealand give preference to candidates who have sat this exam. On average, these business schools ask for a GMAT score of 550. However, keep in mind that the exam fee is 19,000 INR, so if you are on a tight budget you may choose to apply to universities where this test is not required.
UCAT ANZ
UCAT is an entrance exam meant for students applying to programs in medical, dental, and clinical science. It is a computer-based test administered by Pearson VUE for a fee of 21,475 INR. The test results will be automatically passed on to the New Zealand universities that are part of the UCAT Consortium, which are:
- University of Auckland
- University of Otago
Please note that the ANZ consortium includes other universities which are Australian, so giving this single test makes you eligible to apply to Australian universities as well. The scores will be obtained before the deadlines of most colleges and will remain valid only for one year from the date of giving the exam.
New Zealand and Australia are two countries that often work in close collaboration, and this is no different in the education sector. Many tests taken for New Zealand can also be used for studying in Australia. That being said, although New Zealand has fewer universities than its neighbor (there are only 8 state-funded universities in New Zealand), the academic institutions are of top quality and hence expect the same standards from their prospective students.
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