Which IELTS is required for the University of Hertfordshire, UKVI or normal academic IELTS?

No, it’s not necessary to take the IELTS, although there have been some changes to the rules effective January 1st of this year. While the IELTS is not a mandatory requirement, understanding the new system is important.

As of January 1, 2021, the previous 40-point system has been updated to a 70-point system, where 10 points are allocated for language proficiency. If you do not have these 10 points, your visa application may be refused.

Your institution is required to specify on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) how they evaluated your language proficiency. This evaluation does not have to be based solely on the IELTS; other assessments are also acceptable.

Universities retain the right to verify your language proficiency using various methods, including IELTS, PTE, interviews, medium of instruction (MOI), or your 12th-grade scores.

So, if your university has waived the IELTS requirement, there’s no need to worry. They will indicate on your CAS letter how your language proficiency was assessed, ensuring you receive the necessary 10 points towards the total of 70 points.