Whether to retake IELTS often depends less on the raw score and more on how it interacts with your academic background and employment history.
What group members advised:- A master's degree typically raises the expected IELTS bar — colleges commonly look for an overall 6.5, even though IELTS 6 is the baseline for the visa application itself.
- Document your employment gaps with proof (like offer/relieving letters covering the gap periods) — if you can substantiate the gaps, a slightly lower band score is more likely to still work.
- Duolingo is an alternative some colleges accept, but only for admission purposes — it doesn't replace IELTS for the visa application itself.
Takeaway: with a master's degree on the transcript, aim for 6.5 if you can, but if retaking isn't feasible, focus energy on documenting your employment history clearly rather than assuming the score alone will sink the application.