Minimum IELTS Score for Canadian Universities & Study Visa

If earning a Canadian degree is on your dream list, you should be well aware that most programs at Canadian universities are in English. Hence, meeting the English language requirements is a critical aspect of admissions. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is one of the world’s most-accepted English language proficiency tests. Let us find out the minimum IELTS score for Canada and tips to score a higher IELTS band.

Minimum IELTS Score Requirements for Top Courses in Canada 

While each university may require a different minimum IELTS score, this score may also vary per the course you choose. Hence, you must not just check the IELTS Canada band requirement for desired universities but also for your preferred program.

Here is the IELTS requirement for Canada for graduate students across multiple courses. To give a clearer picture, we have taken an example from the University of British Columbia. 

Source: Official University Websites

IELTS Score for Diploma or Vocational Courses in Canada 

Let us now know the IELTS band required for Canada if you are applying to vocational or diploma courses. Here are two instances of IELTS score requirements at leading vocational colleges in Canada. 

• Centennial College- IELTS 6.0, with no band score less than 5.5 for Ontario College Certificate and Ontario College Diploma. The score requirement for fast-track programs and select Ontario College Diploma and the degree programs and Ontario College Graduate Certificate is 6.5, with no band score less than 6.0. 
• Mohawk College- The minimum IELTS score requirements are 6.0 with no band less than 5.5 for certificate and general post-secondary programs. For postgraduate and advanced post-secondary programs, it is 6.5 with no band less than 6.0. 

IELTS Score for Undergraduate Courses in Canada 

Here is a guide to the minimum IELTS score for Canada if you are applying to undergraduate programs at leading universities. 

Source: Official University Websites

IELTS Score for Postgraduate Courses in Canada 

Here is a guide to the IELTS score requirements for postgraduate courses in Canada. 

Source: Official University Websites

IELTS Score for Canada Visa: Student Direct Stream

Here are some details on the minimum IELTS score for Canada study visas through the Student Direct Stream. 

• A minimum overall score of 6.0 is required in IELTS Academic. 
• A minimum IELTS General score is required equivalent to the Canadian Language Benchmark score of 7 or higher for each ability. 

What is Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)

Most immigration programs in Canada require applicants to prove a specific proficiency level in English and/or French, which are both official languages of the country. The Canadian government has created its own Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) system to evaluate the translation of these proficiency scores for immigration purposes. 

It converts scores from other language tests into similar equivalencies, allowing it to draw comparisons easily. The CLB comes with ten levels, with higher scores resulting in higher points for applicants across ranking and assessment systems. Here is an equivalency chart for the IELTS and the CLB. 

Can you get Canadian PR Visa With Low IELTS Score

Let us first understand the Express Entry pathway for Canadian residency to understand if a low IELTS score is accepted for a Canadian PR.

Express Entry is the online, point-based immigration system launched in 2015 by the Canadian government, allowing skilled workers to get PR (permanent residency). Points are assigned based on several factors, including language proficiency, experience, skills, etc. The higher your points, the more chances you have to get the Invitation to Apply for a Canada PR Visa (ITA). 

To get PR through this system, you should have a minimum CLB 7 level in terms of your language proficiency. This equates to an overall IELTS score of 6 or a minimum of 6.0 in each test section. No points are awarded for the Federal Skilled Worker Program if you get CLB 4 or less. You will get the highest points if you get CLB 10 or higher. In this case, you get 4 points per subcategory for CLB Level 7 and 5 for CLB Level 8. This goes up to 6 points each for CLB Levels 9 and 10 and above. If English is your second language, you will receive 4 points if you get a CLB Level of at least 5 and above.

Tips to Get High IELTS Score for Canada

Here are some tips for getting a high IELTS score for Canada. 

1.Listening Section- 

• Candidates should practice listening to various audio recordings for perfecting the Listening section. 
• Ideally, these should have different accents, such as American, British, or Australian. 
• The emphasis should be on quickly understanding the main points or summary of what is being said without skipping essential information. 

2.Reading Section- 

• For the Reading section, candidates must focus on being quick. 
• Skimming swiftly through reading passages and finding the answers to questions should be the main practice aspect. 

3.Speaking Section- 

• To gain confidence in speaking and build fluency, candidates should start by speaking in front of the mirror first and then with others when they become more confident. 
• Try to fill up the pauses with filler words and phrases while you gather your thoughts and articulate the next part of the sentence in your mind. 

4.Writing Section- 

• Practicing timed writing is greatly helpful to ace the Writing section.
• Task 2 of the Writing section is longer and comes with higher marks. Hence, leaving adequate time for it is always advisable. 
• Another rookie mistake to avoid is writing answers that are less than the minimum length. 

5.Vocabulary Tip- 

• Reading as much as possible is always good to boost vocabulary. At the same time, looking up meanings of new words in the dictionary will allow you to expand your vocabulary and understand sentence structuring better. 
• You can also watch web series or converse with fluent English speakers to enhance your vocabulary.

Read More:

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• Cost of Living in Canada
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• Canada Visa Interview Questions
• PR Visa for Canada
• Student Visa for Canada