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IELTS for Canada: Band Score for Colleges, Student Visa, and Canada PR

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Rituparna Nath

Content Writer at Study Abroad Exams | Updated On - Dec 13, 2022

IELTS for Canada requires a minimum 6 band score in each of the four sections. The IELTS exam for Canada helps candidates apply for undergraduate or postgraduate courses. The Express Entry (skilled Immigrants), Quebec-selected skilled worker, and Provincial Nominee programs all accept IELTS Canada as evidence of English language competency. Candidates moving to the country to study are required to appear for IELTS Academic, and for employment or migration, are required to appear for IELTS General. IELTS fee in Canada cost INR 19,627.92 ($CAD325).

Bands Required for Canada

A minimum IELTS band required for Canada for immigration and admission to top Canadian universities is a total score of 6.5 and a minimum of 6 per section. Here are the IELTS band for requirements for undergraduate and bands required for Canada after graduation programs at IELTS Canada universities:

Rank University Global Rank IELTS minimum requirement (undergraduate programmes) IELTS minimum requirement (postgraduate programmes)
1 University of Toronto 18 6.5 6.5
2 University of British Columbia 37 6.5 6.5
3 McGill University 44 6.5 6.5
4 McMaster University 80 6.5 6.5
5 University of Montreal 88 Contact institution Contact institution
6 University of Alberta 125 6.5 6.5
7 University of Ottawa 162 6.5 6.5
8 University of Calgary 201-250 6.5 6.5
9 Simon Fraser University 201-250 6.5 6.5
10 University of Waterloo 201-250 6.5 6.5
11 Western University 201-250 6.5 6.5
12 Dalhousie University 251-300 6.5 7.0
13 Université Laval 251-300 Contact institution Contact institution
14 Queen’s University 251-300 6.5 Contact institution
15 University of Manitoba 301-350 6.5 6.5
16 University of Victoria 301-350 6.5 6.5
17 York University 401-500 6.5 6.5
18 University of Guelph 501-600 6.5 6.5
19 University of Saskatchewan 501-600 6.5 6.5
20 Carleton University 601-800 6.5 6.5

IELTS Band Required for Canada Student Visa

The IELTS band requirement for Canadian student visas has a few prerequisites. The Canadian Language Benchmarks(CLB) are used to perform, supervise, and assess the IELTS band for Canada requirements. The test focuses on identifying, calculating, and characterizing English language competency. Every element of the test has a specific score, and the CLB begins with a rating from 1 to 9. Results from the IELTS for Canada will show what degree of English proficiency a student has in relation to the CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) requirements. The minimum IELTS band needed for undergraduate degrees and courses is 5.5 bands IELTS Canada for each band, for a total score of 6. For postgraduate courses and degrees, each IELTS required for Canada student visa band must be at least 6, and the overall score must be 6.5 or above.

Express Entry Program for IELTS Canada

Express Entry program is a point-based program that manages the profiles of skilled immigrants who apply for Canada PR Visa. For those who wish to apply for Canadian PR Visa, they must have scored minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or score 6 per band in order to become eligible for that. This implies that candidates should be aware of the IELTS Cut off for Canada PR. However, it does not guarantee the candidate will get the Invitation to Apply (ITA) to apply for Canada PR Visa. To obtain the Canada PR Visa, 5 bands in IELTS for Canada in reading. Candidates must improve their Score for IELTS for Canada PR from India.

The table given below will help you convert IELTS for Canada to CLB level score in all the different modules and help you get an idea of the score required.

CLB LEVEL READING WRITING LISTENING SPEAKING
10 8 7.5 8.5 7.5
9 7 7 8 7
8 6.5 6.5 7.5 6.5
7 6 6 6 6
6 5 5.5 5.5 5.5
5 4 5 5 5
4 3.5 4 4.5 4

IELTS Exam for Canada PR

Apart from IELTS for Canada immigration, candidates can also appear for Provincial Nominee Programs(PNPs). Both Express Entry and PNP require minimum English language proficiency of Canadian Language Benchmark or CLB 7. CBL 7 is equivalent to IELTS band 6 in all four language abilities. There are three different ways for one to get IELTS for Canada PR:

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program
  • Canadian Experience Class

The FSWP Points allocation for First official language (Maximum 24 points)

CLB Level Ability: Speaking Ability: Listening Ability: Reading Ability: Writing Points per ability
7 6 6.0 – 7.0 6 6 4
8 6.5 7.5 6.5 6.5 5
9 7 8 7 7 6
10 and above 7.5 – 9.0 8.5 – 9.0 8.0 – 9.0 7.5 – 9.0 6

IELTS Required for Canada Work Permit

Candidates looking for a work visa, professional registration, or permanent residency in Canada can take the IELTS for Canada General Training exam. It meets the criteria of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The official criteria used in Canada for describing, evaluating, and recognising the English language competency of potential immigrants wanting to live and work there are known as the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). Which CLB requirements you must satisfy in order to obtain a visa is information that you may obtain from the IRCC.

The IELTS result demonstrates the English language proficiency level within the CLB standards. The table below matches IELTS band scores with the CLB standards:

CLB Level IELTS Listening IELTS Reading IELTS Writing IELTS Speaking
12 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
11 9.0 8.5 8.0 8.0
10 8.5 8.0 7.5 7.5
9 8.0 7.0 7.0 7.0
8 7.5 6.5 6.5 6.5
7 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0
6 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5
5 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0
4 4.5 4.0 4.0 4.0
3 3.5 3.0 3.0 3.0
2 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0
1 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

IELTS Validity For Canada

The validity of IELTS certificate is for 2 years only. For immigration to Canada, it's a must to take IELTS within one year of submitting your application. Although the result for the IELTS exam is valid for 2 years, however for Canadian immigration, it stays valid for as long as it takes CIC (Immigration and Citizenship) to decide in your case. In case candidates are unwilling to appear for IELTS they can opt for other exams like PTE and certainly focus on the PTE accepted Universities in USA.

IELTS for Canada may vary depending on the university, courses, or job purposes the candidate is applying for. A nominal IELTS exam fee for Canada is INR 19,627.92. Bands required for Canada after 12th are 6 for 4 sections. With better IELTS study material for Canada, candidates can ace the exam with high scores.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

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