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In this post, you’re going to learn exactly how to pass IELTS in Canadian universities.

This guide includes:

  • Why you should choose IELTS for Canada
  • The best universities
  • Required scores
  • Preparation and online training with GlobalExam

So if you want to know more about IELTS exam in Canada, you’ll love this new guide.

So, let’s dive right in!

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Why Should You Choose The IELTS In Order To Study In Canada?

Canada has over 600,000 international students, and it is the fourth most popular destination in the world (according to the United Nations) for students wishing to continue their studies abroad and therefore get a residency in Canada. Furthermore, it is a bilingual country where the dominant language is English, except in Quebec. Canada is also one of the world’s most developed nations, and thus it’s always an obvious advantage. Therefore, it is important that you know how to register for the IELTS, the price of the test and then take it.

There are many English proficiency levels, and each one of them is different, for instance there is the ILR, the CEFR scoring system, the ACTFL proficiency system, and so on. However, the IELTS is one of the most well-known and most prestigious language tests on an international level, and it is required for all students in order to evaluate their language level. Passing the test opens doors around the world: indeed, an IELTS score of 7 is already considered to be a “good user”. But Canada is an especially attractive option, because of its large gamut of universities as we will see just after.

the canadian flag

Top Universities In Canada And Their Score Requirements

Most of these universities demand scores of at least 6.5 to pass the test.

Three of these universities (Toronto, British Columbia, and McGill) are ranked among the top 50 universities.

Each of these universities has its own set of specificities. For example, the University of Toronto is oriented around literary criticism, communication and theory, while the university of McMaster is more geared towards health and science studies, as is McGill University. The University of Toronto, the top university in Canada, is also a special case, in that the requirements are different whether for undergraduate programs or for post-graduate programs.

University Of Toronto

The University of Toronto is one of the greatest universities in the world as it provides students from all over the world with a transformative educational experience and the needed knowledge and skills for a better future. The University of Toronto is ranked 25 globally. This university is one of the most highly respected centers for the master’s and doctorate levels, which explains its major role and achievements in research.

To apply for the University of Toronto, you have to pass the Academic IELTS test. Here are the requirements:

  • IELTS minimum requirement (undergraduate programs): 6.5
  • IELTS minimum requirement (postgraduate programs): 7

University Of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is an international center of learning, teaching, and research. It’s ranked among one of the greatest in the world, and recently, it has been recognized as the most international university in North America.

The motto of UBS is to always attract and support those who can shape a better world, and it always encourages curiosity and bold thinking to help its students realize their greatest potential. Their acceptance rate is 52.4% and only admits students who have demonstrated extraordinary intellectual and academic abilities. Also, these IELTS Academic scores:

  • IELTS minimum requirement (undergraduate programs): 6.5
  • IELTS minimum requirement (postgraduate programs): 6.5

McGill University

One of Canada’s best-known universities of higher learning is, without a doubt, McGill University. Students from over 150 countries come to this university, which makes it one of the most diverse universities in the world.

Do you know about the Nobel prize-winning research on the nature of radioactivity? It was conducted at McGill University.

The university is committed to foster the very best to help its students win national and international awards while leading them to create a better future for our planet. So, besides being bright with some of the highest grades, you are required to have these score on Academic IELTS:

  • IELTS minimum requirement (undergraduate programs): 6.5
  • IELTS minimum requirement (postgraduate programs): 6.5

All the information about Canadian universities is summarized in the below table. There may also be additional requirements, depending on the university, specific programs, and/or new additional rules set forth by universities.

UniversityOverall ScoreListening ScoreReading ScoreWriting ScoreSpeaking ScoreWorld rankingAddress
University of Toronto6.566662527 King's College Cir, Toronto, ON M5S, Canada
McGill University6.5----27845 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, Montréal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada
University of British Columbia6.5666646Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
Université de Montréal6----1112900 Boulevard Edouard-Montpetit, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
University of Alberta6.55557.5126116 St & 85 Ave, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
McMaster University6.555551401280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
University of Waterloo6.5666.56.5173200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Western University6.566662111151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
University of Calgary6.5----2332500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Queen's University at Kingston7.5777723999 University Ave, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
Dalhousie University6.5----2806299 South St, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
University of Ottawa6.5----28175 Laurier Ave. E, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
Simon Fraser University6.5----3148888 University Dr, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
University of Victoria (UVic)6.56666364Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
Université Laval6.5----4162325 Rue de l'Université, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
University of Saskatchewan6.55555439Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Concordia University65.55.55.55.54621455 Boulevard de Maisonneuve O, Montréal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
York University6.5----511-520Atkinson, 96 The Pond Rd, North York, ON M3J 2S5, Canada
Université du Québec5.5----561-5702600 Boulevard Laurier, Québec, QC G1V 4M6, Canada
University of Guelph6.56666571-58050 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
University of Manitoba6.5----601-65066 Chancellors Cir, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
Carleton University6.56666651-7001125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
Université de Sherbrooke6.5----651-7002500 Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
University of Windsor6.5----651-70001 Sunset Ave, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
Memorial University of Newfoundland6.5-66-701-750230 Elizabeth Ave, St. John's, NL A1C 5S7, Canada
Ryerson University6.5----801-1000350 Victoria St, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada

Please note that the TOEFL score to IELTS score is different therefore you migh need to check the respective conversion tables.

General Conclusion And Overview

As you can see, each of these universities has its own separate set of requirements. However, for most of these universities, you will need test results of 6.0 in each section.

For most Canadian universities, the only score you will require is a 6.5. However, for the University of Toronto (post-graduate programs only) it will be a 7.0, and for the University of Montreal, you will need to contact the institution. As for IELTS Concordia scores, you will need an overall score of 7.0, with no component below 6.5, with test scores being valid for a period of two years. In addition, Concordia university may require you to take an additional proficiency test.

There will be other score requirements for US universities and the way to send IELTS score would be different.

Concordia University, located in Montreal, is a separate case, as they have individual graduate programs and are a very demanding university.

You might want to check as well other IELTS requirements when it comes to Canadian immigration or the minimum score expected to immigrate in Canada as a nurse.

person holding a maple leaf in their hand

The national standards used in Canada for measuring the English language ability of prospective immigrants to live and work in Canada is the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB). Therefore you migh need to check the equivalency of the IELTS to CLB scores.

Prepare For The IELTS Exam Online With GlobalExam

We can provide you with training in the real conditions of the test, to make progress and gain points more quickly. More than 30,000 questions have been created by language professionals, with their corrections, expanded every day.

In the Training mode you have access to several exercises for each exam section.

The Exam mode allows you to take mock exams in the real conditions of the test.

In the Corrections and statistics mode each exercise and mock exam provides a detailed correction by question, with explanations, and a IELTS score is immediately displayed (which can be consulted at any time in the stats tab, with all scores being recorded).

In Statistics and required competencies, it is possible to see your weak or strong points on a specific competency (like past tenses or vocabulary). Exercises associated with each competency allow you to work on this specific competency.

Revision sheets are vocabulary and grammar sheets, associated with the test, that are available on our site.

The Revision planning mode makes it possible to follow a revision course, in order to be guided on the exercises that must be done on a given period (there is a possibility to define an exam date and a starting level with a goal).