Canada

IELTS Requirement for Canada from Bangladesh: Scores and Rules

6 min read · Checked against official sources in October 2026

Two places where English is checked

For a Canadian study permit, English is checked in two ways. First, your school decides if your English is good enough for the program. Second, IRCC, the Canadian immigration department, reviews your whole study permit application.

IRCC's official document page lists a letter of acceptance, proof of identity, proof of funds and a letter of explanation. It does not name an English test score. IRCC's school page says each post-secondary school sets its own English level, so you must ask the school.

Your letter of acceptance is the document IRCC sees, so a wrong test or an expired result can cost you the offer before the permit stage even starts. The Student Direct Stream, a faster route for some countries, ended on 8 November 2024. Everyone now applies through the regular study permit stream. So the English test mainly helps you get the offer letter, and the offer letter is the base of your study permit application.

IRCC also advises applying to a post-secondary school a year ahead. Book your English test early enough to leave room for a retake if the first result is short.

IELTS Academic or General Training

The two versions share the same Listening and Speaking parts. Reading and Writing are different. IELTS says Academic suits university study, while General Training is meant for school or college below degree level and for migration.

In practice, the Canadian schools we checked for this article all list IELTS Academic on their requirement pages. Rules differ between schools, so do not guess. Read the page for your exact program and book the version it names. IELTS itself advises checking your institution before you choose a test. McGill, for example, accepts the regular and the UKVI version of IELTS Academic, but not a One Skill Retake.

Typical IELTS scores by level

These examples come from three official admission pages read in October 2026. Use them to understand the range. They are not a target for every school.

Look at the minimum band as well as the overall score. A student with 6.5 overall but 5.5 in writing can still be short. Plan around your weakest band, not your average. A mock test that shows all four bands is more useful than one overall number.

Some programs ask for more than the school's general line. Seneca's nursing programs, for example, list 6.5 with no skill below 6.0. Waterloo also accepts an overall 7.0 with at least 6.0 in every part, so there can be more than one way to meet a rule. A minimum score is not an offer either. Seneca says competitive programs rank applicants, so meeting the minimum does not mean admission.

• Seneca Polytechnic, certificate and diploma: IELTS Academic 6.0, no skill below 5.5.
• Seneca Polytechnic, degree and graduate programs: 6.5, no skill below 6.0.
• University of Waterloo, undergraduate: 6.5 overall, 6.5 in writing and speaking, 6.0 in reading and listening.
• McGill University, undergraduate: 6.5 overall, each part 6.0 or higher.

Duolingo, PTE and TOEFL

Many schools accept other tests, but not all, and the numbers differ by school and level. Seneca accepts Duolingo, PTE Academic, TOEFL, CAEL and Cambridge tests. Waterloo and McGill also list several of them.

TOEFL changed its scale. Waterloo and McGill now list scores on a 6-point scale for tests taken from 21 January 2026, so read the right column and do not mix them with old 120-point scores.

• Seneca: Duolingo 105 to 110 for certificate and diploma, 115 to 120 for degree. PTE Academic 58 for certificate and diploma, 60 for degree.
• Waterloo undergraduate: Duolingo 120 overall with literacy and production at 125. PTE Academic 63 overall with 65 in writing and speaking.
• McGill undergraduate: Duolingo 125 or higher. PTE Academic 65 overall with each part at 60 or higher.
• Waterloo accepts IELTS One Skill Retake. McGill does not, and it does not accept institutional test versions.

Waivers: who may not need a test

Some students can skip the test, but the rules are strict and differ by school. Do not assume HSC or an English-medium school gives you a waiver. Ask the admissions office whether your own school record qualifies, and keep the reply in writing. The examples below show how different the rules are.

Waivers are decided file by file, so a friend's waiver does not tell you what yours will be.

• Waterloo: four recent years of full-time education entirely in an English-language school system, shown by official transcripts. Full-time ESL does not count.
• McGill: attending an English-instruction school abroad does not exempt you by itself. It lists specific qualifications and countries.
• Seneca: Grade 12 English from certain countries on its own list, with 65 percent or higher for degrees, or completing its English language program.

What to check before you book

Figures and rules change, so confirm each item on the official page for your program before you pay for any test. A test fee in Dhaka is real money for most families, and a wrong choice costs both money and time. Make a short list for each school you are considering, and keep the page address next to it.

• The exact test name and version on your program page.
• The overall score and the lowest allowed band.
• How old a test can be. Seneca accepts tests from the last two years only.
• How results must be sent. McGill wants official results from the testing organisation, not uploads.
• The application deadline, so your results arrive in time.
• Whether your program has its own higher requirement. Nursing and education programs can differ from the school's general line, as the examples above show.
• Whether the school offers an English program as another route. Seneca lists one.

What IGC counsellors check with you

IGC counsellors compare your real English level with the pages of the schools you like, and tell you honestly if a retake or a different course is the better plan. We cannot promise admission or a visa. Those decisions belong to the school and to IRCC.

Frequently asked questions

Does IRCC ask for an IELTS score for a Canada study permit?

IRCC's study permit document list does not name an English test score. Your school sets the English level for admission. Always read your visa office instructions and the document checklist IRCC gives you, because requirements can change.

Is Duolingo enough for Canada?

Only if your school accepts it. Seneca, Waterloo and McGill all list Duolingo, but with different scores. Not every school accepts it. Check your exact program page before you book.

Can I use IELTS General Training?

IELTS says Academic suits university study and General Training suits below-degree study. The schools we checked list IELTS Academic. Book the version your program page names, and ask admissions if you are not certain.

Does meeting the minimum score mean I will be admitted?

No. Minimums are the lowest scores a school will consider. Competitive programs rank applicants, and other parts of your file also count. A score at the minimum is not a promise of an offer.

If you want an honest look at your English level and your options for Canada, book a free profile assessment with IGC. A counsellor will explain what is possible and what is not.