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IELTS for Canada and the US

IELTS for Canada and US universities: the visa sets no score, your university does

Canada's study permit document list and the US student visa program set no IELTS score. Your university does: UBC, McGill and Toronto ask undergraduates for 6.5 overall, and UCLA's graduate division for 7.0.

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01 / The rules

The official IELTS rules for Canada and US universities, with their links.

Canada

Canada study permit (IRCC)

No English test on the document list

  • Your school's letter of acceptance is required.
  • Most students also need a provincial attestation letter, and Quebec asks for a CAQ.
  • The Student Direct Stream ended on 8 November 2024.

Official page Last checked: 19 October 2026

Also from: IRCC: the end of the Student Direct Stream

Canada

University of Toronto, undergraduate programs (example)

IELTS Academic, IELTS Online included (UKVI Academic too)

Listening
6.0
Reading
6.0
Writing
6.0
Speaking
6.0
Overall
6.5
  • No band below 6.0, all from one test date.
  • One Skill Retake and IELTS Indicator: not accepted.

Official page Last checked: 19 October 2026

Canada

University of British Columbia (UBC), undergraduate (example)

IELTS Academic

Listening
6.0
Reading
6.0
Writing
6.0
Speaking
6.0
Overall
6.5
  • No part below 6.0, all from one sitting.
  • IELTS General Training, IELTS Indicator and One Skill Retake: not accepted.
  • For the 2027/2028 Winter Session, scores from 1 January 2025 on.

Official page Last checked: 19 October 2026

Canada

McGill University, undergraduate (example)

IELTS Academic (UKVI Academic too)

Listening
6.0
Reading
6.0
Writing
6.0
Speaking
6.0
Overall
6.5
  • One Skill Retake: not accepted.
  • IELTS must send your scores electronically. Paper report forms are not accepted.

Official page Last checked: 19 October 2026

Canada

University of Waterloo, undergraduate (example)

IELTS Academic

Listening
6.0
Reading
6.0
Writing
6.5
Speaking
6.5
Overall
6.5
  • Writing and Speaking need 6.5, Reading and Listening 6.0.
  • Also accepted: 7.0 overall with at least 6.0 in every part.
  • One Skill Retake: accepted.

Official page Last checked: 19 October 2026

US

US student visa program (SEVP)

Set by each school

  • SEVP does not set the English level. Each school does.

Official page Last checked: 19 October 2026

US

UC Berkeley, graduate admissions (example)

IELTS Academic, IELTS Online included

Listening
Not set
Reading
Not set
Writing
6.5
Speaking
6.5
Overall
7.0
  • For Fall 2027, with tests taken on or after 21 January 2026.
  • Tests taken before 1 June 2025 do not count for Fall 2027.
  • One Skill Retake (Berkeley calls it One Test Retake): not accepted.

Official page Last checked: 19 October 2026

US

MIT, graduate admissions (example)

IELTS Academic

Listening
Not set
Reading
Not set
Writing
Not set
Speaking
Not set
Overall
7.0 (recommended)
  • A recommended minimum. A department's own minimum comes first.
  • Plan to take the test at least 2 months before your deadline.

Official page Last checked: 19 October 2026

US

UCLA, graduate admissions (example)

IELTS Academic, IELTS Online included

Listening
Not set
Reading
Not set
Writing
Not set
Speaking
Not set
Overall
7.0
  • Some majors ask for more, or for a minimum in each section.
  • Scores last 2 years, and only your most recent test counts.
  • Admitted below 7.5 overall? You take UCLA's English placement exam when you arrive.

Official page Last checked: 19 October 2026

02 / Your case

Visa vs admission: which one can stop you?

The visa does not ask for an IELTS score, but your university's Writing minimum can stop your admission. Here is one result in our own numbers: Listening 8, Reading 7.5, Speaking 7, Writing 6. The overall is 7.

  • Toronto, UBC and McGill, undergraduate: enough. The overall is above 6.5, and no part is below 6.0. Toronto's graduate programs ask for at least 6.5 in each part, so there Writing 6 is not enough.
  • University of Waterloo: enough, but only through its second route, 7.0 overall with no part below 6.0. Its first route asks for 6.5 in Writing.
  • UC Berkeley graduate admissions: not enough. The overall is 7, but Writing is below 6.5.
  • UCLA and MIT, graduate: the overall of 7 meets UCLA's minimum and MIT's recommendation, but a department can ask for more.
  • One Skill Retake: Waterloo takes it. Toronto, UBC, McGill and Berkeley do not, so there a low Writing score means a full new test.
03 / Why Writing

For Canada and US universities, Writing often holds the band back.

The University of Toronto takes IELTS Academic, and in IELTS's own 2024-2025 Academic data, Writing had the lowest average of the four skills. IELTS test taker performance data, 2024-2025.

One Skill Retake: Waterloo accepts it. Toronto, UBC, McGill and UC Berkeley graduate admissions, which calls it One Test Retake, do not.
Who accepts One Skill Retake

04 / Your plan

A Writing plan for Canada and US universities.

  1. Set your target band.

    Once you know the Writing band your university asks for, make it your target. For UC Berkeley graduate admissions and Waterloo, that is 6.5 in Writing; for Toronto, UBC and McGill undergraduates, 6.0. Read the rewrite next to your draft: it is your own answer at that band.

  2. Write the tasks your test has.

    For admission, write Academic Task 1 chart reports and Task 2 essays. The practice timer shows you the pace each task needs.

  3. Fix your lowest criterion first.

    Most universities here do not take One Skill Retake, so start early on your lowest criterion and its labeled corrections. Before you book, see how your recent Task 1 bands compare with your Task 2 bands.

05 / What VoyaLang does

What VoyaLang does for Canada and US universities, and what it does not.

VoyaLang does
VoyaLang checks Task 2 essays, on its topics or a question you paste in, plus Academic Task 1 chart reports and General Training letters (11 types, 3 tones). Each answer gets a band for each of the four criteria, each mistake fixed and labeled, and a rewrite at your target band. Turn on the practice timer for a task when you like, and count down to your exam day.
VoyaLang does not
What it gives is not an official IELTS score, and it never adds your tasks up into one Writing band. Listening, Reading, Speaking and TOEFL are all outside what it does. It does not book your test, write your admission essays or application, or advise on study permits or visas.
FAQ

Questions about IELTS for Canada and US universities.

What IELTS score do Canadian universities ask for?

Each university sets its own. UBC, McGill and the University of Toronto ask undergraduates for 6.5 overall with no part below 6.0. Waterloo asks for 6.5 overall with 6.5 in Writing and Speaking.

What IELTS score do US universities ask for?

Each school sets its own, and graduate departments often set more. For graduate study, MIT recommends at least 7, UCLA asks for 7.0, and UC Berkeley 7 with 6.5 in Writing and Speaking.

Do I need IELTS for a Canadian study permit?

IRCC's study permit document list names no English test. It asks for your school's letter of acceptance, proof of identity and proof of funds, and in most cases a provincial or territorial attestation letter. Your university may still ask for IELTS to admit you, so check its rule.

What happened to the Student Direct Stream?

IRCC ended the Student Direct Stream and the Nigeria Student Express on 8 November 2024. Its study permit document list today names no English test.

Do US universities accept IELTS?

Each school sets its own English rule, and the US student visa program does not set one. UC Berkeley's graduate division, for example, accepts IELTS, including IELTS Online, and asks for 7 overall with at least 6.5 in Writing and Speaking.

Do Canadian and US universities accept IELTS Online?

Some do. The University of Toronto, UCLA and UC Berkeley take it. UBC, McGill and Waterloo do not mention IELTS Online, so ask them before you book.

Does the University of Toronto accept One Skill Retake?

No. The University of Toronto does not accept One Skill Retake or IELTS Indicator results. For undergraduate programs, you need 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, all from one test date. For graduate programs, the School of Graduate Studies asks for at least 7.0 overall in IELTS Academic, with at least 6.5 in each part.

What IELTS score does Harvard Business School want?

Harvard Business School has no minimum score to apply. But it says its MBA admissions board discourages candidates with an IELTS score below 7.5.

Related goals

This page sums up official rules in plain words. It is not immigration or legal advice. Rules change, so check the official page before you book or apply. Every rule here was checked on or after 19 October 2026. VoyaLang is not affiliated with or endorsed by IELTS, the British Council, IDP, or Cambridge Assessment English.

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