Canada, band by band:
- Undergraduate: 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0 at Toronto, UBC, McGill, and most others. - Masters: 6.5 to 7.0 overall. Competitive programs in business and engineering want 7.0. - College diplomas: 6.0 overall often suffices. - Study permit: no separate IELTS requirement from immigration, but weak English plus weak funds is a classic refusal combo. Sources: IELTS One Canada-specific trap: Academic IELTS gets you admitted, but it does not count for Express Entry later. Permanent residence needs General IELTS, CELPIP, or PTE Core. Plan the second test before you need it.