Which exams are required to study in Canada?

The entrance exams required to study in Canadian universities are - language tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, academic tests like GRE and GMAT, and French proficiency tests like TEF and TEFAQ. The exam requirements depend on the level of study (Undergraduate, postgraduate, etc.), specific program, and the institution. In India, over 1.5 million students take IELTS every year, and it is recognized by over 12,000 institutions worldwide, including universities, colleges, governments, and employers.
 

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Entrance exams required to study in Canada

The table below has the list of entrance tests required to study in Canada, along with exam duration, exam mode, fee, and minimum score to pass for each:

Test	Exam Duration	Mode	Fees	Minimum Score to Pass
IELTS	2 hours 45 minutes	Paper-based and Computer-based	USD 189	6.5
TOEFL	2 hours	Computer-based and Paper-based	USD 195	Undergraduates: 79+ / Graduates: 80+
PTE	2 hours	Online	USD 160	65–75
CAEL	3 hours 30 minutes	Online	USD 280	70
CELPIP	3 hours (General)	Online	USD 126	70
DUOLINGO	1 hour	Online	USD 44	110/160

 

Note: For IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, CAEL, and CELPIP, the exam has four sections covering Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening. In the case of the DUOLINGO test, there are three sections covering Introduction, Adaptive Test, and Reading and Writing.
 

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Academic exams required to study in Canada

The table below lists the academic exams required to study in Canada, along with exam duration, fee and minimum score to pass for each:

Name of the test	Exam duration	Total number of question	Fees	Minimum score required
GRE	2 hours	82-102	USD 213	300/340
GMAT	2 hours 15 minutes	80	USD 250	715/800
SAT	2 hours 14 minutes	98	USD 130	1050/1600

 

Top 5 universities in Canada and the scores required

The table below has the list of top 5 universities in Canada and the minimum score required based on the type of exam taken:

Name of the university	QS World University Ranking 2025	TOEFL	IELTS	PTE	CAEL	DUOLINGO
University of Toronto	25	100	6 – 6.5	65	70	120
McGill University	29	86 or above	6.5	60 – 65	70	120
University of British Columbia	38	90	6.0 – 6.5	65	70	125
University of Alberta	96	90	5.5 – 6.5	60 – 61	70	125
University of Waterloo	115	86	6.5	60 – 68	70	120 – 125

 

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