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IELTS General or Duolingo vs. IELTS Academic for a Canadian study permit

Canada • Study Permit • study 0 views
By VisaBuddies Communityvia community — compiled from public visa forums

Documents Needed

  • English proficiency test result (Duolingo, IELTS General, or IELTS Academic)

    Which one you need depends on how you secure your admission — check your school's requirement first.

Step-by-Step

A member asked whether IELTS General or Duolingo is good enough for a Canadian study permit, or whether IELTS Academic is mandatory.

What group members advised:
  1. If your admission was secured through Duolingo, IELTS General is fine for the study permit application itself — you don't necessarily need to upgrade to Academic once your school has already accepted the Duolingo score.

  2. IELTS Academic is still worth considering if you want more flexibility. One member recommended going with Academic specifically because it keeps more program and school options open, since some institutions only accept the Academic version for admission purposes.


Takeaway: the school's admission requirement, not the study permit application itself, usually determines which test is mandatory — Duolingo/IELTS General can be sufficient once you already have an offer based on it, but IELTS Academic broadens your options if you're still choosing a program.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Tip: If admission was granted based on a Duolingo score, IELTS General is generally acceptable for the study permit stage.
  • Do: Consider IELTS Academic if you want to keep more school and program options open, since some institutions require it specifically.
  • Tip: Always confirm the exact test requirement with your specific school/program, as requirements vary.

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