Strong work experience and education don't offset a weak IELTS score in the eyes of visa officers, according to group members.
What group members advised:- Aim for at least an overall 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in every band — several members treated this as close to the realistic threshold for a study visa, even with a solid professional background.
- Scores below 6 overall are reportedly an outright red flag. One member cited a webinar with Canada visa officers in New Delhi where applications with IELTS below 6 were said to be rejected outright.
- A low IELTS also hurts the employment-route alternative. If considering skipping study and going for a job offer/LMIA route instead, officers reportedly scrutinize IELTS closely there too, especially for NOC B-level roles.
Takeaway: if your IELTS bands are below roughly 6.0–6.5, retaking the test is usually a better investment of time than trying to compensate with work history or MBA credentials alone.