University English requirements

What IELTS score does Olds College require?

Olds College of Agriculture and Technology in Alberta asks applicants whose first language is not English for IELTS Academic 6.0 in each band, unless they completed three years of academic study entirely in English. PTE Academic is 55 with no skill below 55, Duolingo 110 and TOEFL iBT 4.0 in all bands. Its country document lists India as a country where an English test is required.
  • Checked against official sources · 11 October 2026
  • 3 sections
  • IELTS

Olds College test minimums

From Olds College's English language proficiency page. Assessments must be dated within two years of the application date, and an admission officer verifies every result online.

TestOlds College minimum
IELTS Academic6.0 in each band
PTE Academic55, no skill profile below 55
Duolingo English Test110
TOEFL iBT4.0 or higher in all bands
CAEL Online60, no band below 50
Oxford ELLT6, no band below 5

Who needs a test: the country list

The three-year English study route sounds open to Indian English-medium students, but Olds' international document requirements (a 2023 revision) mark India, Pakistan and Bangladesh as countries where an English language assessment is required, and say the requirement will not be waived for students from countries listed as required. Nigeria and the Philippines are marked as not required. Indian applicants should plan on a test; the same document asks for the Class 12 certificate with an admit card for verification.

Partner-school pathways also count, each with its own completion standard: ILSC Advanced 1 at 70% or Advanced 2 at 75%, Global Village GV6 or GV7 at 73%, Centre for English Studies EAP at 80%, OHC EAP (B2) at 70%, The Language Gallery UPP Level 5 for certificates and diplomas (Level 6 for Veterinary Technology and the bachelor's degrees), plus Bayswater, Oxford International Digital Institute, Anne's Language House and Plantea Immilan.

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Study permit and PGWP: separate rules

Olds College's scores decide admission only. IRCC sets no minimum English score for a study permit; any language condition is written into your letter of acceptance (see IELTS for a Canada study permit). The Post-Graduation Work Permit is a separate test again. IRCC's PGWP eligibility page asks for CLB 7 in all four skills if you graduate with a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree or from any other university program, and CLB 5 for any other college, polytechnic or non-university program, so a bachelor's degree earned at a college still needs CLB 7. On IELTS General Training, CLB 7 is 6.0 in every skill and CLB 5 is Reading 4.0 and Writing, Listening and Speaking 5.0 (IRCC score table). The PGWP takes IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core, not IELTS Academic, and college programs also face a field-of-study rule if you applied for your study permit on or after 1 November 2024 (see IELTS for the PGWP).

Frequently asked questions

Does Olds College accept PTE?+

Yes. PTE Academic with a score of at least 55 and no skill profile below 55.

Does Olds College accept Duolingo?+

Yes, with a score of at least 110.

Do Indian students need IELTS for Olds College?+

Plan on it. Olds' country document lists India as a country where an English assessment is required and says the requirement is not waived for listed countries.

Is IELTS 6.5 with a 5.5 band enough for Olds College?+

No. Olds asks for 6.0 or higher in each band of IELTS Academic, so a 5.5 band falls short.

Does the Olds College IELTS score count for the PGWP?+

No. The admission score is on IELTS Academic. For the PGWP, IRCC asks for CLB 7 in every skill after a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree (a college degree included) and CLB 5 after other college and polytechnic programs, proved with IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core.

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Verified against the linked official sources on 11 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.

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