IELTS band score of only 6.0 needed for students applying to study in Canada
As per the newly revised policies for students applying via the Student Direct Stream (SDS) programme in Canada, they will need only an overall band score of 6.0 in the IELTS scoring system.
Effective August 10, students applying via the Student Direct Stream (SDS) programme will only need an overall IELTS band score of 6.0 to qualify. The mentioned changes are specific to the English language test requirements for the SDS programmed initiated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is an international testing system for non-native English language students applying to higher education programmes in Canda, developed and run by the British Council in partnership with IDP Education and Cambridge Assessment English.
The fundamental scoring system of IELTS however remains unchanged.
A CHANGE FOCUSED ON COMPREHENSIVE ABILITIES
In a positive twist, the decision was taken to eliminate the previous requirement of having an individual score of 6.0 bands in each section of the test.
This noteworthy step has been taken to place more emphasis on the comprehensive abilities of the test-takers instead of focusing solely on scores in individual sections.
Speaking about the shift in the test requirement, Piyush Kumar, Regional Director- South Asia and Mauritius, IDP Education Ltd, rightly asserted, "This update represents a positive shift towards recognising the comprehensive abilities of test-takers rather than focusing solely on individual band scores."
"We believe this change will provide greater opportunities for talented students worldwide to pursue their educational goals in Canada and also reflects authorities' confidence in IELTS," he said.
CREATING A HOST OF OPPORTUNITIES
This change aims to provide better opportunities for international students aspiring to pursue education in Canada.
The focus on a student's overall ability rather than individual sections will potentially enable a larger number of students to be accepted into Canadian educational institutions, thereby expanding the horizons of global education.
This positive change will not only encourage more students to apply but will also uphold the primary aim of the IELTS examination, which is to assess English language proficiency for higher education and global migration.
