King's minimum scores
From King's English language proficiency page. TOEFL must be from the past two years (institution code 9232).
| Test | Most programs | Bachelor of Education |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5, at least 5.5 in each band | 6.5 in writing, listening and reading; 7 in speaking |
| TOEFL iBT | 88, at least 21 in each section | 97; S27 W24 L23 R23 (iBT or Special Home Edition) |
| PTE Academic | 59 overall | Not accepted |
| Duolingo | 115, at least 95 in each section | Not accepted |
| CAEL or CAEL Online | 70 | Not accepted |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | Accepted | Not accepted |
Exempt countries and the ELAT
Three years of formal, full-time study in English at secondary or post-secondary level in a listed country meets the requirement automatically. The list includes Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Singapore, the UK and the USA, but not India or Pakistan.
Applicants who already live in Edmonton, are over 21 or were home-schooled can instead sit King's own English Language Assessment Test (ELAT) for $50 after applying. A passing grade in a Canadian university-recognised EAP program, or ENGL 214 or 215 at C or better, also counts.
Free test: are you at The King's University's score yet?
Take a free AI-scored IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill, so you know how far you are from the requirement before you book the real test. Free account, no card.
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Study permit and PGWP: separate rules
King's'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, and CLB 7 too if you graduate from any other university program, which must also be in an eligible field of study if you applied for your study permit on or after 1 November 2024. The lower CLB 5 applies only to college, polytechnic and other non-university programs. On IELTS General Training, CLB 7 is 6.0 in each skill (IRCC score table). The PGWP takes IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core, not IELTS Academic (see IELTS for the PGWP).
Minimum vs competitive score
Where The King's University publishes an IELTS score, it is the minimum: the floor an application has to meet to be considered, not a score that guarantees an offer.
Competitive programmes, and courses with far more applicants than places, may expect more than the minimum, and some departments set their own overall or per-skill scores, often for writing or speaking. The course page has the final word, so check it before you book a test.
If you are close to the line, aim for a margin above it: one weak skill can miss the requirement even when the overall band clears it. Not sure where you stand? Take a free IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS does The King's University need?+
IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each band for most programs.
What IELTS does King's need for the B.Ed.?+
IELTS Academic 6.5 in writing, listening and reading and 7 in speaking, from the last two years. Only IELTS or TOEFL iBT are accepted for the B.Ed.
Does The King's University accept Duolingo?+
Yes. 115 overall with at least 95 in each section, except for the B.Ed.
Do Nigerian students need IELTS for The King's University?+
Not if they completed three years of formal, full-time study in English at secondary or post-secondary level in Nigeria, which is on King's list.
Does the The King's University IELTS score count for the PGWP?+
No. The university's score is an admission rule on IELTS Academic. For the PGWP, IRCC asks university graduates, of degree and other university programs alike, for CLB 7 in every skill, proved with IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core.
Keep reading
Related
- Concordia University of Edmonton IELTS requirement
- MacEwan University IELTS requirement
- IELTS for teachers in Canada
- IELTS for the Canada PGWP
- All 1288 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 13 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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