Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 29 October 2026
Vanguard minimum scores
From Vanguard's international applications page. The institution code is 3330. Only TOEFL and IELTS are named.
| Test | Minimum |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5, no band below 5.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | 86, at least 21 in each section |
| TOEFL paper-based | 550 |
| TOEFL computer-based | 197 |
Exemptions
You do not need a test if you lived and attended high school or university for at least four consecutive years in a country where English is the acknowledged primary language, or completed one of these: the French Baccalaureate Option Internationale (British or American section), IB Group 1 English at 5 or better, English as Language 1 or 2 in the European Baccalaureate, British A Level English at C or better, or GCSE, IGCSE or GCE O Level English at B (or 5) or better.
Applicants with English-medium studies equal to a Canadian Grade 12 diploma and at least 60 per cent in all core subjects may be considered for Part B.
Free test: are you at Vanguard College's score yet?
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Deadlines and how to check
Applicants who do not meet the TOEFL or IELTS requirement and do not complete Part A cannot move to Part B, and Vanguard does not accept applications after the deadlines.
Requirements vary by program and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your Vanguard College program page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test. Admission scores are separate from immigration rules: see IELTS for a Canada study permit and IELTS for the Canada PGWP.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where Vanguard College 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 Vanguard College need?+
IELTS 6.5 overall with no individual band below 5.0.
Does Vanguard College accept Duolingo or PTE?+
Neither is listed. Vanguard names TOEFL and IELTS.
When can international students start at Vanguard?+
September only. Part A is due 1 February and Part B 1 March.
Can O Level English replace IELTS at Vanguard?+
Yes, GCSE, IGCSE or GCE O Level English at grade B (or 5) or better is an exemption.
Keep reading
Related
- Prairie College IELTS requirement
- MacEwan University IELTS requirement
- NorQuest College IELTS requirement
- IELTS for Canada: scores by university
- All 2279 guides
Guide updated on 29 October 2026. Individual prices and policies may have earlier observation dates. Confirm current details on the linked official pages before you book or apply.
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