Western University IELTS requirement: minimum band scores for 2026

Western University requires IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each section for direct undergraduate admission (a 5.5 overall routes to the English Boost pathway). The minimum acceptable graduate IELTS score is 6.5 overall, with no university-wide per-section minimum published and many graduate programs requiring 7.0.

Undergraduate applicants to Western need an overall IELTS Academic band of 6.5 with no band below 6.0. In CEFR terms this corresponds to B2. Direct admission requires IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each section. A 5.5 overall admits to the English Boost Program pathway, not directly to a degree.

For graduate study the institutional minimum is overall 6.5 with no published per-section minimum (CEFR B2). School of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies minimum acceptable IELTS Academic score is 6.5 overall; no university-wide per-section minimum is published and many programs require 7.0.

A target of 6.5 (CEFR B2) is achievable for candidates with strong school-level English and 4-8 weeks of focused IELTS practice. The fastest gains usually come from Listening and Reading because the question types are predictable and trainable. Sit a full-length practice test first, identify the section that pulls your overall down most, and drill that section before scheduling the live exam.