TOEFL For Canada Student Visa 2023: Cutoff, Top Universities & Courses

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a three-hour English proficiency test that assesses speaking, reading, writing, and listening abilities. It is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) trademark, widely accepted by over 11,500 universities in 160 countries for employment, study, and immigration purposes. The TOEFL can be taken online via an Internet-based test (iBT).

Do you need TOEFL for Canada Student Visa?

TOEFL is required for all non-native English students and serves as an essential admissions criterion. TOEFL scores are more important to Canadian universities than all other English proficiency tests combined. As a result, this test is accepted for 100% of undergraduate and 80% of graduate programmes. 

TOEFL Fees and Exam Structure

The following are the TOEFL exam fees for India:

TOEFL internet-based test	$190
Late registration fee	$40
TOEFL rescheduling fee	$60
TOEFL cancellation fee	$20

Students can register for TOEFL through its official website using their phone number and email address. One can also call the nearest TOEFL centre and register as well.

Remember that your TOEFL scores are essential for universities and your Canada student visa process.

Exam structure of TOEFL

The TOEFL consists of four sections: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Each section has its time duration and syllabus.

1. READING SECTION:

The reading test will consist of 3-5 passages with 12-14 questions on each. The number of correct reading comprehension responses is used to score the section.

a) Question format: 3-4 passages with 10 questions each

b) Total number of questions: approximately 40

c) Time: 54-72 minutes

d) Syllabus: Extracts of academic and general interest

2. WRITING SECTION:

The topic of the essay should be the primary focus. The essay should be well-written and developed, with all pertinent information and details included. To get a high writing score, complete the tasks with ideal word choice and no grammar errors.

a) One integrated task – Read/Listen/Write (20 minutes)

b) One Independent task (30 minutes)

c) The total number of questions is two.

d) Time allotted: 50 minutes.

3. LISTENING SECTION:

The listening section will include brief lectures and conversations.

a) 3-4 lectures (3-5 minutes, 500-800 words), six questions each; approximately 30 minutes

Total number of questions: 30

b) 2-3 conversations (about 3 minutes long, 12-25 exchanges), five questions each; approximately 12 questions total

Total number of questions: 40

c) Total time: 41-57 minutes

4. SPEAKING SECTION:

The speaking test section consists of four tasks corresponding to real-life situations you will encounter inside and outside the classroom.

a) One self-contained task (prep time: 15 sec; response time: 45 sec)

b) Three interconnected tasks: read, listen, and speak (prep time: 30 sec; response time: 60 sec)

c) The total number of questions is four.

d) Total duration: 17 minutes

TOEFL for Canada Student Visa: Overview

International students from all over the world seek and attempt TOEFL for a Canada Student Visa. 

For many years, its great city life, affordability, and excellent education system have been the main draw for students. While the basic requirements must be met when applying to study in Canada, international students must also submit applications to universities accepting a TOEFL score of 75 in Canada.

TOEFL is accepted at nearly 400 universities and colleges in Canada. This globally recognized English proficiency exam can improve your chances of admission to top educational institutions in the country.

Why TOEFL for Canada? 

1. The Preferred test for admission/ Immigration:

More than 80% of graduate programmes in Canada prefer the TOEFL iBT test over other tests. TOEFL iBT scores are sent to Canadian universities more significantly than all other English tests combined.

2. Worldwide acceptance:

TOEFL enables admission to international universities. The TOEFL iBT is the world’s most widely identified English-language assessment for study, employment, and immigration. More universities and institutions prefer it, making you comfortable knowing that you will stand out to admissions offices where it counts.

3. Convenience:

One can now take the TOEFL iBT test at a test centre or at home. With enhanced safety and health rules, test centres are open worldwide, or one can test from the comfort of their own home. Some counties now have paper editions available.

Another reason to take the TOEFL is that a decent to high score can make your Canada student visa process much easier.

TOEFL For Canada Student Visa: Cutoff

The TOEFL scores for each of the four sections are added to yield an overall score that is valid for both the TOEFL PBT and TOEFL iBT exams.

Let us look at the various TOEFL score ranges listed below:

Level	TOEFL iBT	TOEFL pBT
Excellent	118-120	>645
Very good	115-117	626-644
Very good	110-114	610-625
Good	102-109	581-609
Good	94-101	560-580
Competent	79-93	546-559
Competent	60-78	530-545
Modest	42-59	516-529
Modest	35-41	490-515

TOEFL for Canada Student Visa: Top Colleges:

As mentioned above there are 400+ Universities that accept TOEFL in canada. Below is a list of some of the more prominent Canadian universities that accept TOEFL:

TOEFL Accepted Universities	QS World Rankings 2022	TOEFL Accepted Scores (iBt)
University of Toronto	26	Undergraduate: minimum total score of 100+Graduate: Overall score of 93
University of British Columbia	46	Undergraduate: Overall 90 Graduate: 90 and above
McGill University	27	Undergraduate: Total score of 86 with 30 in each sectionGraduate: Overall 86
University of Waterloo	149	Undergraduate: Overall 90 Graduate: Overall 90
University of Alberta	126	Undergraduate: Overall 90 Graduate: Overall 90

TOEFL for Canada Student Visa: Colleges & Courses

Now, let’s look at the minimum TOEFL cutoff scores for some Canadian Universities based on course. These are just a glimpse of what the required TOEFL score for Canada is.

University of Toronto: TOEFL for Canada Student Visa Requirement

Specialization	Required TOEFL Score
MS	93.0-107.0
B.Sc	100.0 & Above
BBA	100.0 & Above
B.E. / B.Tech	100.0 & Above
M.E./M.Tech	93.0 & Above
MIM	93.0-110.0
MBA/PGDM	93.0-100.0
M.A.	93.0-100.0

The University of British Columbia: TOEFL for Canada Student Visa Requirement

Specialization	Required TOEFL Score
MS	90.0-100.0
B.Sc	90.0 & Above
M.Sc	90.0-100.0
M.A.	100.0 & Above
M.E./M.Tech	90.0-100.0
B.E. / B.Tech	90.0 & Above

University of Alberta: TOEFL for Canada Student Visa Requirement

Specialization	Required TOEFL Score
M.A.	95.0 & Above
B.E. / B.Tech	90.0 & Above
BBA	90.0 & Above
B.Sc	90.0 & Above
MS	88.0-92.0
MEM	90.0 & Above
M.E./M.Tech	88.0-92.0

York University: TOEFL for Canada Student Visa Requirement

Specialization	Required TOEFL Score
B.E. / B.Tech	83.0-88.0
M.A.	100.0 & Above
BBA	79.0-90.0
MBA/PGDM	100.0 & Above
MIM	88.0-100.0

Memorial University of Newfoundland: TOEFL for Canada Student Visa Requirement

Specialization	Required TOEFL Score
MIM	80.0-92.0
M.E./M.Tech	80.0 & Above
MS	80.0 & Above
M.A.	80.0 & Above
BBA	79.0 & Above
B.Sc.	79.0 & Above
B.E. / B.Tech	79.0-90.0

University of Windsor: TOEFL for Canada Student Visa Requirement

Specialization	Required TOEFL Score
BBA	83.0 & Above
MIM	83.0 & Above
B.Sc	83.0 & Above
MEM	100.0 & Above
B.E. / B.Tech	83.0 & Above
MS	83.0-92.0
MBA/PGDM	100.0 & Above
M.E./M.Tech	92.0 & Above
M.A.	83.0-100.0

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TOEFL for Canada Student Visa: How to send your TOEFL Scores to Universities

Students registered for the TOEFL exam can choose up to four universities to receive their TOEFL scores directly from ETS, the TOEFL exam’s administering body.

This service is free of charge because it is included in the TOEFL registration fee of US $190. 

Students may also send their TOEFL scores to more than the four pre-selected universities at an additional cost. 

How long does it take for Institutions to receive scores?

The delivery time for scores depends on the format the student has taken the test in. Below is an approximation of how long it would take to transmit scores to Universities:

• ETS® Data Manager: Takes 4–8 business days (11–13 business days for the Paper Edition)
• Server feeds: Takes 8–10 business days (11–16 business days for the Paper Edition)
• Postal mail: 10–12 business days plus time for mailing. Allow an additional 7–10 days for mail delivery in the United States and 4–6 weeks for mail delivery to other locations.

TOEFL scores are acceptable for obtaining a Canadian student visa, even if they are not the best fit for eligibility for a PR in Canada. In addition, TOEFL results are accepted as evidence of English language proficiency by more than 12,000 universities worldwide, including those in Canada.

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