Band requirements are set by institutions and by visa rules, not by test centres, so they vary by destination and by course level. Use this as an orientation and confirm against your specific institution.
Two thresholds usually apply at once. The institution sets an academic requirement for your course, and the destination’s visa rules set a separate minimum. The higher of the two is the one that binds. Postgraduate courses typically ask more than undergraduate ones, and clinical, teaching and legal programmes usually ask most of all.
The overall band is rarely the whole story. Many institutions set a minimum for each of the four components, so a strong reading score cannot rescue a weak speaking one. When you compare courses, note both numbers.
Options generally include a pre-sessional English course, a different intake, or an alternative test. Some institutions accept PTE or the Duolingo English Test where IELTS falls short. What you should not do is accept an assurance that a low band can be worked around — that is exactly the kind of promise that leads to a refusal.
It depends on the institution and the destination’s visa rules, and the higher of the two thresholds is the one that binds. Postgraduate courses generally ask more than undergraduate ones.
Yes. Many institutions set a minimum for each of the four components as well as an overall band.