English tests IRCC accepts

No. IRCC says you must take the PTE Core option. Pearson says that if you plan to study in Canada you need PTE Academic instead of PTE Core.

IRCC says you must take the IELTS General Training option.

No. We don’t accept IELTS One Skill Retake for Express Entry.

To do this, you must send at least one of the documents we accept as proof with your citizenship application. Pearson says: PTE Core is accepted by IRCC as proof of English proficiency for citizenship applications. Paragon: Evaluates test taker’s English speaking and listening skills and is used for citizenship applications.

Your test results must be less than 2 years old when you: complete your Express Entry profile, and submit your application for permanent residence.

On the IELTS General Training scale, CLB 7 is 6.0 in listening, 6.0 in reading, 6.0 in writing and 6.0 in speaking. The same level is CELPIP 7 in each skill, and in PTE Core it is 60-70 listening, 60-68 reading, 69-78 writing and 68-75 speaking. Your lowest skill sets your CLB level. For every level from 4 to 10 see IELTS to CLB, or enter your scores in the CLB converter.

For Express Entry, IRCC says: “You must take the IELTS General Training option. We don’t accept IELTS One Skill Retake for Express Entry.” The score depends on the program: the minimums for the Federal Skilled Worker program, the Canadian Experience Class and the others are on the CLB for Express Entry page.

For Express Entry, IRCC says: “You must take the CELPIP-General test.” The same page covers the other approved tests: “You must take the PTE Core option.” See CLB for Express Entry for the level each program asks for.

It is a test that measures your English, and whose result IRCC accepts as proof of your level. IRCC's list of approved tests reads: “What approved language test did you take? CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program IELTS: International English Language Testing System PTE Core: Pearson Test of English TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français” That list includes French tests as well as English ones. For Express Entry, IRCC narrows the English choice to one version of each test: “You must take the CELPIP-General test.” “You must take the IELTS General Training option. We don’t accept IELTS One Skill Retake for Express Entry.” “You must take the PTE Core option.” Whichever test you take, IRCC reads the result as a Canadian Language Benchmark level, which you can work out with the CLB converter.

CELPIP is an English test run by Paragon Testing Enterprises, and IRCC approves it for immigration. Paragon says: “The CELPIP Test measures your English language proficiency in Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The CELPIP Test assesses all four skills, while the CELPIP LS Test only assesses Listening and Speaking.” For Express Entry, IRCC says: “You must take the CELPIP-General test.” Paragon's question counts and timings are: “Listening: 38 questions · 46–55 minutes” “Reading: 38 questions · 43–56 minutes” “Writing: 2 questions · 53 minutes” “Speaking: 8 tasks · 15 minutes” See the CELPIP test format and the CELPIP score chart.

It depends on the permit. IRCC sets language rules program by program, and this page covers the post-graduation work permit and Express Entry. For the post-graduation work permit, IRCC asks for a level, not a named test. For a bachelor's or master's degree it says: “You must prove your English or French language skills with a minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 7 in English or Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 7 in French in all 4 language areas.” For a college program it says: “You must prove your English or French language skills with a minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 5 in English or Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 5 in French in all 4 language areas.” IELTS is one way to prove that level. CLB 7 is IELTS General Training 6.0 in listening, 6.0 in reading, 6.0 in writing and 6.0 in speaking. For Express Entry, which leads to permanent residence, IRCC says: “You must take the IELTS General Training option. We don’t accept IELTS One Skill Retake for Express Entry.” For any other work permit, confirm the language rule on that permit's IRCC page. See language score for the PGWP.

On IRCC's tables, CLB 5 is IELTS General Training 5.0 in listening, 4.0 in reading, 5.0 in writing and 5.0 in speaking. In CELPIP it is 5 in each skill. In PTE Core it is 39-49 in listening, 42-50 in reading, 51-59 in writing and 51-58 in speaking. The full table is on CLB 5 to IELTS, CELPIP and PTE Core.

On IRCC's tables, CLB 9 is IELTS General Training 8.0 in listening, 7.0 in reading, 7.0 in writing and 7.0 in speaking. In CELPIP it is 9 in each skill. In PTE Core it is 82-88 in listening, 78-87 in reading, 88-89 in writing and 84-88 in speaking. The full table is on CLB 9 to IELTS, CELPIP and PTE Core.

IRCC converts each IELTS skill on its own, so the CLB level depends on the skill. These are IELTS General Training scores, the version Express Entry takes: “You must take the IELTS General Training option. We don’t accept IELTS One Skill Retake for Express Entry.” Reading: CLB 7 is 6.0, CLB 8 is 6.5, CLB 9 is 7.0 and CLB 10 is 8.0. Writing: CLB 7 is 6.0, CLB 8 is 6.5, CLB 9 is 7.0 and CLB 10 is 7.5. Listening: CLB 7 is 6.0, CLB 8 is 7.5, CLB 9 is 8.0 and CLB 10 is 8.5. Speaking: CLB 7 is 6.0, CLB 8 is 6.5, CLB 9 is 7.0 and CLB 10 is 7.5. Find your band in each skill. For every level see IELTS to CLB, or enter your scores in the CLB converter.