Canada is world-renowned for its welcoming, open arms when it comes to international immigrants from all walks of life. One of Canada’s greatest assets is that it allows those immigrants the opportunity to live and work within a multinational community. However, for those to live out their Canadian dreams, they must be able to effectively assimilate into Canadian society. The primary way to achieve this is via speaking at least one of Canada’s two official languages - English and French.
To ensure that every immigrant has that capacity, the Canadian government, along with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, have created the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) for any persons planning on immigrating to Canada. For English speakers, they will have to prove their language ability through either the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Most immigration candidates ask themselves this question: CELPIP vs IELTS - which is better for immigrating to Canada? For one to truly understand the answer, one must first know the Canadian Language Benchmark system and how it affects their immigration chances.
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)
The CLB is a ranking system that determines your ability to understand Canadian languages. It’s based on 10 levels with level one being the least proficient and level 10 being the most proficient or fluent in the language. Your CLB level determines the type of jobs you’re allowed to work in, and the types of visa or immigration programs you can apply for.
Canada’s most popular immigration program, Express Entry, presents Invitations To Apply (ITAs) for Canadian Permanent Residence (Canada PR) to deserving applicants based on, what’s called a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). This system scores each applicant based on numerous factors including level of education, work experience, age and marital status. However, one of the major deciding factors regarding your CRS score is your CLB level. Each candidate is scored out of 1200 points with each factor being scored differently. Below is a basic breakdown of how your CLB affects your CRS score:
| First Official Language | Per ability | Per ability |
| CLB 6 | 8 | 9 |
| CLB 6 | 8 | 9 |
| CLB 7 | 16 | 17 |
| CLB 8 | 22 | 23 |
| CLB 9 | 29 | 31 |
| CLB 10 or more | 32 | 34 |
On top of this, certain Express Entry Streams, like the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) or the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) require you to have a CLB above a certain level to apply.
To get a CLB level, you must complete at least one of Canada’s four language tests. The two English tests, CELPIP and IELTS, assess your language skills specifically in listening, reading, writing and speaking. Each test has its pros and cons, so let’s compare them and see which one is best for you.
CELPIP vs IELTS
Before discussing what makes the differences between these tests, it’s vital to discuss the similarities.
Firstly, both tests are entirely legitimate and valid in the eyes of the Canadian government. There are no tests that are more valid or score higher than the other in the eyes of the Canadian government. You can use either your CELPIP or IELTS score for Canada PR.
Both tests are broken down into four main sections, specifically focusing on the four language skills being tested. Both prioritize situations - one’s ability to function effectively in both professional and social situations. Both tests take around three hours with each section with its allocated time.
Both tests have two different types of tests, with only one being accepted by the Canadian government. A test result from either test will be considered valid for two years from the day you receive your results.
However, certain differences can be isolated and explained in the makeup of each test.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
What makes the IELTS stand out is the fact that it’s the world’s largest language testing system and is currently the international English language testing standard. Therefore, using your IELTS score for Canada PR is an incredibly safe option. It utilizes situations like speaking to customers or superiors, handling speaking in a social capacity, creating a logical argument and understanding or explaining a specific situation. This test is usually taken in person at a test centre. However, there is an online version of IELTS available online in the following countries:
| Argentina | Armenia | Australia | Austria | Azerbaijan | Bahrain | Bangladesh | Belarus |
| Belgium | Brazil | Bulgaria | Cambodia | Canada | Chile | Colombia | Croatia |
| China | Cyprus | Czech Republic | Denmark | Egypt | Estonia | Finland | France |
| Germany | Ghana | Greece | Hong Kong | Hungary | India | Indonesia | Ireland |
| Israel | Italy | Japan | Jordan | Kazakhstan | Kenya | Kuwait | Laos |
| Latvia | Lebanon | Lithuania | Malaysia | Malta | Mexico | Myanmar | Nepal |
| Netherlands | New Zealand | Nigeria | North Macedonia | Norway | Oman | Pakistan | Peru |
| Philippines | Poland | Portugal | Qatar | Romania | Russia | Saudi Arabia | Serbia |
| Singapore | Slovakia | Slovenia | South Africa | South Korea | Spain | Sri Lanka | United Kingdom |
| Switzerland | Sweden | Taiwan, China | Thailand | Turkey | Vietnam | Ukraine | United Arab Emirates |
| United States of America | Uzbekistan |
There are two IELTS tests - The IELTS general training and the IELTS academic tests.
- IELTS General Training
- Specifically for candidates who do not plan on studying at a Canadian university (you are still allowed to study at a designated college with just an IELTS general score)
- IELTS Academic
- Specifically for those planning on studying at a Canadian university or English-speaking academic institution.
- This may also be required for certain professions.
If you plan on studying in Canada, you will likely need to take both tests. However, if you plan on just using your IELTS score for Canada PR, you just need to take The IELTS General Training test. You have to take the IELTS General test to get Canada PR.
The IELTS Test Format
As mentioned before, the IELTS test is broken up into four sections, assessing listening, reading, writing and speaking. Within each section, there are specific questions focused on testing the different facets of each skill. The full length of the IELTS general is around three hours.
Section 1: Listening Test
This section is around 30 minutes long and involves listening to four recordings of different situations in English. After listening, the candidate has to complete the following tasks:
Section 4: Reading Test
This section is 60 minutes long and focuses on your abilities to understand the gist, isolate main ideas from a text, separate specific details, skim reading, understand and construct arguments, and recognize a writer's attitude and opinions. The tasks in this section are as follows:
Section 3: Writing Test
This section is also 60 minutes long. It tests a candidate's ability to respond to a situation via requesting, explaining or constructing an argument. It comprises two tasks.
- Task 1 - Writing a letter requesting information.
- Task 2 - write a 250-word discursive essay on a given topic.
Section 4: Speaking test
This is the shortest section and takes between 10 and 15 mins to complete. It focuses primarily on a candidate's ability to speak and respond in English. This process is broken into three parts:
Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
The CELPIP English test costs around $280 plus taxes and is an entirely online assessment, testing your ability in your chosen language. It tests the same skills as the IELTS test.
Like the IELTS, there are two types of CELPIP English tests.
-
CELPIP General test
- Tests your reading, listening speaking and writing.
-
CELPIP General LS
- Only tests your speaking and listening.
CELPIP Test Format
The length of the CELPIP English test is around three hours with a specific time given to each of the four testing sections.
Section 1: Listening
This section takes 47-55 minutes to complete and is made up of six parts testing different listening skills. They are as follows:
- Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving
- Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation
- Part 3: Listening for Information
- Part 4: Listening to a News Item
- Part 5: Listening to a Discussion
- Part 6: Listening to Viewpoints
Section 2: Reading
This section is designated 55-60 minutes to complete and is made up of four parts testing your reading and comprehension ability. They are as follows:
- Part 1: Reading Correspondence
- Part 2: Reading to Apply a Diagram
- Part 3: Reading for Information
- Part 4: Reading for Viewpoints
Section 3: Writing
This section also has 53-60 minutes to complete but has only two tasks. However, these tasks are long-form written tasks and are as follows:
- Task 1: Writing an Email
- Task 2: Responding to Survey Questions
Section 4: Speaking
This is the shortest section at only 15-20 minutes and it is made up of eight small parts, testing your ability to respond to questions and effectively express yourself in English. They are as follows:
- Task 1: Giving Advice
- Task 2: Talking about a Personal Experience
- Task 3: Describing a Scene
- Task 4: Making Predictions
- Task 5: Comparing and Persuading
- Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation
- Task 7: Expressing Opinions
- Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation
FAQs
CELPIP vs IELTS. Which is easier?
Ultimately, the standard of the tests is essentially the same. As certain people don't have access to some of the tests, the Canadian government has to keep the standard at the same level for both tests.
What score do you need to guarantee PR?
No score will automatically guarantee you Canada PR. A high score will add to your CRS score and make you eligible for certain streams but even a CLB level 10 cannot guarantee you Canada PR.
Can you take both for more points?
No. The CLB only accepts one test per language. You can take both tests but you have to use the one you score highest in. However, if you speak both English and French, you can submit both English and French language tests which will give you extra points.
Find The Test That Works For You
The best test is the one that will give you the best chance of getting your Canada PR. For many people, an IELTS test will open more doors but a CELPIP is far more accessible and meets the same standards. Either way, there are a multitude of resources, practice tests and experts to help you be as prepared as possible for your English Language test.