Which test do you need?
Different doors need different keys. If you want to move to Canada, study, or become a citizen, each goal asks for a specific test, so make sure you have the right key before you start practising.
- In Canada, for Express Entry (permanent residence), IRCC accepts these English tests: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core. French tests accepted: TEF Canada and TCF Canada. IELTS One Skill Retake is not accepted.
- For Express Entry, test results must be less than 2 years old when you create your profile and when you submit your permanent residence application.
- IELTS Academic is for study at university or professional registration. IELTS General Training is for migration and everyday or workplace English. Listening and Speaking are the same in both; Reading and Writing differ.
- CELPIP is a Canadian test. CELPIP-General tests listening, reading, writing and speaking, takes under 3 hours and is done in one sitting. IRCC designates it for permanent residence applications.
- CELPIP-General LS tests only listening and speaking (about 1 hour 10 minutes) and is the version used for Canadian citizenship.
- Canadian citizenship: applicants aged 18 to 54 must show speaking and listening at CLB 4 or higher in English or French.
| Term | Meaning | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| IRCC | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada | EYE-ar-see-see |
| CLB | Canadian Language Benchmarks (Canada's English scale) | see-el-BEE |
| CELPIP | Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program | SEL-pip |
| IELTS | International English Language Testing System | EYE-elts |
| General Training | IELTS version for migration and work |
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) runs immigration and citizenship. For Express Entry it accepts CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core in English.
- Source: IRCC, Express Entry language testing: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-c ; IRCC, newcomer services: ircc.canada.ca/english/newcomers/services/index.asp
- The immigration agency is US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), part of the Department of Homeland Security.
- Source: USCIS, Settling in the U.S.: www.uscis.gov/citizenship/civic-assimilation/settling-in-the-us
- The starting point for foreigners is the National Immigration Administration (nia.gov.cn), under the Ministry of Public Security. Its site lists a 12367 service line for each province (for example 010-12367 for Beijing).
- Source: NIA home page: www.nia.gov.cn/
- The Ministry of Justice immigration site has a visa navigator ("Find your VISA") and a visa e-form. The immigration contact centre is 1345 (from abroad +82-2-1345).
- Source: Korea Immigration Service English site: www.immigration.go.kr/immigration_eng/index.do
- Write your goal: Express Entry, study, work or citizenship.
- If Express Entry, choose from CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training or PTE Core (French tests are also accepted).
- If you are applying for citizenship at age 18 to 54, look at CELPIP-General LS (listening and speaking only) or the matching IELTS option.
- If your goal is university study, IELTS Academic is the one for that.
- Check on the official page for your program which test it accepts (in Canada, the IRCC page) and any date rule (for Express Entry, results must be under 2 years old).
- Check: you wrote the exact name of the test version you will book.
Videos by other creators on YouTube, for reference. They are not made by or affiliated with The Future Market.
Read the video script
[Host] "Before you study, make sure you're studying for the right test."
[Text on screen: Express Entry: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core] "For Express Entry, IRCC accepts CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training or PTE Core in English."
[Text on screen: Not IELTS Academic for Express Entry] "Notice: IELTS General Training, not Academic."
[Text on screen: Results must be less than 2 years old] "And your results must be less than two years old when you apply."
[Text on screen: Citizenship: CLB 4 speaking + listening, ages 18-54] "For citizenship, it's speaking and listening at CLB 4, for ages 18 to 54."
Write your goal in one sentence (for example "Express Entry in 2027"). Go to the official page for that program (in Canada, the IRCC page) and write down: which tests are accepted and the minimum CLB level you need.
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I'm learning "IELTS/CELPIP Test Prep Basics" on The Future Market. Lesson 1: "Which test do you need?". What the lesson teaches: - In Canada, for Express Entry (permanent residence), IRCC accepts these English tests: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core. French tests accepted: TEF Canada and TCF Canada. IELTS One Skill Retake is not accepted. - For Express Entry, test results must be less than 2 years old when you create your profile and when you submit your permanent residence application. - IELTS Academic is for study at university or professional registration. IELTS General Training is for migration and everyday or workplace English. Listening and Speaking are the same in both; Reading and Writing differ. - CELPIP is a Canadian test. CELPIP-General tests listening, reading, writing and speaking, takes under 3 hours and is done in one sitting. IRCC designates it for permanent residence applications. - CELPIP-General LS tests only listening and speaking (about 1 hour 10 minutes) and is the version used for Canadian citizenship. - Canadian citizenship: applicants aged 18 to 54 must show speaking and listening at CLB 4 or higher in English or French. - IRCC - Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada - EYE-ar-see-see The exercise I'm working on: Write your goal in one sentence (for example "Express Entry in 2027"). Go to the official page for that program (in Canada, the IRCC page) and write down: which tests are accepted and the minimum CLB level you need. I'm stuck. Please: 1. Explain the main idea in plain, simple words with one everyday example. 2. Walk me through the exercise one small step at a time. Ask me what I've done so far before giving the next step. 3. Don't just give me the final answer. Help me do it myself, and check my work when I share it.
I'm a parent helping my child (about 8 years old) with a lesson called "Which test do you need?" from the course "IELTS/CELPIP Test Prep Basics". Here's what the lesson says: Different doors need different keys. If you want to move to Canada, study, or become a citizen, each goal asks for a specific test, so make sure you have the right key before you start practising. The activity: Write your goal in one sentence (for example "Express Entry in 2027"). Go to the official page for that program (in Canada, the IRCC page) and write down: which tests are accepted and the minimum CLB level you need. Please explain this so an 8-year-old understands: short sentences, a fun everyday example, and no hard words. Then give me 3 simple questions I can ask my child to check they understood, and a way to do the activity together, one tiny step at a time.
Sources
- IRCC, Express Entry language testing: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-c
- IRCC, Citizenship language proof: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-ci
- IELTS, Test types: ielts.org/take-a-test/test-types
- CELPIP, What is the CELPIP-General?: www.celpip.ca/celpip-general/
- CELPIP, What is the CELPIP-General LS?: www.celpip.ca/celpip-general-ls/
Understanding your scores
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Listening and reading strategies
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Writing that scores
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Speaking with confidence
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Your study plan and test day
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Final project
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Quiz
Which IELTS version does IRCC accept for Express Entry?
IELTS General Training.
Name the three English tests IRCC accepts for Express Entry.
CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core.
How old can Express Entry test results be?
Less than 2 years old when you create your profile and when you apply.
Which CELPIP test is used for citizenship?
CELPIP-General LS (listening and speaking).
What CLB level do citizenship applicants aged 18-54 need in speaking and listening?
CLB 4 or higher.
What IELTS General Training score equals CLB 7 in each skill?
6.0.
If your IELTS skill scores average 6.25, what is your overall band?
6.5.
What is the minimum word count for IELTS Writing Task 2?
250 words.
What are the three parts of the IELTS Speaking test?
Part 1 questions about yourself, Part 2 speaking about a topic, Part 3 a longer discussion linked to that topic.
What is a paraphrase?
The same idea said in different words.
Final exam
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Certificate
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