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IELTS/CELPIP Test Prep Basics

Step 4 of 6 in Language Center

Next in your path: 6.8 Business English: emails & meetings

What you'll be able to do
  • Choose the right English test version for your goal (the course uses Canada's immigration and citizenship rules as its main example).
  • Read your scores and, for Canada, convert them to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels.
  • Understand the format of each part of IELTS and CELPIP.
  • Use proven strategies for listening, reading, writing and speaking.
  • Use phrases that help you organize answers and buy thinking time.
  • Build a simple study plan and avoid the most common test-day mistakes.

Important: this course is general education about test formats and study skills. Immigration rules change and differ by country. If your goal is Canada, always confirm current requirements on the official IRCC website; for other countries, see In your country in Lesson 1. For advice on your own case, consult a licensed immigration professional (such as a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer).

Words in this course 39Open the Vocabulary Hall
01

Which test do you need?

In simple words

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.

Key facts
  • 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.
TermMeaningHow to say it
IRCCImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship CanadaEYE-ar-see-see
CLBCanadian Language Benchmarks (Canada's English scale)see-el-BEE
CELPIPCanadian English Language Proficiency Index ProgramSEL-pip
IELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemEYE-elts
General TrainingIELTS version for migration and work
In your country
  • 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
Step by step
  1. Write your goal: Express Entry, study, work or citizenship.
  2. If Express Entry, choose from CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training or PTE Core (French tests are also accepted).
  3. 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.
  4. If your goal is university study, IELTS Academic is the one for that.
  5. 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).
  6. Check: you wrote the exact name of the test version you will book.
Watch on YouTube
Prepare for IELTS with the British CouncilBritish Council Sri Lanka · YouTube · youtube.com

Videos by other creators on YouTube, for reference. They are not made by or affiliated with The Future Market.

LESSON 01Which test do you need?
LESSON 01 / ANIMATED LESSON / AI VOICE00:00 / 01:15
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."
Try it now

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.

ClaudeStuck? Copy a ready-made prompt for Claude

Copy this, open Claude, paste it, and Claude will walk you through the lesson step by step.

For a grown-up: Claude is for adults (18+). Copy this, paste it into Claude, and use the answer to explain the lesson to your child.

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.
Open Claude
Sources
My notes
02

Understanding your scores

This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.

03

Listening and reading strategies

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04

Writing that scores

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05

Speaking with confidence

This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.

06

Your study plan and test day

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++

Final project

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??

Quiz

  1. Which IELTS version does IRCC accept for Express Entry?

  2. Name the three English tests IRCC accepts for Express Entry.

  3. How old can Express Entry test results be?

  4. Which CELPIP test is used for citizenship?

  5. What CLB level do citizenship applicants aged 18-54 need in speaking and listening?

  6. What IELTS General Training score equals CLB 7 in each skill?

  7. If your IELTS skill scores average 6.25, what is your overall band?

  8. What is the minimum word count for IELTS Writing Task 2?

  9. What are the three parts of the IELTS Speaking test?

  10. What is a paraphrase?

EX

Final exam

This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.

CE

Certificate

This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.