Which English test does Canada actually accept?
Three, and only three, for Express Entry: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core. TOEFL and the Duolingo English Test are accepted by universities but not for permanent residence. This page is the whole list, the level each program needs, and what to do if you picked wrong.
- Sourced from the current IRCC accepted-test list
- Every practice result mapped to a CLB level
- Writing and speaking marked by hand
Three English tests count for Express Entry. Two popular ones do not.
This is the part candidates get wrong most often, and it is expensive to get wrong: an unaccepted result cannot be converted to a Canadian Language Benchmark level, so the sitting is wasted.
CELPIP-General
AcceptedBuilt for Canadian immigration and reported on the same 1 to 12 scale as CLB, so no conversion arithmetic is needed.
Run by Paragon Testing Enterprises.
IELTS General Training
AcceptedOnly the General Training option counts. The Academic option and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted for Express Entry.
Run by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
PTE Core
AcceptedOnly the Core option counts. PTE Academic is not on the Express Entry list.
Run by Pearson.
TOEFL iBT
Not for Express EntryWidely accepted by Canadian universities for admission and study permits, but not on the Express Entry list of accepted tests.
Run by Educational Testing Service.
Duolingo English Test
Not for Express EntryAccepted by many universities for admission, and cheaper and faster than the alternatives, but not on the Express Entry list of accepted tests.
Run by Duolingo, Inc..
Source: the IRCC page on Express Entry language test results. Check it before you book, because the accepted list has changed before.
Your weakest ability is the one that counts
Every ability is converted separately and read on its own. Three abilities above the bar do not lift a fourth that fell below it.
| Program | English | French |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | CLB 7 in all four abilities | NCLC 7 in all four abilities |
| Canadian Experience Class, NOC TEER 0 or 1 | CLB 7 | NCLC 7 |
| Canadian Experience Class, NOC TEER 2 or 3 | CLB 5 | NCLC 5 |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | CLB 5 speaking and listening, CLB 4 reading and writing | NCLC 5 speaking and listening, NCLC 4 reading and writing |
CLB and NCLC are the same twelve-level Canadian scale under two names, one for English and one for French. See NCLC 7 for what reaching level 7 unlocks.
Frequently asked questions
Which English tests does Canada accept for Express Entry?
Is the Duolingo English Test accepted for Canadian permanent residence?
Is TOEFL accepted for Canadian permanent residence?
What English level do I need?
Should I take an English test or a French one?
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