ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
One of the key requirements for gaining admission to any educational institute in Canada is an English Language Test score.
Canada has Designated Learning Institutes (DLI) which include Colleges, Universities and other institutes that are allowed to accept International Students. Each DLI is allowed by the government to set their own admission criteria.
Language skills is one of the criteria that institutes use in addition to the applicant's transcripts, professional background, motivation letter and academic and professional recommendations.
If you are looking to apply for admission to a Canadian institute, below are some of the testing options which are accepted by the DLI's.
1. CAEL
The Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) test is operated by Paragon Testing Enterprises. It is accepted by over 180 universities and colleges across Canada, including all English-speaking universities and 82 per cent of English-speaking colleges. This test is currently offered in Chandigarh and Ahmedabad on weekends. The test results are available within 8 business days.
2. CANADIAN ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY INDEX PROGRAM (CELPIP)
The CELPIP is an English Language Assessment Test which measures listening, reading, writing and speaking skills. The test is administered by Paragon Testing Enterprises which was once a subsidiary of the University of British Columbia.
The CELPIP is offered in two versions-CELPIP General and CELPIP General LS. CELPIP General is suitable for those students who need to show proof of English language skills when applying for permanent residency in Canada or for admission to Canadian educational institutes. The CELPIP General LS is developed for those who need proof of listening and speaking proficiency for Canadian citizenship.
The CELPIP General test is a computer-based test with four sections covering listening, speaking, reading and writing. The total duration of the test is 3 hours.
3. DUOLINGO ENGLISH TEST
The Duolingo English Test is accepted by almost 140 Canadian post-secondary institutions. It can be completed in just 1 hour and results are available in 2 days. The test is administered online.
4. IELTS ACADEMIC
The IELTS Academic test is operated by three partners: IDP Education, the British Council, and Cambridge Assessment English. This test is accepted by close to 400 Canadian universities and colleges. It is currently available in over 30 countries but is usually administered in more than 140 countries. In India, the test is conducted by the British Council and IDP Education across India.
The results are available after 13 days for paper-based tests and within 5-7 days for computer-based tests. In response to the pandemic, the three partners recently introduced the IELTS Indicator as a temporary measure to help international students complete their English test online. IELTS Indicator is taken online from the candidate’s home.
The IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training (both of which can only be completed in person at an IELTS test centre) are the only English tests approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for students that want to fast-track their study permit application.
IRCC accepts both paper-based as well as computer-delivered IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training test results.
5. PEARSON TEST OF ENGLISH (PTE)
The Pearson Test of English (PTE) is accepted by 90 per cent of Canada’s universities and colleges. Normally available in over 50 countries, PTE is currently available in over 10 countries, including in many Indian cities.
Test results are available for most people within 2 days. The PTE Academic Test is a completely online test lasting for 2 hours and comprises of 3 sections.
6. TOEFL
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is accepted by over 400 Canadian universities and colleges including 100 per cent of universities.Results are available within 4-8 days.
The TOEFL iBT (“Internet-based Test”) is usually available in over 160 countries Test dates are becoming more available for students in locations around the world. ETS also offers the "Home Edition" of the iBT which allows students to take the test remotely from the privacy of their homes.
Some of the individual institutions like McGill University and University of Toronto offer their own English Language Tests as well. Before registering for an English Language Test, students must check with the DLI's that they are applying to if they accept the particular test.
