Moving to Canada: IELTS General, PTE Core or PTE Academic?
If Canada is the goal, the wrong English test can cost you months. Here is the short version.
This one is painful to watch. A student works hard, gets a great PTE Academic score, and then finds out Canada will not accept it for Express Entry. Let's make sure that is not you.
For Express Entry, these English tests count
- IELTS General Training
- CELPIP General
- PTE Core
Canada also accepts French tests (TEF Canada and TCF Canada) if you are applying in French.
These do not count for Express Entry
- IELTS Academic. Great for universities, not for this.
- PTE Academic. PTE Core is the version made for Canadian immigration. A PTE Academic score will not transfer to your profile.
- IELTS One Skill Retake. Canada says clearly that it does not accept One Skill Retake results for Express Entry. You need a full IELTS General Training result.
Your score has a shelf life
Your result must be less than two years old on the day you create your Express Entry profile, and still less than two years old on the day you submit your application for permanent residence. Work backwards from when you expect to apply. If you test too early, you may have to sit it again.
Why every single skill matters
Canada turns your score in each skill into a CLB level, and your Express Entry points depend on each skill, not only the overall. A 6.5 in Writing can hold back a profile where everything else is strong. That is why we always ask for your last score report, skill by skill, before we plan anything.
IELTS General Training scores: Listening 7.5, Reading 7.0, Writing 7.0, Speaking 7.0. Goal: CLB 9.
IELTS General, CELPIP or PTE Core?
- IELTS General Training: a good choice if you already know IELTS, or if you might also need a score for study later.
- CELPIP General: taken fully on a computer and built around everyday life in Canada.
- PTE Core: computer scored, with short timed tasks. Some students love the speed, others find it stressful.
Exam rules change. Always check with the exam provider and the organisation you are applying to.
Want help with this?
Book a class and we work on it together, build your free roadmap to see where you stand, or ask us a question first.
