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3. Taking your English and/or French Language Tests
Find out why language proficiency and scoring well on the tests is really important
Home > Work in Canada > Permanent Residency > Express Entry: The Ultimate Guide > Express Entry: Step-by-Step Guide > 3. Taking your Language Test(s)
Language tests are one of the eligibility requirements for all 3 programs under Express Entry:
The minimum requirements for language are different for the 3 programs. You can check the language requirements by program here.
Candidates are awarded CRS points based on their English and French Language ability, but you will have to take IRCC-approved tests to earn those points.
- Federal Skilled Worker Program,
- Federal Skilled Trades Program, and
- Canadian Experience Class.
The minimum requirements for language are different for the 3 programs. You can check the language requirements by program here.
Candidates are awarded CRS points based on their English and French Language ability, but you will have to take IRCC-approved tests to earn those points.
IRCC-approved tests
There two approved English tests and two for French:
Don’t ask for your language test results to be sent directly to IRCC. You will have to upload a scanned copy of your results with your complete application.
- IRCC-approved English tests:
- IELTS: you must take the "General Training" option and not the "Academic Training". There are tests location pretty much everywhere in the world (140 countries) and fees are around $320, depending on the country. You can find a location for your test here. You should get your results within 14 days.
- CELPIP: you must take the "General Test" option and not the "General LS Test". You can only take the test in Canada, Dubai, Chandigarh, Manila and New York, and fees vary between $265 and $340 depending on the country. You can book your test here. You should get your results within 8 business days (or 3-4 business days if you add a $100 to $150 fee, depending on your test location).
- IRCC-approved French tests:
- TEF Canada: you must take either the paper or online based (e-TEF) test. They have locations pretty much everywhere in the world and fees are around $300, depending on the country. You can find a location for your test here. You should get your results within 3 to 4 weeks.
- TCF Canada: you can also take this test in various locations around the world, for a fees of around $300. You can find a location for your test here. Results will be available 15 working days after the CEIP receives your session material.
Don’t ask for your language test results to be sent directly to IRCC. You will have to upload a scanned copy of your results with your complete application.
Language test results validity
Your test results must be less than two years old when you (i) complete your Express Entry profile and (ii) apply for permanent residence.
How to convert your test results
For each test, there is a conversion table from the test mark per ability (speaking, reading, listening, writing) to the Canadian Level Benchmark (CLB). CLBs are the norm for assessing language ability by IRCC. Click on each test below to see the conversion table:
IELTS General Training
| Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) | IELTS Test Results | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | |
| CLB10 and above | 7.5 - 9.0 | 8.5 - 9.0 | 8.0 - 9.0 | 7.5 - 9.0 |
| CLB9 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| CLB8 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| CLB7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| CLB6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 |
| CLB5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| CLB4 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 |