What You Need to Know About IELTS for your Immigration to Canada

If you plan to immigrate to Canada, proving your proficiency in English is a crucial step. This ensures you have the communication skills necessary to integrate smoothly into Canadian society. One of the primary ways Canada assesses English proficiency is through standardized language tests, with the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) being one of the most recognized.

The IELTS is an international standardized test designed to assess the English language proficiency of non-native English speakers. It is available in many countries across the world and is widely used for immigration, university admissions, and professional registration in English-speaking countries.

IELTS Test Versions

There are two versions of the test: the IELTS – Academic and the IELTS – General Training.

For Canadian immigration, you are required to take the IELTS – General Training. The IELTS – Academic is typically taken for university admissions and general registration in professional settings.

IELTS Components

The test comprises four components: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.

Component	Time
Listening	30 minutes
Reading	60 minutes
Writing	60 minutes
Speaking	11 to 14 minutes

Listening

The listening portion consists of four parts, each containing 10 questions each, for a total of 40 questions. Parts 1 and 2 focus on everyday and social situations, while parts 3 and 4 cover educational and training contexts.

The test includes various accents, including British, Australian, New Zealand, and North American, and each recording is played only once.

Reading

The reading section has three parts, with the difficulty increasing as you progress.

Section 1 may include two to three short texts or several shorter passages about everyday topics. Section 2 has two texts about work-related subjects. Finally, Section 3 features a more complex, longer text.

The total text length is approximately 2,150 to 2,750 words. You have 60 minutes to complete the reading portion, including the time to transfer your answers.

There are also a total of 40 questions that consist of various types, such as multiple choice, true/false/not given, matching information, matching sentence endings, and much more.

Writing

The writing component is divided into two tasks.

Task 1 requires you to write a 150-word letter in response to a given situation, which should take around 20 minutes.

Task 2 involves writing a 250-word essay on a specific point of view, argument, or problem. You have about 40 minutes to complete this task, and it carries twice the weight of Task 1.

You must write your answers in full sentences on the question paper. Do not write in bullet points or as notes. You can write notes on the side of your question paper, but the examiner will not consider them as part of your score. Overall, the writing test takes 60 minutes.

Speaking

The speaking component is a face-to-face conversation with an interviewer, recorded for evaluation. It includes an introduction, a discussion on a specific topic, and a two-way conversation. Overall, the test takes 11 to 14 minutes and is divided into three parts.

Part 1 is an introduction, where the examiner introduces themselves and asks general questions about yourself, your family, your home, and other everyday topics. This lasts about 4 to 5 minutes.

Part 2 is the individual long turn, where you will discuss a particular topic. The examiner will give you a card containing the topic and the talking points you will discuss. This is around 3 to 4 minutes.

In Part 3, you and the examiner go over topics covered in Part 2 in greater detail and in a more general and abstract manner, when appropriate.

IELTS Scoring

Each section is scored on a band scale from 0 to 9, with 0.5 intervals. Your overall score is the average of the four section scores. The overall band score is irrelevant for immigration purposes, as points are issued for each component.

Score Validity

Your score is valid for up to 24 months. This means that you must submit your immigration application within 24 months of the release of your test results.

Where can I take the IELTS?

The IELTS is available in 140 countries with over 4,000 testing centres globally. There are over 100 IELTS testing centres in Ontario, with a large concentration in Toronto, Mississauga, and Brampton. This makes it convenient for Ontario residents to schedule and take the test.

IELTS Cost

An IELTS test can cost around CA$322 to CA$352, excluding taxes, depending on the testing centre.

What IELTS score do I need to immigrate to Canada?

Canada uses the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) to evaluate the English proficiency of immigration applicants.

For Express Entry, the required minimum level and number of points you will earn depends on the program you are applying for. There is a corresponding CLB level for each IELTS score.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program requires you to get a minimum CLB Level 7.

For the Canadian Experience Class program, those who are working in TEER 0 or 1 occupations will need a CLB Level 7, while those who work in TEER 2 or 3 occupations must obtain a minimum CLB Level 5.

For the Federal Skilled Trades Program, applicants must obtain a CLB Level 4 for Writing and Reading, and a CLB Level 5 for Listening and Speaking.

Here’s a breakdown of the IELTS scores corresponding to each CLB level:

CLB Level	IELTS Listening	IELTS Reading	IELTS Writing	IELTS Speaking
4	4.5	3.5	4.0	4.0
5	5.0	4.0	5.0	5.0
6	5.5	5.0	5.5	5.5
7	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0
8	7.5	6.5	6.5	6.5
9	8.0	7.0	7.0	7.0
10	8.5	8.0	7.5	7.5
11	9.0	8.5	8.0	8.0
12	9.0	9.0	9.0	9.0

While there are minimum required scores, aiming for higher scores in each component can improve your chances of a successful application. The higher your score for each component, the more points you will earn for your application.

Remember, IELTS is just one of three English tests accepted for Permanent Residency under the Express Entry program. The other two are the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) and the Pearson Test of English (PTE).

Get in Touch with Nihang Law

If you have any questions or further clarifications regarding IELTS, language requirements, or any other immigration-related concerns, Nihang Law’s immigration lawyers are here to help and guide you through the entire process. Nihang Law offers personalized consultations to guide you through the entire process, ensuring that you understand all the requirements and steps involved.

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