IELTS vs CELPIP vs PTE Core: Which English Test Is Best for Canada PR?
Here’s the thing most people don’t realise: for Express Entry, IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General and PTE Core are worth exactly the same. IRCC converts each one into a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level, and the same CLB gives you the same points. So the best test is simply the one where you can get the highest CLB in all four skills.
The three tests side by side
| IELTS General Training | CELPIP-General | PTE Core | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Score scale | Bands 0 to 9 | Levels 1 to 12 | 10 to 90 |
| How it maps to CLB | Different band needed for each skill | Level equals CLB (9 means CLB 9) | Different range for each skill |
| Format | Paper or computer, speaking with a real examiner | Computer only, speaking recorded | Computer only, speaking recorded |
| Scoring | Human examiners | Human raters | Mostly automated |
| English used | International | Canadian | International |
| Where you can take it | Worldwide | Canada and some other countries | Worldwide |
IELTS Academic, PTE Academic and TOEFL aren’t accepted for Express Entry. Results are valid for 2 years.
Which one makes CLB 9 easier?
CLB 9 is where the points really jump. This is what you need on each test:
| Skill | IELTS General | CELPIP | PTE Core |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 8.0 | 9 | 82 |
| Reading | 7.0 | 9 | 78 |
| Writing | 7.0 | 9 | 88 |
| Speaking | 7.0 | 9 | 84 |
With IELTS, listening is the tough one. You need 8.0 there, while 7.0 is enough everywhere else. That’s why “7 in every band” only gets you CLB 7 in listening.
CELPIP is the most straightforward: 9 in every skill is CLB 9. If you already live in Canada, the everyday Canadian topics can feel familiar.
PTE Core asks for a very high writing score (88) for CLB 9. People who type quickly and don’t mind speaking to a computer often like it.
A common example: IELTS 8 in listening and 7 in reading, writing and speaking (often written as “8777”) equals CLB 9 in every skill. That’s the same as CELPIP 9-9-9-9.
How to choose
Our honest advice is to try a free practice test for each one and compare your results using the conversion charts on our calculator page. Beyond that, think about how you like to be tested. If you’d rather speak to a real person, IELTS does the speaking test face to face. If you’d rather do everything on a computer, look at CELPIP or PTE Core.
If you’re outside Canada, check which tests are offered near you and how soon you can get a seat. Prices, booking dates and how fast results come back change often, so check them with each test provider.
For French: TEF Canada or TCF Canada
IRCC accepts TEF Canada and TCF Canada, and both are converted to NCLC levels. NCLC 7 in all four skills opens the French-language rounds and adds 25 or 50 bonus points, so French is often worth more than a small bump in your English score. TCF Canada scores writing and speaking out of 20, while TEF Canada uses a scale up to 699. For TEF Canada, IRCC asks you to enter the “équivalence ancien score” from your results.
Enter your real test scores and the calculator converts them for you.
Quick answers
Is PTE Core accepted for Canada PR?
Yes, PTE Core is accepted for Express Entry. PTE Academic isn’t.
Can I use results from two different English tests?
You enter one English test in your profile, so use the one with the better result. You can add a French test as your second language.
Which test gives more CRS points?
None of them. Points depend only on your CLB level, so a higher CLB on any accepted test gives more points.