Study in Canada: Students Can Now Apply for a Study Permit with these 4 English Proficiency Tests 

As per the new guidelines of the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or IRCC, the scores of 4 more tests including PTE Academic, TOEFL ibt, CELPIP General and CAEL will now be accepted to apply for study permit in Canada. From the 10th of August 2023, all the students applying under the SDS (Student Direct Stream) to any of the Canadian universities can also apply through these scores. 

As English proficiency has remained a crucial factor for university admissions abroad, students often choose a test based on their comfort and preparation level. PTE and TOEFL test takers had trouble applying to study in Canada as only IELTS was the primary English proficiency test score accepted. 

If any international student is applying for studying abroad in Canada before the 10th of August 2023, the rules and exams for them remain the same as earlier. These students can only submit their IELTS scores to apply for the immigration process in Canada. The IELTS score accepted by the immigration authorities in Canada is at least 6.0 or above. 

English Proficiency Tests Included by the Immigration Authorities

There are 4 additional tests to be included by the immigration authorities in Canada after the 10th of August 2023. These tests are PTE Academic, TOEFL ibt, CELPIP General and CAEL. 

CELPIP or Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program is aligned with the Canadian Language Benchmark that is, in all four language speaking abilities, the student has to score at least 7. 

CAEL or Canadian Academic English Language is another famous test score introduced in the league. The minimum score required to be eligible for immigration with this test is 60. 

The same is the case for Pearson Test for English Language, or PTE. The minimum score required under this category is also 60. 

As for TOEFL ibt, or the Test of English as a Foreign Language, the minimum score required is 83. The important part to be noted here is that the students must take this test in person. Remotely proctored test scores are not accepted by the immigration authorities 

Benefits for the International Student

TOEFL is a widely accepted test for all universities in Canada. Not being accepted for a study permit in Canada made it difficult for the student to choose between which English Language Proficiency Test to prefer. 

Now, given the inclusion of the test in the SDS immigration route which offers faster processing for a study permit, students will be able to take the TOEFL test for both university admission and visa processing. 

These benefits for the expansion in a variety of tests for SDS immigration in Canada are extended to all international students from the following countries. 

• India
• Antigua and Barbuda 
• China
• Brazil 
• Costa Rica
• Colombia 
• Morocco 
• Vietnam
• Pakistan
• Peru 
• Philippines 
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
• Senegal
• Trinidad and Tobago 

With less pressure in choosing an English Proficiency Test, the students can focus on getting better scores on their respective tests. If you want to read more such exciting information, make sure you follow Leverage Edu News Updates.