How many bands are required for PR in Canada?
How many bands are required for PR in Canada?
How much would you like to score yourself out of 10 for your linguistic knowledge in English or French?
Well, if you think you deserve more than 7 or 8, then definitely you can think of Canada Permanent Residency; otherwise, it is not less than a wasteful process.
Canada is a bilingual country, having both English and French as its official languages. So, language proficiency in either both or any of the two is one of the most prominent factors in the process of selection of candidates for Canada PR.
The Canadian immigration system for PR constitutes a wreath of more than 60 immigration pathways to target the entry of eligible foreign nationals in the country. Each immigration program has its prerequisites including the CLB level in the language proficiency test.
Language proficiency test for Canada immigration program
Language proficiency test:
In general, the Government of Canada accepts scorecard of three language proficiency tests including IELTS score card, CELPIP score card and TEF score card to determine the linguistic knowledge of applicants in its official languages.
IELTS
The International English language testing system (IELTS) is one of the most popular English-language tests approved in educational institutions, companies, and immigration offices of different English-speaking countries. In general, there are two types of Exam modules for IELTS including Academic and General Training module. For immigration purposes, applicants need to give scorecard of the General Training module.
Both have four components including, listening, speaking, writing and reading to test overall proficiency of an individual in the language.
| Test components | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
| Pattern | 40 questions | 40 questions | 2 tasks | 3 parts |
| Time duration (in minutes) | 30 | 60 | 60 | 15 |
CELPIP:
The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) is another way to prove your command over all the language abilities in English including speaking, writing, speaking and listening. Many Canadian professional organizations, universities, colleges, employers accept both language proficiency tests, IELTS and CELPIP. It further segregates into two modules, CELPIP General and CELPIP General LS. For Canadian Permanent Residence, applicants need to give scorecard of the CELPIP General
The following is the structure of CELPIP General:
| Test components | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
| Duration | 47 minutes | 60 minutes | 53 minutes | 20 minutes |
| Number of Questions | 45-48 | 46-49 | 2 | 9 |
The total time duration for the test is 180 minutes.
TEF:
Test d’évaluation de français is the language proficiency test which is used to check linguistic knowledge of French. It has different formats for applications of Canadian permanent residency and Canadian citizenship.
The following is the structure of TEF for Canadian immigration application:
| Test components | Oral comprehension | Written comprehension | Oral expression | Written expression |
| Number of questions | 60 | 50 | 2 topics | 2 topics |
| Time duration
(in minutes) |
40 | 60 | 15 | 60 |
So if you are interested in immigrating to Canada, then get ready with your IELTS bands. Based on your score bands in IELTS in all four language abilities, you get your CLB level.
CLB stands for Comprehensive language Benchmark, which is used as the national standard in Canada for measuring the proficiency of an individual for living and working in the country. In total, there are 12 levels which get organized into the following three stages:
- CLB 1 to 4: Beginners
- CLB 5 to 8: Moderates
- CLB 9 to 12: Masters or Professionals
Comparison between CLB and IELTS level:
| CLB level | IELTS level in listening | IELTS level in reading | IELTS level in writing | IELTS level in speaking |
| 12 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| 11 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| 10 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| 9 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| 8 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| 6 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| 5 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| 4 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
It means that if your score 6 bands in all four language abilities including, writing, listening, speaking and reading, then your CLB level is 7.
Now, Requirement for IELTS Bands for Federal Express Entry Program:
Federal Express entry program is the most viable options for interested internationals to get Canada permanent residency in an easy and quick way. It has three subcategories including, Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class.
Minimum IELTS band for each category of the Express entry program:
| Eligibility Criteria | Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC) | Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC) | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) |
| Language proficiency | A minimum of Canadian language benchmark (CLB) level 7 in language proficiency test like IELTS. | A minimum of Canadian language benchmark (CLB) 5 for speaking and listening & CLB 4 for reading and writing in language proficiency test like IELTS. | A minimum of Canadian language benchmark (CLB) level 7 in language proficiency test like IELTS if your NOC is 0 or A and
CLB 5 if your NOC is B.
|
Minimum IELTS band for popular immigration streams of provincial nominee program:
| Programs | Language proficiency |
| Saskatchewan International Skilled Worker Class | A minimum of Canadian language benchmark (CLB) level 4 in the language proficiency test |
| Ontario French-Speaking Skilled Worker | A minimum of Canadian language benchmark (CLB) level 6 in the language proficiency test |
| Skilled Worker in Manitoba | A minimum of Canadian language benchmark (CLB) level 4 in the language proficiency test for NOC C and D. No minimum CLB level requirement for NOC 0, A and B |
| Nova Scotia Labor Market Priorities | A minimum of Canadian language benchmark (CLB) level 7 in the language proficiency test |
| British Columbia Skilled Worker | A minimum of Canadian language benchmark (CLB) level 4 in the language proficiency test |
For any further information, feel free to contact experts of countrywide visas. Countrywide visas is one of the fastest growing Immigration consultancies with a large, devoted team of Canada Immigration experts offers hassle-free and professional services to its clients for filing their applications for various immigration programs.
You are welcome to call us or send us an email with your immigration questions and inquiries. You may contact us on 011-41075840 / 011-41045840 or leave a mail at info@countrywidevisas.com. You may also fill the Technical Assessment Form for free to get a call back from our Immigration Specialists. All you need to do is fill an assessment form and let our immigration experts assist you over the phone call or by meeting you in person and give you the best available options to fulfill your dreams of settling abroad.
