The PTE exam is not valid for the Canadian immigration PR process and is considered only by Canadian Universities.

Instead, the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has approved only the IELTS English proficiency test.

IELTS

PTE is extensively used in Australian immigration, but when it comes to Canada it is the IELTS. The PTE is used for student visa purposes and not Canadian PR visas. Institutes in Canada accept English proficiency exams such as CELPIP (Canadian English Proficiency Index Program) and IELTS – General Training.

If you want to immigrate to Canada, you should crack the IELTS with a minimum score reaching up to the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB7) or above. The Canadian Language Benchmark depends on the different organisations you have applied to, as well as the requirements of your visa. Both CELPIP and IELTS have common difficulty levels.

Minimum Requirement for IELTS

The Canadian Language Benchmark has a scale ranging from 1-12, denoting the language ability of an individual in each of the four skills – speaking, reading, listening, and writing.

  • Levels 1 to 4 of the Canadian Language Benchmark are called the basic stage – Stage I.
  • Levels 5 to 8 are the intermediate stage – Stage II.
  • Level 9 to 12 are the advanced stages – Stage III.

You will require a minimum CLB of 7 and a score of 6.0 in each language skill in the IELTS tests. Your IELTS score is valid for 2 years.
You also need to ensure that your IELTS score is valid throughout the 6 months that the IRCC needs to process your application. The minimum requirement of IELTS may change as per the organisation you are applying to, but the score above 7.0 is considered good.

Preparing for IELTS

●    Know your stand

Your native language being English may not favour you in your IELTS. Thus, it becomes important for you to know your stand as per the exam’s requirements.

●    Take a mock test

Attempting mock tests is a good practice since they let you know what to expect in the exam hall. They highlight your strengths and weaknesses, helping you prepare better. They also help you track and predict your performance as per your score. Many opt for an IELTS preparation course, which will help you concisely focus on improving your score.

●    Understand the format of the test

If you understand the format of the question, it becomes easy for you to approach every question. Mock tests will help you build this habit.

●    Solve papers under time limits

Induce a habit of solving mock question papers under time limits. Doing so will help you manage your time better while attempting the actual exam.

●    Learn to multitask

Your listening and writing skills will be tested simultaneously while you answer 40 questions throughout 40 recordings. These recordings will only be played once, which demand careful listening and precise writing, which can only be achieved through practice.

●    Work on developing your reading skills

The more detailed your reading skills, the sharper your writing skills will grow. Your ability to comprehend and summarise works to provide short answers, complete sentences, matchups, etc will also improve. Reading different types of articles of varied levels of difficulty within a time limit will fine tune your skills.

Apart from the language proficiency exam, students are required to have at least 12 months of work experience in Canada in a skilled occupation to obtain a PR. Excelling in the exam makes all other processes sound easy, the secret to excel is in your everyday routine. Good Luck!

 Check out the IELTS 2022 Preparation Tips, Study Material at https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/exams/ielts/preparation-tips