The authorities require applicants in certain classes to have adequate knowledge of either French or English. Only then would the authorities give these applicants the ability to immigrate or work in Canada.
The Criteria for Designation as a Language Testing Agency
The Director of Economic Immigration Policy and Programs Division, the Minister’s delegate, is responsible for designating language testing agencies. Typically, the authorities will only designate testing agencies if they comply with the following criteria:
-
Expertise
-
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) deems a test as appropriate if the test evaluates proficiency in all the four skill areas i.e. reading, writing, oral comprehension (or listening) and speaking, in functional English or French at all levels from basic to high proficiency
-
-
Reliability
-
A test would need to produce consistently similar scores among candidates who possess similar language proficiencies.
-
Therefore, different versions of the test would need to be at the same level of difficulty each time the applicants write the test
-
-
Integrity (or Security)
-
Designated testing agencies would need to meet security standards in terms of the logistics of:
-
Preparing test sites
-
Registering candidates
-
Test writing and marking and,
-
Sending out the results
-
-
Therefore, the testing agency would need to have ample anti-fraud mechanisms in place for obtaining the approval of the authorities
-
-
Availability
-
For Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) purposes, a designated testing agency would need to be able to make the tests available to applicants in all parts of Canada where there is a sufficient demand for third-party language testing
-
Read more
Language Ability In Canada Immigration Applications
The Designated Language Testing Agencies
The English Language Testing Agencies
Paragon Testing Enterprises Inc., University of British Columbia administers the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP). This program has two tests, namely:
-
The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) – General (CELPIP-G) and,
-
The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) – Academic (CELPIP-A)
It is worth noting that Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) only accept the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) – General (CELPIP-G) test results.
Cambridge ESOL, IDP Australia and the British Council administer the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) offers options, such as:
-
General Training and,
-
Academic
It is worth noting that Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) only accept the General Training test results.
The French Language Testing Agencies
The Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry administers the Test d’évaluation de Français (TEF).
It is worth noting that for meeting the requirements prescribed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), applicants would need to submit results for the following Test d’évaluation de Français (TEF) modules:
-
Compréhension écrite (reading)
-
Compréhension orale (listening)
-
Expression écrite (writing) and,
-
Expression orale (speaking)
Test candidates could also take the Lexique et structure (grammar and structure) test. This test would typically form a part of the reading and listening modules. However, this test is not necessary for Canadian immigration purposes.
The Evidence of Language Proficiency – The Equivalency Charts
The tables given below highlight the equivalencies between:
-
The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLBs) for English
-
The Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens for French
They also depict the results of language tests from the designated testing organisations and present them in a summarised manner.
The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General 2014 Test Score Equivalency Chart for Reports Issued on or after April 1, 2014 |
||||
Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Level |
Reading |
Writing |
Listening |
Speaking |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General – Test Score Equivalency Chart |
||||
Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Level |
Reading |
Writing |
Listening |
Speaking |
10 and above |
5H |
5H |
5H |
5H |
9 |
5L |
5L |
5L |
5L |
8 |
4H |
4H |
4H |
4H |
7 |
4L |
4L |
4L |
4L |
6 |
3H |
3H |
3H |
3H |
5 |
3L |
3L |
3L |
3L |
4 |
2H |
2H |
2H |
2H |
Note:
-
It is worth noting that the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) tests results for tests written prior to May 03, 2013, will have a score of five for each ability for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Levels 9 and 10
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training – Test Score Equivalency Chart |
||||
Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Level |
Reading |
Writing |
Listening |
Speaking |
10 |
8.0 |
7.5 |
8.5 |
7.5 |
9 |
7.0 |
7.0 |
8.0 |
7.0 |
8 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
7.5 |
6.5 |
7 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
6 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
5.5 |
5.5 |
5 |
4.0 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
4 |
3.5 |
4.0 |
4.5 |
4.0 |
Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) – Test Score Equivalency Chart for Reports Issued on or after April 1, 2014 |
||||
Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Level |
Reading |
Writing |
Listening |
Speaking |
10 |
263 – 277 |
393 – 415 |
316 – 333 |
393 – 415 |
9 |
248 – 262 |
371 – 392 |
298 – 315 |
371 – 392 |
8 |
233 – 247 |
349 – 370 |
280 – 297 |
349 – 370 |
7 |
207 – 232 |
310 – 348 |
249 – 279 |
310 – 348 |
6 |
181 – 206 |
271 – 309 |
217 – 248 |
271 – 309 |
5 |
151 – 180 |
226 – 270 |
181 – 216 |
226 – 270 |
4 |
121 – 150 |
181 – 225 |
145 – 180 |
181 – 225 |
Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) – Test Score Equivalency Chart for Reports Issued prior to April 1, 2014 |
||||
Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Level |
Reading |
Writing |
Listening |
Speaking |
10 |
263 – 277 |
393 – 415 |
316 – 333 |
393 – 415 |
9 |
248 – 262 |
372 – 392 |
298 – 315 |
372 – 392 |
8 |
233 – 247 |
349 – 371 |
280 – 297 |
349 – 371 |
7 |
206 – 232 |
309 – 348 |
248 – 279 |
309 – 348 |
6 |
181 – 205 |
271 – 308 |
217 – 247 |
271 – 308 |
5 |
150 – 180 |
225 – 270 |
180 – 216 |
225 – 270 |
4 |
121 – 149 |
181 – 224 |
145 – 179 |
181 – 224 |
Other Written Evidence
Applicants also have the option to demonstrate language proficiency through other written evidence. However, this provision is only available to applicants in specific economic classes, based on the date of application receipt.
-
For the Canadian Experience Class (CEC): The authorities must receive applications for permanent residence before June 26, 2010
-
For the Federal Skilled Workers Class: The authorities must receive applications for permanent residence before June 26, 2010
The Evidence of Language Proficiency – The Integrity Concerns with Respect to Language Testing Results
Situations could arise where some officers might express their concerns about the integrity of the language test results. In this scenario, these individuals could utilise the following options.
-
Accept the test scores
-
The officer would need to verify the test scores and the integrity of the testing procedures with the local testing centre for the case in question
-
Once satisfied that there is no fraud or malfeasance concerning testing procedures or results, the officer will accept the test scores
-
-
Refuse the test scores
-
If the officer finds that there is sufficient evidence for establishing fraud or malfeasance with respect to testing procedures or results, then the officer has the authority to refuse the application for misrepresentation
-
It is worth noting that officers will not consider interviews as a worthwhile means of evaluating language proficiency. Therefore, officers will not be able to change language point awards or make new language pass or fail assessments based on what the officers discover during the interview.
However, situations could arise where the officers interview an applicant for any other reason. Thereafter, they might across significant discrepancies between claimed and actual language proficiency, resulting in an integrity issue.
Similarly, situations could arise where the officers are not satisfied about the applicant’s language proficiency. However, they might not have sufficient evidence for establishing fraud or malfeasance in the testing procedures for the case in question and for substantiating a refusal for misrepresentation. In this scenario, the officers would need notify the applicant of their concerns. Thereafter, they would need to provide an opportunity to the applicant for taking a second test at the testing agency’s expense and with visa office supervision. However, they would only do this in coordination with the testing agency.
In case the applicant refuses the third-party language testing option, the officers would need to refuse the application for misrepresentation. This is appropriate given the discrepancy between the testing scores and the actual language abilities of the applicant.
Situations could arise where officers have sufficient grounds for suspecting the integrity of the designated language test results. In this scenario, they would be responsible for expressing their concerns to the local testing centre. In addition, they would need to communicate their concerns to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Headquarters.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Headquarters is on constant touch with the designated testing organisations’ head offices. Therefore, it can follow up on the concerns raised by officers that could indicate the possibility of widespread or systemic abuse or fraud in all situations concerning the testing of language proficiency of applicants.
Note:
-
Officers might need to determine the delegated authority for making a determination under A40 (1) (a) of theImmigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)
- For obtaining more information on this, they would need to refer to IL 3 – Designation of Officers and Delegation of Authority given on the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)