IELTS for immigration to Canada: A Complete Guide

What is IELTS Test?

The IELTS exam is envisioned to gauge how well you know the language when moving abroad for education, employment, or simply relocating. The exam is mainly conducted for English-speaking countries, which also includes Canada.

From grading on a scale of 0-9 to being owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge University Press & Assessment, there are many such things to understand its importance. The IELTS test has two versions - Academic for educational purposes and General for immigration, work, or training purposes.

Thus, if you’re planning to Canada immigration, you must take IELTS general training for that.

What’s the IELTS General Test Format?

Understanding the test format is important for brainstorming IELTS preparation which then will lead you to successfully migrating to Canada. IELTS General has been divided into four parts for evaluating varied language skills - listening, reading, writing, and speaking. 

• Listening - You’ll have to listen to 4 recordings and then jot down your answers for a series of questions. This section will look at your ability to understand the idea or info that speakers are conveying. 

• Reading - You’re here required to skim through passages extracted from books, magazines, newspapers, etc. and around 40 questions in a given 60 minutes of time.

• Writing - You’ll get through its two parts further - one for situations or letters and the other for essays. Either way, you’re required to jot down the responses to varied prompts in 60 minutes of 2 questions. 

• Speaking - You must express yourself in this section of face-to-face conversation with the examiner. All 3 parts of this section altogether take 14-15 minutes.

IELTS Scoring System for Immigration to Canada

The IELTS exam is scored on a band scale from 0 to 9. Well, minimum scores set between 6 and 6.5 are required for immigration to Canada. There are certain immigration programs also within express entry having high score requirements.

The IELTS General Training is mandatory for those seeking to enter the Express Entry pool and migrate to Canada. Each component, from listening to reading to writing to speaking, gives you an overall score and individual sections too.

Meeting the minimum language proficiency requirements is essential to earn points under the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC), Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) programs.

Because English and French are the official languages of Canada, demonstrating language proficiency is essential for your successful immigration. It is important to note that requirements may differ depending on the program and the specific immigration pathway chosen. The table below illustrates how IELTS General Training test scores match Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) standards:

IELTS General Training Score

Hence, you should thoroughly research and prepare for the IELTS exam to achieve the necessary scores.

How to do IELTS Exam Preparation?

Now that you have understood how and what IELTS scores are to be achieved, you should also look at how to start the preparation. Following the tips mentioned below can make the process of preparation easy and systematic:

• Familiarise yourself with the test format by taking practice tests: Taking mock tests allows you to understand the structure and requirements of the IELTS exam. It helps you become familiar with the types of questions, time constraints, and overall test experience, which can reduce anxiety and improve performance on the actual test day.

• Focus on improving your reading and listening comprehension skills: These are crucial components of the IELTS exam. Practice reading a variety of texts to enhance comprehension and vocabulary. Similarly, listen to audio materials, such as podcasts or news broadcasts, to sharpen your listening abilities and adapt to different accents.

• Practice writing essays, letters, and reports to enhance your writing abilities: IELTS writing assesses your ability to express ideas coherently and accurately. Regularly practice writing essays, formal letters, and reports to refine your writing style, grammar, and organisation skills.

• Engage in regular English conversations to build greater confidence in English speaking: Immersing yourself in English conversations with friends, language partners, or language exchange groups helps improve fluency and pronunciation while also boosting confidence, enabling you to communicate effectively during the speaking test.

• Seek professional guidance through IELTS preparation courses if needed: If you require additional support and personalised feedback, consider enrolling in IELTS preparation courses. Such courses are designed to provide expert guidance, valuable tips, and targeted practice, which can significantly improve your overall performance.

Conclusion

In the long run, a good IELTS General Training test score is an important step in your journey to immigrate to Canada. With careful planning and dedication, you can demonstrate your English language proficiency and increase your chances of a successful immigration application.

Remember to stay informed about the specific IELTS requirements for your desired immigration pathway and to seek guidance as needed. Wish you luck on your journey to Canada!

We hope we have provided helpful insight into the IELTS for immigration to Canada. If you need further guidance, please contact Prepare IELTS (PI) expert counsellors. Our team of education experts is dedicated to providing you with the best guidance in the IELTS exam.

You can get on a one-to-one free counselling session online via our platform. Contact us at info@prepareieltsexam.com or call us at +91 9773398388.