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English language testing to study in Canada is a reality for many would-be international students, but if you know in advance if you need to sit a test — and if so, which test and where — your journey to Canada will be that little bit simpler.
English is the primary language of instruction at the vast majority of universities and colleges in Canada, and your success as an international student in Canada requires a high level of English proficiency. Whether or not you need to sit a language test to study in Canada depends on your educational background, including what language you studied in, when, and where.
While individual universities and colleges have their own criteria with regard to proving English ability to study in Canada, institutions follow a broad set of similar benchmarks to differentiate prospective students who do need to provide proof of their English ability (through an approved test, outlined below), and those who do not need to sit a test.
For example, let’s look at the criteria for entry to undergraduate programs at the University of British Columbia (UBC), one of the largest universities in Canada and one of the most popular among international students. For UBC, there are nine ways you may prove your English ability without having to sit a test:
And if you are fully proficient in English but do not meet any of the nine options listed above, you may request a waiver for the English Language Admission Standard.
Again, this is just one example of admissions policy at a major Canadian university with respect to English language ability. Below, we have also included similar policy guidelines for some of the Canadian universities that are among the most popular among international students.
If English is not your first language (i.e. is not the first language you learned at home as a child), you will need to provide evidence of adequate English facility for admission consideration, unless you qualify for an exemption.
You may qualify for an exemption from the English facility requirement if any of the following applies to you:
You must be sure to provide your full academic history on your application for admission and provide all relevant transcripts to U of T (after you have submitted your application), so that we can automatically consider you for an exemption on the basis of these criteria.
Note that if you are exempted from presenting proof of English facility as shown above, you will be required to present ENG4U/EAE4U or an equivalent Grade 12 English course for admission consideration. See admission requirements for full details.
(The above information is correct as of February, 2019. Please confirm with the institution before proceeding.)
You need to provide an English language test score if:
You are not required to provide an English proficiency test score if you meet one of the following exceptions.
You are not required to provide an English proficiency test score if your first language is not English AND your four most recent years of full-time education were taught in an entirely English-language school system either in Canada or in another country.
If your four most recent years of full-time education have been in a country other than Canada, the following conditions apply.
English as a Second Language (ESL) programs do not qualify you for this exemption and cannot be included in the number of years of full-time education in an English-language school system.
IB and/or AP English courses also do not qualify for an exemption from the English language requirements.
Normally, if you meet any one of the following conditions you are not required to submit proof of proficiency in English:
If you are unsure whether you may be required to submit evidence of English ability to study at a Canadian university or college, please contact the relevant department overseeing enrollment at the institution you wish to attend.
Much like the way different universities and colleges in Canada have slightly different policies regarding who may prove English ability without having to sit a test, prospective students who do have to sit a test should note that different institutions may accept different tests.
However, the same core group of tests are widely regarded as being acceptable proof of English language ability to study in Canada. Let’s take a look at these tests, and what scores you might need in order to satisfy a Canadian university or college that you have the right level of English to study in Canada.
The CAEL computer edition (CAEL-CE) assessment provides a truly authentic representation of language use in a Canadian academic context. The minimum score required is typically an overall score of 70 or better and no part below 60. The CAEL-CE assessment is offered throughout Canada, China, India, the Philippines, UAE, and the United States.
The minimum score required is an overall band of 6.5, with no band below 6.0.
With the paper-based TOEFL no longer available, the online version remains an option. This is known as the internet-based TOEFL (iBT). You’ll typically need an overall score of at least 90, or even higher for some institutions, and you may have to score at least 20-25 for certain abilities.
A minimum score of at least 60 to 65 is typically required, depending on the institution.
It’s possible that not all of the above tests may be accepted by every university or college, and/or that other tests may be accepted. Check with the institution you plan on applying to attend before booking your test date.
In some cases, as part of your supporting documents to apply for a study permit, applicants may need to submit valid language test. For instance, those applying under the Student Direct Stream need to provide adequate French or English language results.
Under the regular study permit stream, applicants should check the processing office document checklist to see if language tests are required. When in doubt, submit language test results. Failure to demonstrate sufficient language proficiency is a common reason for study permits to be refused.
In most cases, language tests are valid for 24 months. Expired language results will not be accepted.
Check your processing office checklist as this depends on the processing office. Some processing offices ask for proof of language proficiency where as others specifically state language test results. In either case, to be on the safe side, language test should be provided.
This will change depending on the program. As a rule though, language tests should demonstrate at least CLB level 7 however in some cases, high proficiency may be required. For instance, if you are studying at a Masters level you may need a higher level of English due to the complexities of the course. At a very minimum, check the language requirements of the program and make sure you are at least demonstrating this level.
English language testing to study in Canada is just one aspect of preparation. For more information on moving to Canada as an international student, please visit our complete study section.
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