CELPIP vs IELTS: Which One Should You Take?

Language proficiency is one of the immigration requirements under the skilled worker program through the Express Entry system. High results on the language proficiency test can give you the advantage to get an immediate selection from the Federal Government and finish the whole process within six months. 

There are two options to meet English language skills requirements: taking the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test. Citizenship and Immigration Canada accept both tests; the question is, which is the best test for you?

About the Tests

Both IELTS and CELPIP are designed to measure the English language proficiency of test-takers. The tests include four categories that capture the main aspects of the language: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.

• CELPIP test was explicitly designed to assess essential language skills required for Canadian permanent residency and citizenship. The test uses Canadian English and accepts both British and American English spellings for its components. If you are taking CELPIP to apply through Express Entry, the CELPIP-General Training (four-skills tests) is required.
• IELTS is used for studying, working and immigration. It recognizes both British and American English for spelling, word choice and grammar, and uses a mix of accents from native speakers throughout the test. IELTS is available in more than 140 countries and is divided into IELTS Academic (used for education) and IELTS General Training (used for migration to an English-speaking country). If you are taking IELTS to apply through Express Entry, the IELTS General Training test is required.

CELPIP and IELTS are both approved and accepted by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). The final test score is compared to the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB), which demonstrates national language standards for recognizing a second language. Below is the CLB comparison chart from the CIC website.

Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General 2014 Test score equivalency chart for reports issued on or after April 1, 2014

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

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training – Test score equivalency chart

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

For more information about the specific language requirements and the CLB, please visit the CIC website.

Key Test Components

Below is a comparison table of the key components of the tests:

	CELPIP	IELTS
Score breakdown	A score of 1 to 12 for each section; calibrated against the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) levels	A score of 1 to 9 for each section; can score whole (e.g., 6.0, 7.0) or half (e.g., 6.5, 7.5) bands
Listening	47-55 minutes; 7 components, a total of 40-46 questions (40 scored)	30 minutes; 4 components, a total of 40 questions
Reading	55-60 minutes; 4 components, 38-45 questions (38 scored)	60 minutes; 3 components, 40 questions
Writing	53-60 minutes; 2 components: Writing an Email and Responding to Survey Questions	60 minutes; 2 components: Writing a Letter and Responding to a Point of View, Argument or Problem
Speaking	15-20 minutes; 8 components, a total of 8 short-answer questions	11-14 minutes; 3 components: Introduction, Individual Speech, and Two-Way Discussion
Details	The test times include the transition times between the test components Computer-based test	The test times exclude the transition times between the test components Paper-based test

The interesting thing about the CELPIP test is the fact that the Listening and Reading sections contain a few unscored items that are used for test development and improvement. According to the CELPIP website, unscored items are indistinguishable from the regular scored questions and can be found anywhere within those two test sections.

Preparation Materials

Both tests have different preparation materials available for the students to both get ready for the test and to better understand the test style and format.

• IELTS has different practice tests and sample test questions available on the IELTS website. You could also purchase IELTS materials to study on your own or take preparation classes. Vancouver residents also have access to IELTS workshops.
• CELPIP is a younger test compared to IELTS, but it still has various options to prepare for the test. You can take sample tests or preparation programs to make sure that you are ready for the exam. Vancouver residents may also register for a pretest for the Listening and Reading sections of the test.

Making Your Choice

CELPIP is conducted in one 3-hour sitting. Since it is done on the computer, it is easy to keep track of how much time is left for each of the tasks. When going by sections, CELPIP seems to have longer Listening and Speaking sections and a slightly shorter Writing section. However, keep in mind that the CELPIP time breakdowns include the question, answer and transition times.

IELTS test takers, on the other hand, do not necessarily complete all the test components on the same day. Although three of the test sections are completed in the same test room, the Speaking section is done separately at a different time, day and possibly location (it can be taken up to a week before or after the other sections). There is also no automatic computerized time tracking, and the times presented in the table above may not include the transition times between the test sections and components.

The results take 13 calendar days for IELTs and 10-12 calendar days for CELPIP. If you are short on time and money is not an issue, CELPIP also has an express rating system: the score is available in three (3) business days for an extra fee.

Difficulty

Both IELTS and CELPIP were designed to measuring English language proficiency; the level of difficulty is approximately the same in both tests. However, certain sections can be viewed as easier or more difficult by individual test-takers. Here are a few differences that can be noted:

• IELTS is a paper-based exam, while CELPIP is completely computerized. It may be more comforting for some people to do the writing section on paper and to keep track of their own time. Others, on the other hand, feel less pressure by the computer and prefer typing and being able to see their timing and word count. Also, the CELPIP test includes spell check in the writing component, which could be found useful by some applicants.
• CELPIP test uses Canadian speakers, while IELTS test includes native speakers from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and US in their Listening section. Some non-native speakers may find the CELPIP Listening section more understandable. Also, when taking CELPIP, one is able to adjust the volume in the headphones for the Listening section to suit their needs.
• IELTS Speaking section includes a live conversation with an examiner, while during CELPIP you record your voice on the computer. Some non-native speakers prefer talking to an examinator, while others feel more comfortable without the face-to-face interaction.

Preparation

Both exams, offer online samples of their work and have prep courses across Canada. It may still be easier to find preparation materials for IELTS, since CELPIP is still relatively new. However, CELPIP prep courses seem to be more prevalent in Canada, and you can be sure of their quality when they are accredited by Paragon Testing Enterprises, the creators of the CELPIP Test.

	CELPIP	IELTs
Availability	Available in Canada and the UAE only	Available in 140 countries
Price	$265 CAD Express rating (3 business days) available for $100	$309 CAD  Can be more expensive in certain locations
Time	3-hour exam done in one sitting Results in 10-12 calendar days; express rating available	~3-hour exam; speaking is separate Results in 13 calendar days
Difficulty	Computer-based: easy to type; word count and timing available Using Canadian English accent; able to adjust the volume Speaking: submitting voice recording	Paper-based: easier for non-frequent computer users Using British, Australian and American English accents Speaking: face-to-face interaction
Preparation	More prep courses available	More preparation materials available

Summary

Both of the tests are equally appropriate to be used for your immigration application, and choosing one over the other can be a matter of personal preference. IELTS is a good choice for the test-takers who prefer paper-based exams and separate face-to-face speaking components, or those applying from outside of Canada. However, based on the analysis above, CELPIP is a better choice for those who prefer a computer-based exam and are looking for a faster and less stressful test experience.