The immigration system in Canada is iconic for being more welcoming than most, especially when it comes to inviting talented immigrants to help build the community. Engineers, teachers, designers, and other professionals can find life-changing opportunities in Canada, and this includes non-native speakers of English.
Of course, expertise won’t leave the same impact if there are language barriers keeping immigrants and citizens from understanding each other. With that in mind, part of the steps to settling down in Canada is to take and pass one of the most well-known, high-stakes English language tests in the world: IELTS.
Why IELTS?
Before anything else, Canada’s official language is English, so it makes sense that the CIC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) requires applicants to have at least rudimentary command of the English language.
As for IELTS, it’s widely accepted by the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), so it’s the go-to choice for English tests for educational organizations, professional associations, and more.
Seeing as IELTS for non-native English speakers is your ticket to Canada, this begs the question: what score do immigrants need to achieve to meet the standards of Canada?
Canadian Language Requirements
The CIC can measure an applicant’s language proficiency by checking whether your IELTS testing scores meet the Canadian Language Benchmarks, such as the following measures:
| IELTS General Training Score | ||||
| Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
| CLB1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| CLB2 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| CLB3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| CLB4 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| CLB5 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| CLB6 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| CLB7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| CLB8 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| CLB9 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| CLB10 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| CLB11 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| CLB12 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 |
If you’re applying for a student visa, then you need to meet a minimum score of 6 out of all the four sections. Meanwhile, immigrants striving to become a Canadian citizen need at least a score of 4 on the IELTS.
The Bottom Line: Ensuring Nothing is Lost in Translation by Passing IELTS
If you’re looking for professional help from a trusted firm in Canada, please contact us at info@brightimmigration.com or call 1-888-404-8472.
Our expert team can simplify the immigration process for you and make a difference by ensuring you are well-presented and protected throughout the journey.
