Is PTE accepted in Canada for PR?

IRCC approved PTE for Canada PR!

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has started accepting PTE Core test results for Canada PR applications through Express Entry and other immigration programs beginning 12 February 2024.

The full form of PTE is – Pearson Test of English and it is one of the approved English language proficiency tests which assesses skills of an individual. 

Apart from IELTS and CELPIP , the Pearson Test of English (PTE) has also joined the list of approved English language tests for Canada PR. Now, candidates can take PTE, IELTS, CELPIP, TCF or TEF for the immigration process to prove their language proficiency. 

Is PTE accepted for Canada PR?

Yes, PTE is accepted for Canada PR as IRCC has approved PTE for immigration purposes. For permanent residency applications, IRCC will accept the PTE-Core test format, where as for study permits, it will accept PTE-Academic test results.

If you are applying for Canada PR through:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program – minimum CLB 7
• Federal Skilled Trades Program – minimum CLB 5
• Canadian Experience Class – minimum CLB 7

Is PTE valid in Canada Immigration?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada begun accepting the Pearson Test of English test results as proof of English language proficiency. 

Now that PTE is recognized by the Canadian Government for PR, the next question that arises is which PTE test should you take for Canada PR?

And the answer is PTE Core. It was introduced recently and Pearson is accepting bookings for the exams. So this means you can book your slot too and take the PTE Core exam to be eligible to live and work in Canada. 

PTE Exam Types & Purposes

Though there are many types of PTE tests, only two of them are approved by IRCC. The two PTE exam types accepted by IRCC are:

1. PTE Academic

Whichever country’s study visa you are applying to, you can count on the PTE Academic test to prove your language proficiency. PTE Academic test is accepted by IRCC for Student Direct Stream (SDS) applicants. 

So, if you are an international student looking to study in Canada, apply through SDS and get your study permit faster! To prove your eligibility for English language proficiency, take a PTE Academic test. 

2. PTE Core

This is the newest PTE test type launched by Pearson Test of English. PTE Core is valid for Canadian immigration purposes and work visas. It’s a general test that evaluates one’s speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. 

Now, one can take the PTE Core test for a Canada PR visa or a Canada work visa. 

PTE Score For Canada PR

The minimum PTE score for Canada PR is 18-27 in Listening, 24-32 in Reading, 32-40 in Writing, and 34-41 in Speaking.

The minimum PTE score requirement for Canada depends on the immigration program you are applying for. Let’s see how much you need to score on your PTE test according to different programs. 

For study permit application through Student Direct Stream, you need at least an overall PTE Academic score of 60.

Other immigration programs that we’ll discuss below:

1. Federal Skilled Worker Program
2. Federal Skilled Trades Program
3. Canadian Experience Class
4. Atlantic Immigration Program
5. Start-up Visa program
6. Agri-Food Pilot program
7. Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot program
8. Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot

1. Federal Skilled Worker Program

Calculate your PTE Core test results using the table provided below for FSWP.

CLB LEVEL	Speaking	Reading	Writing	Listening
7	68-75	60-68	69-78	60-70
8	76-83	69-77	79-87	71-81
9	84-88	78-87	88-89	82-88
10 or higher	89+	88+	90+	89+

2. Federal Skilled Trades Program

If you are applying through FSTP, this is how you can calculate your scores.

CLB LEVEL	Speaking	Listening	Reading	Writing
4	42-50	28-38	33-41	41-50
5	51-58	39-49	42-50	51-59
6	59-67	50-59	51-59	60-68
7	68-75	60-70	60-68	69-78
8	76-83	71-81	69-77	79-87
9	84-88	82-88	78-87	88-89
10 or higher	89+	89+	88+	90+

3. Canadian Experience Class

Candidates applying through CEC, use the following table to calculate your score.

NOC TEER	CLB LEVEL	Speaking	Listening	Reading	Writing
2 & 3	5	51-58	39-49	42-50	51-59
2 & 3	6	59-67	50-59	51-59	60-68
0 & 1	7	68-75	60-70	60-68	69-78
0 & 1	8	76-83	71-81	69-77	79-87
0 & 1	9	84-88	82-88	78-87	88-89
0 & 1	10 or above	89+	89+	89+	90+

PTE Core Test Results Accepted By Other Pathways

The rest of the pathways mentioned above calculate PTE Core test results using the following table.

CLB level	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking
10	88-90	90	89-90	89-90
9	78-87	88-89	82-88	84-88
8	69-77	79-87	71-81	76-83
7	60-68	69-78	60-70	68-75
6	51-59	60-68	50-59	59-67
5	42-50	51-59	39-49	51-58
4	33-41	41-50	28-38	42-50
3	24-32	32-40	18-27	34-41

Which countries accept the PTE test? 

Several countries across the world accept PTE test scores. Some of them are – Canada, the UK, Australia, Germany, the US, France, UAE, the Netherlands, etc. 

Is there a minimum score of PTE for Canadian immigration?

To qualify for the Canadian Permanent Residency (PR) process, it is essential to attain a minimum of CLB 4 on the test required for eligibility. It’s important to note that there are certain exceptions to this criterion.

Is there a negative marking on the PTE Academic test?

No, there is no negative marking in the PTE Academic test. You do not lose points for incorrect answers, so it’s better to make an educated guess if you are unsure.