Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on January 30 local time that the Pearson Test of English (PTE) will officially become one of the language tests accepted when applying for Canadian jobs and immigration.
This change marks a new step forward in Canada's efforts to attract international talent and promote multicultural exchange.
Applicants should note that the Pearson English Test is similar to other exams and is divided into the PTE Core and Academic categories, with candidates applying for the Direct Entry Program (SDS) taking the PTE Academic test and candidates applying for immigration applying for the PTE Core test.
What is PTE Core?
As an assessment that shares many similarities with PTE Academic, PTE Core is also conducted at a test center and lasts for two hours. It assesses candidates in four key English language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
However, unlike PTE Academic, PTE Core is mainly aimed at job seekers and employment people, and the test design focuses on real-life scenarios and non-academic content.
This new assessment has been developed to meet Canada's specific immigration needs and IRCC's language proficiency requirements. For those looking to work or immigrate to Canada, PTE Core provides a brand new opportunity for them to demonstrate the applicant's ability to use English in a real-world work environment.
As of August 2023, PTE Academic has been approved by IRCC Canada for the Student Direct Entry (SDS) visa. Currently, the academic category PTE Academic has been accepted by more than 97% of universities and 95% of colleges in Canada.
PTE Core uses artificial intelligence technology for scoring while collecting biometric data to ensure exam security. This innovative technology ensures that candidates receive accurate and unbiased English language proficiency assessments. Candidates can schedule their test online, up to 24 hours in advance, and their results are usually received within two days of completing the test.
Currently, there are more than 400 PTE test centers in 118 countries around the world, including 25 test centers in Canada. In China, Pearson PTE test centers have covered 35 cities across the country. Candidates can easily take this new English language proficiency assessment no matter where they are in the world.
With the addition of the French language test, Immigration Canada accepts a total of five language tests for immigration applications:
- PTE Core (Pearson) – English
- CELPIP – English
- IELTS-G (IELTS) – English
- TEF Canada – 法语
- TCF Canada – 法语
Choosing the right test type for you will not only help you navigate the immigration application process, but also provide you with a good language foundation for your new life. A good language test score will be a powerful stepping stone for you to start a new life. No matter which language test you choose, as long as you prepare carefully and deal with it positively, I believe you will be able to achieve a good score.