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Test Formats of the new language tests approved by IRCC for student visa applications

Test Formats of the new language tests approved by IRCC

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Test Formats of new language tests: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has approved four English language proficiency tests for international students who wish to study in Canada. These tests are available in different formats, giving students more flexibility and choice based on their strengths and preferences.

IRCC-Approved English Test Formats:

  • TOEFL iBT

  • CELPIP General Test

  • PTE Academic

  • CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Test)

In this blog, we will explain the format of each test in detail to help students understand which exam suits them best.

TOEFL iBT Test Format

The TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based Test of English as a Foreign Language) is one of the most widely accepted English proficiency exams for academic purposes. It evaluates a candidate’s ability to use English in a university-level environment.

1. Reading Section

This section measures your ability to understand academic texts.

  • Duration: 60–80 minutes

  • Number of Passages: 3–5

  • Length of Each Passage: ~700 words

  • Questions: 10–14 per passage

Question Types:

  • Multiple-choice

  • Drag-and-drop

  • Summary completion

  • Vocabulary in context

  • Inference and main idea questions

2. Listening Section

This section tests your ability to understand spoken English in academic settings.

  • Duration: 60–90 minutes

  • Audio Sources:

    • University lectures

    • Classroom discussions

    • Student–teacher conversations

Question Types:

  • Multiple-choice

  • Matching

  • Short answer

  • Chart completion

3. Speaking Section

The speaking section evaluates your fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, and coherence.

  • Duration: ~17 minutes

  • Total Tasks: 4

Tasks:

  1. Independent Speaking – Express your opinion on a familiar topic

  2. Integrated Speaking – Summarize reading + listening material

  3. Integrated Speaking – Summarize a lecture

  4. Integrated Speaking – Explain an academic topic

Assessment Criteria:

4. Writing Section

This section assesses your ability to write structured academic responses.

  • Duration: 50 minutes

Tasks:

  1. Integrated Writing – Compare a reading passage with a lecture

  2. Independent Writing – Write an opinion-based essay

Evaluation Factors:

  • Organization and coherence

  • Language accuracy

  • Idea development

PTE Academic Test Format

The PTE Academic is a fully computer-based test that assesses real-life English skills through integrated tasks.

Part 1: Speaking & Writing

  1. Personal Introduction – Short self-introduction

  2. Read Aloud – Read text displayed on screen

  3. Repeat Sentence – Repeat a spoken sentence

  4. Describe Image – Explain graphs, charts, or diagrams

  5. Re-tell Lecture – Summarize a lecture in your own words

  6. Answer Short Questions – Provide brief spoken answers

  7. Summarize Written Text – Write a summary

  8. Essay Writing – Write a structured essay

Part 2: Reading

  1. Multiple-choice (Single Answer)

  2. Multiple-choice (Multiple Answers)

  3. Re-order Paragraphs

  4. Reading Fill in the Blanks

  5. Reading & Writing Fill in the Blanks

Part 3: Listening

  1. Summarize Spoken Text

  2. Multiple-choice (Multiple Answers)

  3. Fill in the Blanks

  4. Highlight Correct Summary

  5. Multiple-choice (Single Answer)

  6. Select Missing Word

  7. Highlight Incorrect Words

  8. Write from Dictation

CELPIP General Test Format

The CELPIP General Test is a Canadian English test commonly used for immigration, employment, and study purposes.

Part 1: Listening (40–45 minutes)

  1. Listening to Problem Solving

  2. Conversations About Daily Life

  3. Listening to News

  4. Listening to a Discussion

  5. Hearing a Talk

  6. Listening to Viewpoints

  7. Listening for Information

  8. Hearing a News Story

Part 2: Reading (55–60 minutes)

  1. Reading Letters

  2. Reading to Apply a Diagram

  3. Reading to Learn

  4. Reading for Different Viewpoints

  5. Understanding Extended Texts

Part 3: Writing (53–60 minutes)

  1. Email Writing

  2. Survey Response Writing

Part 4: Speaking (15–20 minutes)

  1. Giving Advice

  2. Talking About a Personal Experience

  3. Describing an Object

  4. Predicting Outcomes

  5. Making Comparisons & Persuasion

  6. Handling a Difficult Situation

  7. Describing a Scene

  8. Expressing Opinions

CAEL Test Format

The CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language) Test is designed for students applying to Canadian colleges and universities.

Test Sections:

  • Listening

  • Speaking

  • Reading

  • Writing

Listening

  • Academic lectures and discussions

  • Focus on main ideas and details

Speaking

  • Respond to academic topics

  • Express opinions clearly and logically

Reading

  • Academic articles and essays

  • Test skimming, scanning, inference, and comprehension

Writing

  • Summaries

  • Opinion responses

  • Academic essays

Preparation Tips for CAEL and Other Tests

  1. Understand the test format

  2. Build strong vocabulary

  3. Practice listening to academic content

  4. Speak English regularly

  5. Read academic materials

  6. Improve time management skills

Final Summary: IRCC-Approved English Tests for Canada

IRCC now accepts the following English proficiency tests:

  • TOEFL iBT

  • PTE Academic

  • CELPIP General Test

  • CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language)

Each test has a unique format and scoring style. Choosing the right test depends on your strengths, comfort level, and academic goals.

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sukh

Greetings and welcome to CELPIP.biz! My name is Sukh, and I am delighted to introduce myself as your dedicated expert in language proficiency testing, with a particular focus on the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP).

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