English & French Tests In Depth
English & French Tests for Canada In Depth
English and French tests for Canada — IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo for admission, study-permit requirements since the SDS ended, and where CELPIP/TEF fit.
Last updated
Tests this hub covers
IELTS
British Council / IDP IELTS / Cambridge University Press & Assessment · Year-round (test dates and session times vary by test centre)
TOEFL iBT
ETS (Educational Testing Service) · Offered more than 170 times a year at test centres (Home Edition: 24 hours a day, 4 days a week)
Duolingo
Duolingo, Inc. · On demand, online at any time, though not in every country (up to 3 test purchases in any 30-day period; wait for your result before retesting)
PTE Academic
Pearson · Regular test dates at 500+ test centres in over 115 countries (check availability at your nearest centre)
What this hub covers
- Choosing an English Test for Canada: IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE vs DuolingoStart from your universities, not the test · How the four tests differ in format · Cost, results speed and retakes
- What English Test Scores Do Canadian Universities Actually Require?There is no single national cut-off · Overall score vs. per-section minimums · Undergraduate vs graduate requirements
- Language Tests for the Canada Study Permit After SDS EndedAdmission proof and the study permit are different · What changed when the Student Direct Stream ended · How language fits the current study-permit process
- French Tests for Canada: TEF vs TCF ExplainedWhen French proficiency matters in Canada · TEF and TCF: what they are · Format and how they differ
- Where CELPIP and TEF Fit: Tests for Later Canadian ImmigrationAdmission tests vs. immigration tests · What CELPIP and TEF are used for · Why this matters when you plan
Guides for Canada
5 of 5 guides in this hub are for Canada.
What English Test Scores Do Canadian Universities Actually Require?
How English score requirements work for Canadian undergraduate vs graduate admission, and why they vary by program — verify on official pages.
Read guideLanguage Tests for the Canada Study Permit After SDS Ended
What the end of the Student Direct Stream means for language tests: admission proof vs IRCC study-permit rules, with official links. Not immigration advice.
Read guideWhere CELPIP and TEF Fit: Tests for Later Canadian Immigration
Why CELPIP (English) and TEF (French) are immigration-oriented tests for pathways like PR, not university admission, with links to IRCC. Not immigration advice.
Read guideChoosing an English Test for Canada: IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE vs Duolingo
Compare IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo for Canadian admission on format, retakes, results speed and where each is accepted.
Read guideFrench Tests for Canada: TEF vs TCF Explained
Understand the two main French proficiency tests, TEF and TCF, their formats, and where French is needed for study in Canada.
Read guideStudying in Canada
Continue exploring Canada
Universities, entrance tests, costs and visa facts for Canada — all in one place, each linked to its official source.
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