Are both tests accepted for Canada PR, Express Entry and citizenship?
Yes. For Express Entry and the other economic programs, IRCC accepts three English tests: CELPIP General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core. IELTS Academic is not accepted, and neither is the IELTS One Skill Retake (it counts only for the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot). Results must be under two years old when you complete your profile and again when you submit the application. Minimums depend on the program: CLB 7 in all four skills for Federal Skilled Worker, CLB 7 or 5 for Canadian Experience Class depending on the job's TEER level, and CLB 5 speaking and listening with CLB 4 reading and writing for Federal Skilled Trades.
For citizenship, applicants aged 18 to 54 need CLB 4 in Speaking and Listening. IRCC accepts CELPIP General, CELPIP General LS (the two-skill version), IELTS General Training and PTE Core, and citizenship results never expire: you can reuse the report from your PR application. The cheapest route if you only need citizenship is CELPIP General LS at $199 plus tax, which is explained in CELPIP General vs LS. On the IELTS side the citizenship minimum is Listening 4.5 and Speaking 4.0.
Two edge cases: CELPIP General is not a designated English test for Quebec's own immigration programs, and French candidates use TEF Canada or TCF Canada, which our CELPIP vs TEF Canada page covers along with the French CRS bonus.
CELPIP vs IELTS score comparison (official IRCC CLB chart)
IRCC does not convert IELTS to CELPIP directly. It converts each test to a CLB level, per skill, and CELPIP levels equal CLB levels one to one (10, 11 and 12 all count as CLB 10). The chart below is the IRCC equivalency for IELTS General Training, read against the CELPIP level that counts as the same CLB.
| CLB (= CELPIP level) | IELTS Listening | IELTS Reading | IELTS Writing | IELTS Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 (CELPIP 10 to 12) | 8.5 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| 9 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| 8 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| 6 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| 5 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| 4 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
- IELTS Listening is the odd skill out. CLB 8 needs 7.5 and CLB 9 needs 8.0, while the other three skills need 6.5 and 7.0. That is why the popular "8777" target is exactly CLB 9 in all four skills, the same as CELPIP 9 across the board.
- IELTS Reading is the most lenient at the bottom: 3.5 is already CLB 4 and 4.0 is CLB 5.
- CELPIP has no half levels, so a CELPIP result is always exactly a CLB level. An IELTS 7.5 in Reading and an IELTS 7.0 in Reading are both CLB 9.
- Between CLB 9 and 10, IELTS Reading jumps a full band (7.0 to 8.0) while Writing and Speaking move only half a band.
Some prep sites, including a post on the official CELPIP blog written for Australian immigration, print a one-column table such as "IELTS 7.0 = CELPIP 8". That is not the IRCC mapping and it ignores the Listening gap. For a per-skill conversion in either direction, plus PTE Core, use the IELTS to CELPIP score converter. If you already hold a CELPIP result, the CELPIP score calculator shows what each level means for your program.
Which is easier, CELPIP or IELTS?
No official body publishes pass rates or a difficulty comparison, and the CLB thresholds are set so that the same language level earns the same result on either test. The British Council says plainly that there is no truth to the idea that one is easier, and the test makers, schools and immigration sites we checked agree. What actually differs is the format, and format is personal. The honest question is not "which is easier" but "which format lets me show what I can do".
| You may find CELPIP easier if | You may find IELTS easier if |
|---|---|
| Talking to a microphone is less stressful for you than a live interview | A conversation with a real person calms you down and helps you keep talking |
| You live in Canada and are used to Canadian English and everyday Canadian situations (emails to a landlord, community notices) | You are used to British or Australian accents, or you also need the test for the UK or Australia |
| You prefer one sitting with everything finished in under three hours | You prefer a shorter main session, with Speaking possibly on another day |
| You like on-screen tools: a personal timer, a word counter and spell-check in Writing | You are a confident speller (IELTS Listening and Reading deduct for misspelled answers) |
| Your Listening is your weakest skill (the CELPIP thresholds are even across skills) | Your Listening is your strongest skill and you can reach 7.5 or 8.0 in it |
The only reliable way to find out is to sit a full-length mock of the test you are leaning towards. Test 1 of our free CELPIP General mock tests runs the real format and timing, with the audio played once and the eight Speaking tasks recorded, so you know within three hours whether the format suits you.
Listening: CELPIP vs IELTS
CELPIP Listening is six parts and 38 questions in 46 to 55 minutes, all in Canadian English, with the questions shown after each audio clip and the clip played once. IELTS Listening is four parts and 40 questions in about 30 minutes, with British, Australian, New Zealand and North American accents, also played once, and with answers you type or write, so spelling mistakes cost marks. Because IRCC sets IELTS Listening 7.5 for CLB 8 and 8.0 for CLB 9, many switchers find the CELPIP Listening target easier to reach. Practice the once-only format with the CELPIP Listening practice tests and the note-taking approach in our CELPIP Listening tips.
Reading: CELPIP vs IELTS
CELPIP Reading is four parts (correspondence, applying a diagram, information, viewpoints) with 38 questions in 43 to 56 minutes, all multiple choice or drop-down. IELTS General Training Reading is three sections with 40 questions in 60 minutes and a mix of question types, including completion answers where spelling counts. Both may include unscored items in CELPIP's case. Timed sets are at CELPIP Reading practice tests.
Writing: CELPIP vs IELTS
CELPIP Writing is two tasks in 53 minutes: an email (Task 1, 27 minutes) and a response to survey questions (Task 2, 26 minutes), each 150 to 200 words, with a word counter and spell-check on screen. IELTS Writing is a letter of at least 150 words and an essay of at least 250 words in 60 minutes, with the essay weighted double. CELPIP asks for shorter, practical writing; IELTS asks for a longer argued essay. Our CELPIP Writing test guide walks through both tasks, and the CELPIP Writing practice tests score every response with AI feedback.
Speaking: CELPIP vs IELTS
This is the biggest difference. CELPIP Speaking is eight tasks in about 15 minutes, each with a preparation timer and a speaking timer, recorded into a microphone in the same sitting as the other sections, and rated later by three to five raters. IELTS Speaking is an 11 to 14 minute live interview in three parts with a certified examiner, in person or by video call at the centre, scheduled before or after the main session. If a blank screen and a countdown make you freeze, IELTS may suit you; if a stranger's reactions make you lose your thread, CELPIP may. How the CELPIP Speaking test works covers all eight tasks, and the CELPIP Speaking practice tests let you record under the real timers.
Take a full CELPIP mock test
Put your preparation to the test with an exam-style CELPIP mock and get an honest baseline across all four skills.
Cost, results time and where you can take each test
| CELPIP | IELTS | |
|---|---|---|
| Test fee in Canada | General $299 plus tax; General LS $199 plus tax | About CAD 335 to 361 before tax (IDP Canada range) |
| One Skill Retake | Not offered | About CAD 253 before tax; not accepted by IRCC for Express Entry |
| Results | 2 to 4 business days, online, PDF report | Computer: 1 to 5 days (usually 48 hours per IDP Canada) |
| Cancel | 50 percent refund if 7 or more days before | Varies by centre |
| Reschedule | First transfer free, then $50 plus tax, 7 or more days before | Varies by centre |
| Locations | Over 200 locations, over 60 in Canada, in around 40 countries | Broader global network; in Canada through IDP and partner centres |
| At home | No | IELTS Online is Academic only; not accepted for immigration |
Two things have changed recently and still show up wrong on many comparison pages. Paper-based IELTS is no longer offered in Canada: the last paper test date was May 7, 2026, so the "I prefer handwriting" argument no longer applies to Canadian test takers. And CELPIP results now post in 2 to 4 business days rather than the 8 days quoted in older articles; the old paid Express Rating no longer appears on celpip.ca's results page.
Retakes: CELPIP vs the IELTS One Skill Retake
IELTS lets you retake one skill once, within 60 days of the full test, on computer at participating centres. It sounds like a big advantage until you read IRCC's rule: One Skill Retake results are not accepted for Express Entry. So for a PR application, a weak skill on either test means sitting the whole test again. CELPIP offers a re-evaluation instead: within six months you can ask for any component to be rescored, the fee is refunded if the level changes, and Listening and Reading rarely move because they are computer scored.
How each test affects your CRS score
Because IRCC scores CLB levels, not tests, the better test is simply the one on which you reach the higher CLB. The steps are steep: for a single applicant each skill is worth 6 points at CLB 4 or 5, 9 at CLB 6, 17 at CLB 7, 23 at CLB 8, 31 at CLB 9 and 34 at CLB 10 or above. Moving all four skills from CLB 8 to CLB 9 adds 32 CRS points, more than most applicants can gain any other way after the removal of job offer points in March 2025. Which target makes sense for your program is covered in what CELPIP score you need for Canada PR.
Should I take CELPIP or IELTS? A 60-second decision guide
- Do you need the result for anywhere other than Canada, such as the UK, Australia or a professional body that lists only IELTS? If yes, take IELTS.
- Is it only for Canadian citizenship? Take CELPIP General LS, the cheapest and shortest accepted option.
- Is Listening your weakest skill? CELPIP's even thresholds help you; IELTS asks for 7.5 and 8.0 in Listening for CLB 8 and 9.
- Does a live interview help you or hurt you? Helps: IELTS. Hurts: CELPIP.
- Do you want everything done in one sitting, with results in a few business days, for about $40 to $60 less? CELPIP.
- Still unsure? Sit a free full mock of CELPIP, then compare with an official IELTS sample. Choose the format where your practice level is higher.
If PTE Core is also on your list, CELPIP vs PTE Core compares the two computer-scored options, and the best English test for Canada PR guide puts all three accepted tests side by side.
Try the CELPIP format free before you book
A CELPIP sitting costs $299 plus tax, so it is worth knowing before you book whether the format suits you. Test 1 of the CELPIP General mock and Test 1 of each sectional test are free on our site, with AI feedback on the Writing and Speaking responses and an estimated level for every skill. You can also practice by question type if one part of the test worries you more than the rest.
Find out in one sitting whether CELPIP suits you
A free full-length CELPIP General mock with the real timing, audio played once, eight recorded Speaking tasks and AI-scored Writing. No card required.
