Who accepts each test
| Purpose | CELPIP General | PTE Core |
|---|---|---|
| Express Entry and other economic PR | Yes | Yes |
| Provincial Nominee Programs | Yes (check your stream) | Yes (check your stream) |
| Post-Graduation Work Permit | Yes | Yes |
| Canadian citizenship | Yes; the cheaper General LS version also works | Yes (Listening 28+, Speaking 42+) |
| Australian visas | Yes (Department of Home Affairs) | No; Australia uses PTE Academic |
| Canadian college or university admission | Only where the institution lists it | No; Pearson says use PTE Academic |
PTE Core vs CELPIP score comparison: the CLB table
There is no official concordance between PTE Core and CELPIP. Both convert to Canadian Language Benchmarks per skill with IRCC's tables, so the honest comparison is CLB row by CLB row. CELPIP is simple: the level is the CLB (10, 11 and 12 all count as CLB 10). PTE Core needs the ranges below, which differ by skill. Note that Writing has the highest thresholds at every level and Listening and Reading the lowest.
| CLB | CELPIP level | PTE Core Listening | PTE Core Reading | PTE Core Writing | PTE Core Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 10 to 12 | 89 to 90 | 88 to 90 | 90 | 89 to 90 |
| 9 | 9 | 82 to 88 | 78 to 87 | 88 to 89 | 84 to 88 |
| 8 | 8 | 71 to 81 | 69 to 77 | 79 to 87 | 76 to 83 |
| 7 | 7 | 60 to 70 | 60 to 68 | 69 to 78 | 68 to 75 |
| 6 | 6 | 50 to 59 | 51 to 59 | 60 to 68 | 59 to 67 |
| 5 | 5 | 39 to 49 | 42 to 50 | 51 to 59 | 51 to 58 |
| 4 | 4 | 28 to 38 | 33 to 41 | 41 to 50 | 42 to 50 |
- CLB 7 in every skill (the Federal Skilled Worker minimum): CELPIP 7 across the board, or PTE Core Listening 60, Reading 60, Writing 69 and Speaking 68.
- CLB 9 in every skill (the level that unlocks the top skill transferability points): CELPIP 9 across the board, or PTE Core Listening 82, Reading 78, Writing 88 and Speaking 84.
- Your lowest skill sets your profile. A PTE Core Writing 87 is CLB 8 even if the other three are CLB 9, exactly as a CELPIP 8 in Writing would be.
For the same CLB, both tests earn the same CRS points, so the better test is simply the one you score higher on. The PTE Core mode in our IELTS to CELPIP score converter does the per-skill lookup, the CELPIP score calculator turns CELPIP levels into a CLB profile, and what CELPIP score you need for Canada PR explains the CLB 7 and CLB 9 targets.
Test format side by side
This is the real difference between the two tests, and it changes how you prepare. CELPIP scores each section on its own skill: your Listening answers count for Listening and nothing else. PTE Core is integrated: Repeat Sentence feeds both Listening and Speaking, Summarize Written Text feeds Reading and Writing, Write from Dictation feeds Listening and Writing. A weak typing speed or a spelling habit costs you in PTE Core skills you did not expect.
| CELPIP General | PTE Core | |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 6 parts, 38 questions, 46 to 55 min. Canadian English, everyday scenarios, audio once, questions shown after the clip | 7 question types in 22 to 37 min: Summarize Spoken Text (written summary), multiple choice, fill in the blanks, Select Missing Word, Highlight Incorrect Words, Write from Dictation |
| Reading | 4 parts, 38 questions, 43 to 56 min: correspondence, applying a diagram, information, viewpoints | 5 question types in 27 to 37 min: reading and writing fill in the blanks, multiple choice, Reorder Paragraphs, fill in the blanks; texts of 80 to 275 words |
| Writing | 2 tasks in 53 min: an email (27 min) and a survey response (26 min), 150 to 200 words each, with word counter and spell-check | Summarize Written Text in 25 to 50 words (10 min) and Write Email in 80 to 120 words (9 min), inside the combined Speaking and Writing part |
| Speaking | 8 recorded tasks in 15 min, each with preparation and speaking timers (30 to 60 s prep, 60 to 90 s speaking) | Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Respond to a Situation, Answer Short Question; 10 to 40 s answers, one recording attempt |
The section-by-section CELPIP detail is in the full CELPIP test format guide, and every part can be drilled on its own through practice by question type.
Which is easier: CELPIP or PTE Core, skill by skill
Neither is officially easier; IRCC sets the thresholds so that the same level earns the same CLB. But the tasks feel very different, and "easier" depends on which kind of task you do well.
Listening
CELPIP Listening is comprehension: you hear a conversation, a news item or a discussion once, in Canadian English, then answer multiple-choice questions shown on screen. PTE Core Listening also tests what you can write down: Write from Dictation and Summarize Spoken Text are scored on typing, spelling and grammar as well as understanding. If your ear is good but your spelling is not, CELPIP is kinder. Practice the once-only format with the CELPIP Listening practice tests and the CELPIP Listening tips.
Reading
CELPIP Reading uses longer everyday texts, such as an email exchange or a set of opinions, with 38 questions across four parts. PTE Core Reading uses short texts and rewards vocabulary and collocation: drag-and-drop gaps and paragraph reordering punish a thin word stock more than a slow reader. The CELPIP Reading practice tests run the full section, and the CELPIP vocabulary practice helps with either test.
Writing
CELPIP asks for two pieces of practical writing of 150 to 200 words, with a spell-checker and word counter on screen, scored by an AI-human hybrid that the rating team verifies. PTE Core asks for a 25 to 50 word summary and an 80 to 120 word email, computer scored, so staying inside the word limits and using the expected form matters more than depth of argument. People who write naturally and can hold a tone for 200 words tend to prefer CELPIP; people who like tight formulas prefer PTE Core. See the CELPIP Writing test guide and the CELPIP Writing practice tests.
Speaking
This is the biggest split. CELPIP Speaking is eight tasks of 60 to 90 seconds each, such as giving advice or describing a scene, rated by three to five human raters on content, vocabulary, listenability and task fulfillment. PTE Core Speaking is short, rapid tasks (read a sentence aloud, repeat a sentence, describe an image) scored by computer on content, pronunciation and fluency, with one recording attempt. Clear, steady pacing scores well on PTE Core; a hesitant but well-argued answer scores better on CELPIP. How the CELPIP Speaking test works covers all eight tasks, and the CELPIP Speaking practice tests record you under the real timers.
| PTE Core may feel easier if | CELPIP may feel easier if |
|---|---|
| You type fast and spell well, since several Listening and Reading tasks are scored on what you type | You understand spoken English well but your spelling is shaky |
| You like short, formulaic tasks with clear rules (Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, 25 to 50 word summaries) | You prefer talking or writing for a full minute or two about an everyday situation |
| A computer scorer suits you better than a human listener | You want your Speaking judged by people on what you said, not only how you sounded |
| You want the shortest possible sitting and results in about 2 days | You want each skill tested on its own, so one weak skill cannot drag another down |
| You are outside Canada and the nearest CELPIP centre is far away | You live in Canada, or you also need the test for an Australian visa |
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.
Fees, results time, locations and retakes
| CELPIP General | PTE Core | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee in Canada | $299 plus tax ($199 plus tax for the LS version) | Shown in Pearson's price finder at booking; third-party guides report about CAD 340 to 360 |
| Results | 2 to 4 business days, PDF report in your account | Typically within 2 business days, up to 5; shared with IRCC through your account |
| Reschedule | First transfer free, then $50 plus tax, at least 7 days before | Free 14 or more days before; inside 14 days you cancel and rebook |
| Cancel | 50 percent refund 7 or more days before, nothing after | Full refund 14 or more days before; 50 percent at 8 to 13 days; nothing under 7 days |
| Retake | No more than one session in any 5 calendar days | Only after your last scores arrive; up to 12 tests in 12 months |
| Rescore | Re-evaluation within 6 months, fee refunded if the level changes | Not applicable in the same way; scores are computer generated |
| Locations | Over 200 locations, 60+ in Canada, about 40 countries | 500+ test centres worldwide; about 25 in Canada at launch |
Which test should you choose?
- Living in Canada near a CELPIP centre, and comfortable with everyday Canadian English: CELPIP.
- Abroad in a country with no CELPIP sittings: PTE Core, which runs at 500+ centres worldwide.
- Need a result inside a week for an invitation deadline: PTE Core is usually faster by a day or two, although both are quick.
- Nervous about a computer judging your accent, or hesitant but thoughtful when you speak: CELPIP's human raters.
- Need citizenship only: CELPIP General LS, at $199 plus tax and about 70 minutes, is the cheapest accepted option; try the CELPIP General LS mock test first.
- Also applying to Australia: CELPIP General is accepted there; PTE Core is not (Australia uses PTE Academic).
If IELTS is still on your list, CELPIP vs IELTS covers that pair, and the best English test for Canada PR guide compares all three accepted tests in one place.
How to prepare for CELPIP
We build CELPIP practice only, not PTE Core. Test 1 of our free CELPIP General mock tests runs the four sections with the official timers, the audio played once and the eight Speaking tasks recorded, with AI feedback on every Writing and Speaking response and an estimated level per skill. If you sit it and the format suits you, you have your answer; if it does not, you have lost nothing but an afternoon.
Find out if the CELPIP format suits you, for free
A full-length CELPIP General mock with real timing, audio once, eight recorded Speaking tasks and AI-scored Writing. No card required.
