By pteexamprep editorial teamPublished 10 Oct 2026Updated 10 Oct 2026Reviewed 10 Oct 2026 against official sources
For Canadian PR through Express Entry, PTE Core and IELTS General Training are equally valid, so take whichever test gives you the higher CLB level in all four skills. For study, the college or university picks the test, and IRCC does not set one for the study permit. Checked 10 Oct 2026 against canada.ca and Pearson.
This page helps you choose. It does not repeat the full CLB tables for every program. For those, see PTE score for Canada.
What IRCC accepts
IRCC lists five tests for Express Entry: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada and TCF Canada. For IELTS you must take the General Training option, and IELTS One Skill Retake is not accepted. For PTE you must take PTE Core. Results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your profile and again when you submit your PR application. Source: IRCC, language tests for Express Entry. Checked 10 Oct 2026.
The same page does not mention IELTS Academic or PTE Academic. If you took an Academic test for admission, keep that in mind if you may apply for PR later. PTE Core is a different product from PTE Academic; see PTE Academic vs Core vs UKVI and the PTE Core guide.
The two tests side by side, in CLB
IRCC publishes the same CLB levels for both tests. These are the rows for CLB 7 to 9 that IRCC shows for the Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades and Canadian Experience Class (TEER 0 or 1) programs. Source: IRCC language tests page. Checked 10 Oct 2026.
| CLB | Skill | IELTS General Training | PTE Core |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Speaking | 6.0 | 68-75 |
| 7 | Listening | 6.0 | 60-70 |
| 7 | Reading | 6.0 | 60-68 |
| 7 | Writing | 6.0 | 69-78 |
| 8 | Speaking | 6.5 | 76-83 |
| 8 | Listening | 7.5 | 71-81 |
| 8 | Reading | 6.5 | 69-77 |
| 8 | Writing | 6.5 | 79-87 |
| 9 | Speaking | 7.0 | 84-88 |
| 9 | Listening | 8.0 | 82-88 |
| 9 | Reading | 7.0 | 78-87 |
| 9 | Writing | 7.0 | 88-89 |
Two things stand out from the table, and both come from IRCC's own numbers. First, IELTS listening is demanding at the higher levels: CLB 8 needs 7.5, while the other three skills need 6.5. Second, PTE Core writing jumps sharply at the top: CLB 9 needs 88 or more. IELTS CLB 9 writing is 7.0. If one skill is your weak point, look at its row first.
The lowest of your four skills sets your level, so a strong skill does not make up for a weak one. Use the PTE score chart to understand the 10-90 scale and the PTE to IELTS converter only as a rough guide, because it is not an IRCC conversion.
Worked example: one candidate, both tests
Asha takes a PTE Core practice test and scores listening 72, reading 66, speaking 70 and writing 74.
| Skill | PTE Core score | CLB from IRCC table |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 72 | 8 (71-81) |
| Reading | 66 | 7 (60-68) |
| Speaking | 70 | 7 (68-75) |
| Writing | 74 | 7 (69-78) |
Her level is CLB 7. To reach CLB 8 she must lift reading to 69, speaking to 76 and writing to 79. That is a different job from reaching CLB 8 on IELTS, where she would need reading 6.5, speaking 6.5, writing 6.5 and listening 7.5. If she takes an IELTS General Training mock and her scores are near those, IELTS may be easier for her. The way to decide is to compare her gap on each test, not to trust a general claim that one test is easier.
Text version of this diagram
- Is it a UK visa route that requires a Secure English Language Test (SELT)? Yes: take PTE Academic UKVI (GOV.UK lists it as an approved SELT; its report carries a SELT URN). No: next question.
- Is it Canada Express Entry? Yes: take PTE Core (IRCC says you must take the PTE Core option). No: next question.
- Is it an Australian visa application? Yes: take PTE Academic (listed by Australia's Department of Home Affairs). No: next step.
- Anything else: take the exact test your university or visa page names; Academic, UKVI and Core are different tests.
Decision table
| Your situation | What to take | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Applying for Express Entry, no strong preference | Whichever gives the higher lowest-skill CLB on a full mock | IRCC treats both the same |
| Comfortable taking a test on a computer | Try a PTE Core mock | Pearson says PTE Core is taken on a computer at an authorised test centre |
| Unsure about the format of either test | Read both official test pages before you book | Formats differ; confirm the details with Pearson and the IELTS test owner |
| Listening is your weakest skill and you need CLB 8 | Compare carefully | IELTS CLB 8 listening needs 7.5, PTE Core needs 71 |
| Applying to a college or university only | The test the school lists | IRCC sets no test for the study permit |
| Studying now, may apply for PR or a work permit later | Check both IRCC lists before you book | The Academic tests are not on the Express Entry or work permit lists |
Study in Canada: PTE Academic or IELTS Academic
IRCC's study permit eligibility page does not name a language test or score for the permit itself, so the admission rule comes from the institution. Source: IRCC, study permit eligibility. Checked 10 Oct 2026. Pearson states that PTE Academic is recognised by 100% of Canadian universities and colleges, and that IRCC recognises PTE Core for permanent residence and citizenship applications. Source: Pearson, PTE for Canada. Checked 10 Oct 2026. Pearson is the test owner, so treat this as its claim and still read your own course page.
We did not confirm an official statement from IELTS on Canadian institution acceptance, so this page makes no claim about it. Open the English requirement on each programme page and note the test, the overall score, the per-skill minimum and how old a result can be. See PTE requirement for a Canada study permit for how to check this step by step.
One more point for students. IRCC's page for post-graduation work permit language results lists CELPIP General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core, and it does not mention the Academic tests. Source: IRCC, language results for the post-graduation work permit. Checked 10 Oct 2026. That means a student may take an Academic test to get in and a General or Core test later. Read the current rule before you book either.
What to do next
- Decide your goal: PR, study or both.
- Take one full mock of each test in the same week, and convert every skill with the IRCC table above.
- Pick the test where your lowest skill reaches the target CLB with the least gap.
- Book only after checking the result-age rule: under 2 years at profile and at application.
- Train the weak skill with speaking practice and the other practice sections on this site.
For a general comparison of the two tests, see PTE vs IELTS.
Frequently asked questions
Is PTE or IELTS better for Canada PR?
Neither is better in the eyes of IRCC. Express Entry accepts both PTE Core and IELTS General Training, and each is converted to the same CLB levels. Pick the one where your four skill scores reach the CLB level you need, and take a practice test of each to find out. The side-by-side table on this page shows the numbers.
Can I use PTE Academic or IELTS Academic for Express Entry?
No. IRCC's Express Entry page lists IELTS General Training and PTE Core, and it says the General Training or Core option must be taken. The page does not mention Academic tests, so an Academic result should not be relied on. If you plan to apply for PR later, the study test will not be enough.
Which test do I need for the post-graduation work permit?
IRCC's language results page for the post-graduation work permit lists CELPIP General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core for English, plus TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French. It does not list the Academic tests. So a student who took IELTS Academic or PTE Academic for admission may need to test again for the work permit. Confirm the current rule on canada.ca before you book.
Is PTE accepted for a Canadian study permit?
IRCC's study permit eligibility page does not set a language test for the permit itself. The college or university decides which test it accepts and what score it needs. Pearson states that PTE Academic is recognised by 100% of Canadian universities and colleges, but check your own course page for the exact score and test.
My PTE score is 72 in every skill. What CLB is that?
On the IRCC table for PTE Core, 72 is CLB 8 in listening (71-81) and reading (69-77), but CLB 7 in speaking (68-75) and writing (69-78). Your level is set by the lowest skill, so this result is CLB 7 overall for Express Entry purposes. Raising speaking to 76 and writing to 79 would move you to CLB 8.
Does the Express Entry language result expire?
Yes. IRCC says the result must be less than 2 years old when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you submit your permanent residence application. Plan the test date around both moments, not only the first one.
Official sources
- canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-test.html (checked 2026-10-10)
- canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/after-graduation/eligibility/language-results.html (checked 2026-10-10)
- canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/eligibility.html (checked 2026-10-10)
- pearsonpte.com/destination-canada/ (checked 2026-10-10)
- pearsonpte.com/pte-core (checked 2026-10-10)
- immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language (checked 2026-10-10)
- gov.uk/guidance/prove-your-english-language-abilities-with-a-secure-english-language-test-selt (checked 2026-10-10)