English and French Tests When Immigrating to Canada

by Amy Nutt

When immigrating to a foreign country, one is faced with new customs and languages. In Canada, new immigrants applying as a "skilled immigrant" are required to pass either an English or French language test. French tests are mandatory for those immigrating to the province of Quebec. Learning to speak and read English is essential and mandatory in Canada because businesses and services are provided using the English language. This includes such areas as hospitals, retail businesses, emergency services, etc.

Skilled workers are chosen as permanent residents of Canada on the basis of their education, work experience, knowledge of English and/or French, work experience, age, whether they have arranged employment in Canada, number of dependents, and other factors that prove that they have the ability to maintain economical stability. The province of Quebec is responsible for selecting its own skilled workers.

When immigrating to Canada, you are required to prove your English language skills by taking a language proficiency test that is approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). By taking the IELTS Test (International English Language Testing System) new immigrants will see how many points they will receive for the language section of the test. If the score in the language test is between 7.0 and 9.0, then four immigration points are awarded for that part of the test. Immigration points are awarded for each individual part and then totaled.

If the score is within 5.0 to 6.9, two immigration points are awarded. If the score is less than 5.0, no immigration points are awarded for that section. The test is designed for people who intend to study or work where English is the communication language.

The IELTS is used all over the world to measure the ability of a person to communicate in English. IELTS measures the ability to communicate in English in the four language skills that includes listening, reading, writing, and speaking. More than 6,000 education institutions, government agencies, faculties, and professional organizations recognize IELTS scores as an honest assessment of one's ability to communicate in English. As one of the fastest growing English language tests in the world, the IELTS is taken every year by millions of people across 120 countries.

Canadian tests are placed in two categories that include:

Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Test-General: Assesses proficiency levels of general reading and writing skills. Results are accepted by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for immigration points. It is also appropriate for certain post-secondary and employment training programs where practical reading and writing skills are required.

The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Test-Academic: Assesses proficiency of beginning college or university-level reading and writing. The test is made up of four subtests that include: sentence structure, reading comprehension, English usage, and essay writing. Results are used for university or college programs where a higher level of English communication and composition skills are required.

The process of taking the English language tests involves the following steps:

- Make arrangements with an approved testing organization - Pay for the cost of testing. - Include the results of your test with the immigration application. - The CIC will use the test results as proof of your language skills. - Language test results are valid for one year from the date that the test was taken.

The rules for applying for immigration as a skilled worker to Canada can change, so before you apply, make sure you check the current application procedures and most recent selection standards. Once you have all your papers in order, you can prepare for your new life in a warm and welcoming country.

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