A language test result in English or French, where the school's admission or the visa office's own checklist asks for one, showing the applicant can follow the programme.
What IRCC Officers Look For
A language test is a supporting requirement, relevant where the school's admission or the visa office's own checklist asks for one. Its job is to show you can follow the programme.
A useful result shows which test, the score for each skill, the test date, and whether it has expired. It also matters if your letter of acceptance is conditional on a language level: the result either meets that condition or it does not.
Accepted tests include IELTS Academic, TOEFL, PTE Academic, Duolingo, CELPIP, TEF, and TCF; check which ones your school and visa office accept.
Evidence Strength
Strong Evidence
Score report from a test your school or visa office accepts, with a score for each skill
A test date that is recent and not expired
A result that meets any language condition in the letter of acceptance
Consistency between the result and the language of your programme
Weak Evidence
A score report that has expired
A test the school or visa office does not accept
A result below a language condition in the letter of acceptance
A result with scores for only some skills
Common Refusal / Processing Triggers
Common Problems
An expired test result.
A test that the school or visa office does not accept.
A letter of acceptance conditional on a language level that the result does not meet.
Submitting only part of the score report, so the skill scores are missing.
Tips for Strengthening Your Evidence
Pro Tips
Check whether your school's admission and your visa office's checklist ask for a test, and which tests they accept.
Upload the full score report with each skill and the test date.
If the letter of acceptance is conditional on a language level, say in your study plan how the condition is met.