The Educational Testing Service (ETS), the administrator of the TOEFL exam, announced that it has been added as a designated language testing organization by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
According to ETS, the TOEFL Essentials test will soon be accepted for permanent residence (PR) applications under Canada’s economic immigration programs, including:
- Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, Canadian Experience Class)
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs, with provinces deciding individually whether to adopt it)
About the TOEFL Essentials Test
The TOEFL Essentials exam lasts about 1.5 hours and covers Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, along with a short unscored Personal Video Statement. It measures both academic and general English through fast-paced, task-based activities that reflect real-life communication. ETS named the test “Essentials” because it focuses on the core, essential language skills in a shorter and more streamlined format compared to the longer TOEFL iBT. Test takers receive instant unofficial results for Listening and Reading, while official scores are typically available within six days. Score reports can also be sent to an unlimited number of institutions at no extra cost.
Other Accepted English Tests by IRCC
- CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
- PTE Core (Pearson Test of English)
