CELPIP vs IELTS: Which Exam is Right for You?

Aaron Nelson: 00:00:00

One of the most common questions I see in Facebook groups and discussions on LinkedIn related to Canadian immigration and CELPIP Prep is what exam should I pick to study for the CELPIP or the IELTS? The underlying question, or the question behind that question is I have to do one of these exams in order to get my PR here in Canada.

So which one is easier? Well, if you've been wondering about that question, then today's episode is all for you.

Well, hello there and welcome to the Speak English Fearlessly Podcast.

This is the podcast for motivated English learners who want to speak English fearlessly and learn practical tips and strategies to conquer the self of exam.

I also love to feature encouraging interviews with regular people, people just like you, who are working towards becoming fluent in English so we can learn from their experiences together. Who am I?

My name is Aaron Nelson and I've been an English teacher for over 17 years, and I am a certified CELPIP trainer, and I now help students prepare for the CELPIP exam through online classes. Like I said in the intro, I see this question all the time and I've tried to answer it a bunch of times in those Facebook groups.

So I thought I would share my answer here with you today, in case you're wondering the very same thing. Because here's the thing I've learned.

If more than one person is asking the same question, you can bet that many others are struggling with the same thing. Maybe even you. And I also know how important these exams are for you.

It's likely the only obstacle standing in the way to you getting your PR status or your citizenship status here in Canada. So much can ride on this exam. So it's vital to make sure you're doing everything you can do to take the exam that is right for you.

And that's my objective with today's episode. To leave you feeling absolutely certain about the choice you're making, be it the IELTS or the CELPIP.

And if you know someone who might find this episode helpful, please share it with them. Okay, let's dig in, shall we?

First, in order to decide what is better for you, the CELPIP or the IELTS, you need to know what your immigration objectives are. Here's what I mean by that.

Choosing the exam that is right for you depends a great deal on what you're wanting to achieve with your immigration status. If you're hoping to use your immigration status to study in Canada or abroad, you might want to aim for the IELTS.

It is widely accepted as an English proficiency exam to enroll in Canadian universities as well as universities around the world. My wife used the IELTS in order to enroll in a university program soon after we arrived in Canada.

Yes, the CELPIP can also help with that, but IELTS has been around way longer and is recognized globally more than the CELPIP, at least right now and for academic purposes. And that leads to my second point.

If your goals are to have your options open not only here in Canada but elsewhere, then you likely should choose the IELTS for the reason I just mentioned. It's widely recognized. Another reason to choose the IELTS is based on what you're already used to, and this is really important.

If you have been working on your English skills for a long time now, pay attention to the kinds of English accents you've been training with.

When my wife and I ran an English training school in Mexico City, our course materials were almost 100% featuring British English with some American accents.

If that has been your background extensive practice with British English, then you'll want to likely consider the IELTS because it tends to lean heavily towards British, Australian and American accents.

In other words, if that has been your practice over the years, British English, for example, then your ears might already be tuned to do well on the IELTS. So go with that.

And finally, if you prefer interacting with a real person in the speaking portion of the exam, then you should definitely choose the IELTS. During the speaking portion of the exam, you'll be talking with an examiner.

Now the CELPIP, on the other hand, is highly focused for immigration purposes. If your sole or only objective is to get your PR or citizenship status here in Canada, then the CELPIP is likely the way to go for you.

It's very different when compared to the IELTS, which has a strong kind of academic flavor to it. The CELPIP is focused completely on the English you'll need to be able to use for everyday life here in Canada.

And that means the only accents you're going to need to learn to listen to is the Canadian one. You won't need to worry about British or American English because they won't be on the exam.

This is especially useful if you've already been living here in Canada. You've got unlimited practice opportunities all around you in Canadian English.

Another reason to choose the CELPIP is is if you find it challenging to talk to a real person in a high pressure situation like an exam. Like if sitting in front of an examiner makes you sweat, then probably you should not pick the IELTS.

You should choose the CELPIP that's one of the key benefits of that exam. You never will need to speak to a person when you're answering your exam. It's 100% computer based and this can be less stressful for some.

So how do you get ready for these two exams? I've helped students prepare for both the IELTS and the CELPIP.

For the IELTS, one of the most important things you can be doing to get ready is to be exposing yourself to a wide variety of content and topics in English. Be making sure that you're listening to British and American English accents on a regular basis.

Also, be sure you're reading a wide variety of content in English. Don't focus on one content theme like IT or business. Going wide means exploring content about many different topics.

For the CELPIP, the best approach to preparing for this exam is you actually engaging as widely and often as you can with the English happening all around you.

Here in Canada, the more you're actively using your English with local native English speakers and the more you're listening to Canadian radio or tv for example, the better. In other words, for the IELTS, focus on British and American English accents as much as you can. On the CELPIP.

Focus completely on Canadian English and Canadian content. In both of the exams you should go wide. Don't just focus on one kind of topic. Being able to engage with a variety of materials will help you so much.

Now the big question, which exam is easier, the IELTS or the CELPIP? You know what? I think both are equally as challenging in that you need to have a wide experience with English to do well in them.

But think carefully about what you're more experienced with when it comes to accents. Learning to understand a new accent can be so tough, so don't add extra layers of difficulty to your plate. Go with what you're more familiar with.

If you're already here in Canada and your primary goal is resolving your immigration status and you don't care about studying in a university at some point, I think the CELPIP is the choice to go with simply because of the access to everyday Canadian English you have around you to help you prepare. The CELPIP is much more practical in everyday English situations.

The IELTS is much more academically focused and will definitely help you if your goal is ongoing academic studies. And it will definitely help you if you're objective is not only immigration, but study focused.

Like if your goal is to try to get into a university somewhere in Canada or globally somewhere, then definitely I would lean towards the IELTS over the CELPIP, my friend. I hope this has helped you decide which exam is right for you. Thank you so much for listening to today's episode.

I hope that you will return next Tuesday for the next edition of the Speak English Fearlessly podcast. Have a great week. Bye.