Canada's Point System: Language Tests vs. Written Proof

one of the requirements for obtaining points in canada's point system is your fluency to canada's official languages.

as i have previously mentioned, a mere self-assessment of your proficiency is not enough. you have to provide proof. this can be done by either taking a language test (such as IELTS) or by submitting a written proof of your proficiency.

there are 3 common concerns that make an applicant think twice about taking the IELTS.

1. cost. the current cost for taking an IELTS test in the philippines is now at PhP8,960. if you want to take a workshop to review your english skills, the course fee is PhP2,200. the workshop is not a requirement though. and if you think you are proficient enough, then it is not necessary to take it. i did not take any workshops prior to taking the test and i still did great on my test.

2. test schedule. due to the number of people taking the IELTS, waiting time may be quite long. it is advisable to schedule your test early especially if you are taking the test in manila. i waited until the last minute to schedule my test only to find out that the earliest available slot was in 4 months time. since i was pressed for time, i ended up flying to davao to take the test.

3. fear of not passing the test. from what i hear, a lot of people fail this test. and failing this test is not only frustrating but also costly. when i took the test, i met a number of people who were taking the test for the second time. a portion of the test uses recorded instructions and questions and these are recorded by someone who has a british accent. someone who is not used to listening to the british accent may have difficulty in following the questions. preparing well for the test is definitely the key. you may check out these sites to help you prepare for the test.

i took the IELTS myself and personally, i would recommend it too despite the above concerns. the cost for taking the test may be a lot more expensive than providing a written proof but it is definitely worth the cost. especially if you think you can score some big points.

the one thing i like about taking the IELTS is that it quantifies your level of proficiency. your score on the test is equal to a certain number of points. there is definitely no second-guessing and you get to see how many points you scored before it even gets sent out to the canadian embassy.

on the other hand, when you submit a written proof (such as a certificate from your school), there is no guarantee as to how many points you will get. you submit the written proof together with your application and the embassy determines the number of points that your application merits. if you are not pressed to get more points, then i guess it would be okay to gamble with this option.

ultimately, it is your decision as to how you want to go about submitting your proof of language proficiency. try to weigh out all the pros and cons and choose which is best for you.

if you want to take a sample IELTS test, click here.