There are many different types of assessments you can get. If you need your English evaluated for a specific reason such as for university, you should contact who is asking for an evaluation and clarify what kind of assessment you need.
You may need an English assessment if you wish to apply for a…
The government funds a number of different language programs which are free for eligible adults learners. In order to register into one of these English classes, you will need to take a test at a language assessment centre in order for the government to determine your English proficiency level. It is free to take the test, however you need to make an appointment before you go.
Most likely the language assessment centre will be assessing you off the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) classification as that is what many government-funded programs use . These benchmarks describe your English language level in reading, writing, listening and speaking. In order to find a language assessment centre near you, use this link here.
Before you go to your appointment, you can do a mock test of sorts. Using the following link will bring you to a free online self-assessment of your CLB level in reading and listening. Remember, please be aware that these test results are unofficial and only for you to gain a better understanding of your CLB level.
These assessments are also available in French for government-funded French classes. The French equivalent to CLB is the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC).
If you want to apply for a college or university, or to get a licence for your profession, you might need to take a standard test, such as:
In order to apply for citizenship you can use proof of language ability (in English or French) from a third party. These specific organizations are approved by the government and will work as proof you have adequate knowledge of English or French.
If you decide not to use proof of language ability from one of the third parties above, you can show that you have completed a LINC course or a provincially-funded language training course in Manitoba, British Columbia or Quebec at CLB/NCLC level 4 or higher.
For a list of documents that meet the requirements please see the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. There are different language requirements for various immigration and visa programs. The requirements and language evaluation processes differ depending on the program so double check what you require.
