Who needs a language test for the PGWP?
Everyone who submits a PGWP application on or after November 1, 2024 needs one, except graduates of a PGWP-eligible flight school. Unlike the field-of-study rule, the date of your study permit application does not matter here.
This is the most common misunderstanding about the 2024 changes. Some students think they are exempt because they applied for their study permit before November 1, 2024. That exemption only exists for the field-of-study rule. For language, what counts is the date you submit the PGWP application.
You also do not need new language results when you apply to:
- extend your PGWP because your first permit was cut short by your passport’s expiry date, or
- change the conditions on your PGWP, for example after a medical exam.
Do I need CLB 7 or CLB 5?
You need CLB 7 (NCLC 7 in French) in all four skills if you graduate with a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, or from any university program, even one that does not end in a degree. You need CLB 5 (NCLC 5) in all four skills if you graduate from a college, polytechnic or other non-university program that does not lead to a degree.
Two cases people get wrong:
- A degree from a college or polytechnic. Since March 11, 2025, a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from a non-university school needs CLB 7, the same as a university degree. Only applications made between November 1, 2024 and March 10, 2025 could use CLB 5.
- A graduate certificate at a university. It is a university program, so it needs CLB 7, even though it is not a degree.
If you combine two programs to get a longer PGWP, you must meet the higher language level of the two.
What are the minimum scores for each test?
You must reach the level in every one of the four skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. One low skill is enough to fail the requirement.
These are the lowest scores that reach each level, taken from IRCC’s PGWP conversion tables:
| Test | CLB / NCLC 7 | CLB / NCLC 5 |
|---|---|---|
| CELPIP-General | 7 in each skill | 5 in each skill |
| IELTS General Training | R 6.0, W 6.0, L 6.0, S 6.0 | R 4.0, W 5.0, L 5.0, S 5.0 |
| PTE Core | R 60, W 69, L 60, S 68 | R 42, W 51, L 39, S 51 |
| TEF Canada (after Dec 10, 2023) | R 434, W 428, L 434, S 456 | R 352, W 330, L 352, S 387 |
| TCF Canada | R 453, W 10, L 458, S 10 | R 375, W 6, L 369, S 6 |
IRCC accepts only these five tests for the PGWP. For IELTS, take General Training. For CELPIP, take CELPIP-General. For Pearson, take PTE Core. IRCC says tests should be taken in person.
How old can my test results be?
Your results must be less than 2 years old on the day you submit your PGWP application. A test you took for your study permit may already be too old by the time you graduate.
Check the date on your test report form, not the date you received the result. If you took a test at the start of a 2-year program, it will likely have expired by the time you apply. Plan a new test in your final semester so the results arrive before your 180-day window gets short.
How do I submit my language results?
Upload your test results with your online PGWP application. IRCC’s document checklist shows language results as “optional”, but if your program needs them, you must include them.
This “optional” label has caused refusals. IRCC’s officer instructions give the example of an applicant who applied after November 1, 2024 without approved test results, and the application is refused. Officers are told that applicants were warned about this in the guides.
If you cannot complete one or more sections of the test because of a disability, you can still qualify. IRCC can accept results for up to 3 missing skills using averaged scores from its language averaging tool. You must upload the averaged scores and an explanation in the “Client information” section. Without that explanation, incomplete results may lead to a refusal.
What if one of my scores is too low?
Retake the test before your 180-day window ends and apply with the new result. There is no way to average a low skill with a high one, and IRCC does not accept a score one level short.
Some practical points:
- Count your days. The 180 days start from your final marks, your completion letter or your credential, whichever comes first.
- Test results take time to arrive. Book early enough that you still have time to apply.
- Do not let your study permit expire while you wait for a retest. See what to do if your permit is expiring.
Your language results matter after the PGWP too. Higher scores raise your Express Entry score. See how a PGWP leads to permanent residence.