PTE Academic test will be accepted in Canada for Student Direct Stream applications.
Canada will begin accepting the PTE Academic on August 10 for all SDS (Student Direct Stream) applicants.
This clearance comes in the wake of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) earlier this year validation of PTE Core as evidence of English language competency for Canadian citizenship or permanent residency.
PTE Academic exams taken prior to August 10 will be accepted for SDS as long as they are submitted after this date and within the IRCC-specified expiry window.
Students from Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam can apply for an expedited study permit under the SDS program.
Canada is a terrific country for students to study since it has top-notch universities, stunning landscapes, and a vibrant nightlife. I’m happy that Pearson can assist more test takers in realizing their aspiration of attending that university now that PTE Academic is recognized for SDS reasons. According to Pearson CEO Andy Bird.
In addition, he said, “This recognition follows closely on the heels of PTE Core’s approval for Canadian economic migration purposes earlier this year and reflects our determination to make PTE the test of choice for everyone wanting to live, work, or study abroad.”
Prior to the PTE’s adoption, the IRCC only recognized the CELPIP and IELTS General Training as valid indicators of candidates’ English language abilities.
PTE Academic is already accepted by the governments of the UK, Australia, and New Zealand for all visa applications. Numerous colleges in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK, and the USA also recognize PTE Academic.
According to the most recent IRCC data for 2022, Canada’s international student population reached an all-time high. By the end of October 2022, IRCC had completed processing more than 750,300 study permit applications.
The applicant for the study permit must be a legitimate resident of one of the nations listed above in order to be qualified for priority processing under the SDS.
Additionally, when submitting their study permit application, candidates must include the following supporting documentation:
- Proof that tuition has been paid to the postsecondary designated learning institution mentioned in (1) for the first year of study.
- A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of CAN$10,000.
- An acceptance letter from a postsecondary designated learning institution, as per section 211.1 of the IRPR.
- A police certificate; a recent secondary or higher school transcript.
- A language test result in accordance with these Instructions.
- A medical examination in accordance with section 29 of the IRPR.
Applicants intending to study in Quebec must also have a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration.
Study Permit - Scores you need to be eligible for the SDS
a score that is equivalent to a Canadian Language Benchmarks score of at least 7 for each of the four language abilities (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) on the General ELTS, General CELPIP, General TEF, or General TCF exams; or
the following tests with minimum scores in each of the four language skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing): IELTS Academic (minimum score of 6), CAEL (minimum score of 60), Pearson PTE Academic (minimum score of 60), TEF – 5 épreuves (minimum score of 400), and TCF – tout public (minimum score of 400); or
scores from the TOEFL iBT Academic Test from Educational Testing Service (ETS) with scores for each of the four language skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) (minimum score of 83).
