Canada Accepts TOEFL Essentials for Economic Migration
2 Min Read
In a significant development for international applicants, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that it will now accept the TOEFL Essentials test for permanent economic immigration pathways. The move marks the first time this alternative test, designed by ETS, has been officially recognised for migration purposes in Canada.
Until now, the language testing space was dominated by IELTS General, CELPIP, and the newer PTE Core. Experts suggest that TOEFL Essentials’ inclusion will not only provide applicants with more choice but also introduce healthy competition in terms of pricing and accessibility.
Michael Goodine, an English testing expert, noted that the currently accepted tests often cost upwards of CAD $350. He highlighted that ETS has “a golden opportunity to introduce a more affordable product that puts pressure on the other players to be a bit more competitive in terms of pricing.”
Although ETS raised the price of TOEFL Essentials to USD $199 earlier this year, the test is still viewed as a relatively accessible option. It lasts around one and a half hours, uses AI scoring, and features a broader mix of question types compared with traditional exams.
As the IRCC only accepts in-person tests, TOEFL Essentials will also expand testing infrastructure across different regions, potentially easing access for candidates in remote areas. This expansion is expected to reduce travel time for many test-takers across Canada.
While initially developed as a shorter alternative to TOEFL iBT for academic use, ETS has positioned TOEFL Essentials as a test suited to immigration and professional pathways. This aligns with Canada’s broader immigration strategy, which seeks to attract skilled workers in healthcare, engineering, and technology under its 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan.
Goodine added that this marks the first direct competition between TOEFL and the modern PTE Core, signalling a shift in Canada’s English testing market. Notably, the University of Ottawa already accepts TOEFL Essentials, and observers believe it could become the only test usable for both academic admissions and immigration purposes.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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