CELPIP & CAEL
The two English proficiency tests recognized by IRCC and Canadian universities — for permanent residence, professional designations and academic admission. Nexora guides you through registration, preparation and test day.
Which test is right for you?
Both are designed for real Canadian English — but each serves a different goal. Compare them below.
CELPIP-General
The English proficiency test of choice for Canadian immigration — designated by IRCC for permanent residence applications and accepted for the Student Direct Stream.
- Officially designated by IRCC for permanent residence
- Accepted for the Student Direct Stream (SDS)
- North American accent, everyday-life scenarios
- Computer-based, one sitting, about 3 hours
CAEL
The only test built around authentic academic language use in a Canadian classroom — evaluating the skills you'll actually need in your first year at a Canadian university or college.
- Accepted by 180+ Canadian universities and colleges
- Includes all English U15 institutions
- Up to CAD $10,000 in CAEL Scholarships
- Online, one sitting, 3 hours 30 minutes
Instructors
The team guiding your CELPIP and CAEL preparation.
What to expect on test day
Both tests are completed in a single sitting, entirely on a computer.
CELPIP-General
Click a section of the timeline (or a row below) to see it highlighted.
Listening — listen to passages and respond to questions
47–55 minReading — read passages and respond to questions
55–60 minWriting — respond to prompts in writing
53–60 minSpeaking — respond verbally to on-screen prompts
15–20 minCAEL
Click a section of the timeline (or a row below) to see it highlighted.
Speaking — reply to on-screen prompts verbally
7–10 minIntegrated Reading — read passages and reply to questions
35–50 minIntegrated Listening — listen to passages and reply to questions
25–35 minAcademic Unit A — answer comprehension questions and write a reply
60–70 minAcademic Unit B — answer comprehension questions and write a reply
40–45 minUnderstand your results
Both tests use their own scale — here's how to read your score.
CELPIP ↔ CLB Equivalency
| CELPIP Level | CLB Level |
|---|---|
| 12 | 12 |
| 11 | 11 |
| 10 | 10 |
| 9 | 9 |
| 8 | 8 |
| 7 | 7 |
| 6 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 4 | 4 |
| 3 | 3 |
| M | 0, 1, 2 |
CAEL Band Descriptors
| CAEL Score | Band Descriptor |
|---|---|
| 80–90 | Expert — High level of competence, accuracy and effectiveness in academic/professional settings |
| 70 | Adept — Generally accurate language in most settings; some limitations in flexibility |
| 60 | Advanced — Competence in academic or professional settings |
| 50 | High Intermediate — Some competence in academic or professional settings; communication may break down in places |
| 40 | Intermediate — Some ability to comprehend and articulate complex academic/professional ideas and arguments |
| 30 | High Beginner — Expresses basic ideas about familiar topics in routine settings |
| 10–20 | Low Beginner — Communicates with limited ability |
Designed to be taken, not feared
Computer-Based Exam
Includes a timer, word counter and spellchecker — done from a single device.
Fast Online Results
Available online in a matter of business days, sent directly to accepting institutions.
Free Practice Materials
Sample tests, webinars, pretest sittings and prep programs included with your account.
Authentic, Real-Life English
Everyday and academic scenarios — not abstract grammar drills.
Test where you are
CELPIP alone is offered at 140+ centers across the world — including online sittings for CAEL from home.
What test takers say
You can test on a computer, in Canadian English, with fast results.
Convenient test dates, and more affordable than other options.
It felt like speaking English in real life — with my boss and friends.
The questions felt like conversations I'd already had personally.
Test fees & scholarships
Pricing may vary by country and test center — confirm your local fee with our team.
CELPIP-General
+ applicable taxes · international reference price, may vary by country
CAEL (Mexico)
≈ $280 CAD · weekly online sittings across Mexico
CAEL Scholarships
Awarded to test takers who score a CAEL 70 or higher, to help fund studies at Canadian post-secondary institutions.
Frequently asked questions
CELPIP is designated by IRCC for immigration purposes (permanent residence, professional designations, Student Direct Stream). CAEL is built specifically for academic admission, evaluating the language skills used in a Canadian university or college classroom.
Yes — both are completed on a computer in a single sitting. CAEL can be done from a home computer, following the same format as the in-person CAEL CE.
CELPIP results are typically available online within a matter of business days; CAEL results are available online in about 8 business days, sent to up to five institutions at no extra cost.
Yes — both CELPIP and CAEL offer free sample tests, webinars and prep materials directly through your test account.
Yes — our team can guide you through registration, connect you with official free practice resources, and advise on the right test for your immigration or academic goal.