Assessment of points for proficiency in the official languages of Canada shall be awarded up to a maximum of 24 points (up to 16 points for high proficiency in the first official language, and up to 8 points for high proficiency in the second official language). The applicant must specify in the application which of the two languages, English or French, is to be considered the first and second official language (Regulation 79(1)). The points awarded are based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks 2000 for English and the Standards Linguistiques Canadiens 2002 for French (Regulation 79(2)).
CANADIAN LANGUAGE BENCHMARKS AND APPROVED TESTS
The Canadian Government has requirements for the three levels of proficiency, and have approved tests for proficiency in both English and French.
There are currently one approved English Language tests, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
The approved language exam for French is the Test d'Evaluation de Francais or TEF.
Use these links for an illustrated example of the how the Canadian Language Benchmark is used.
- High Proficiency
- Moderate Proficiency
- Basic Proficiency
PROOF OF PROFICIENCY
Regulation 79(1) provides that proficiency may be established through approved testing or by providing other evidence of proficiency in writing. Under the new Regulations there is no longer a requirement to interview applicants. The selection standards are designed to be objective and clearly defined to allow officers to assess eligibility through the information provided on the application and supporting documentation. Therefore, having completed an approved language test is the best assurance that the correct number of points will be awarded, as the test results are conclusive proof (Regulation 79(4)).
Applicants who do not take one of the approved tests are subjecting themselves to one of the few areas of subjectivity in the skilled worker class. If an applicant provides a written explanation and supporting documentation in lieu of test results, the officer must assess proficiency against the Canadian Language Benchmarks. Given the detailed nature of these Benchmarks and the difficulty of providing objective evidence to establish high or moderate proficiency, it would be strongly advised to complete the tests.
The guidelines in Chapter OP6, s. 10.10 indicate, however, that where an applicant has been raised, educated, and employed in an environment where one of the official languages is in predominant use, a written explanation will usually suffice to establish high proficiency in that language.
