Applications received on or after January 1, 2015, for permanent residence programs subject to Express Entry: Language test scores for persons with disabilities

To demonstrate they meet the requirements of at least one of the three programs managed through Express Entry, foreign nationals must record a score for each language skill area (reading, writing, listening and speaking) when they complete their Express Entry profile and electronic application for permanent residence (e-APR).

Pursuant to the public policy under section A25.2 for persons whose language skills cannot be fully tested due to a disability, if it is determined that an applicant requires accommodation, the applicant may be exempted from the requirement to provide assessment results in up to three of four language skill areas, provided that notionalized (averaged) scores are provided. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will accept averaged scores generated by the designated language organization or by the department’s language averaging tool.

More information: Public policy concerning economic class permanent residence applicants and Express Entry candidates whose language proficiency cannot be tested in all four language skill areas due to a physical or mental disability.

Exemptions provided by language testing organizations

Not all testing organizations designated by IRCC provide exemptions on language evaluations. Pearson Canada Inc. (PTE Core) and Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada) do not currently provide exemptions on language evaluations.

An individual must provide medical documentation to the language testing organization to be exempted from being tested on a specific language skill area due to a disability. These accommodations, although not standardized between organizations, typically include modified test materials, extra time to complete the test and the use of assistive technology.

When an individual cannot be evaluated on a portion of the test, even with accommodations, the testing organization will note the exemption as follows:

• CELPIP test correctors will mark the incomplete section(s) of the test as “Nul.”
• TEF Canada correctors will mark the incomplete section(s) as “N/A.”
• The IELTS test correctors will provide averaged band scores on the exempted section(s) of the test, based on the average score of the completed sections, and will indicate under “Administrator Comments” that the score has been notionalized (averaged).

Applicants who notionalize (average) their language score(s)

Foreign nationals are instructed to get their averaged scores through the department’s language averaging tool, and to use these scores when submitting their profiles in the Express Entry Profile Builder, and when submitting their e-APR. The exception to this rule is foreign nationals who have taken an IELTS test, and who will receive an already notionalized (averaged) score directly from IELTS based on the average of their other band scores.

If a foreign national is invited to apply for permanent residence and submits an e-APR with averaged language test scores, the application will be accepted as complete and flagged for further review. The language test form will indicate that averaged scores have been used.

Officers can use the department’s language averaging tool to confirm that applicants’ averaged language test scores are entered correctly.