Pearson opens bookings for new PTE Core English proficiency test for Canadian economic migration visa purposes

PTE Author
PTE Author
Woman smiling holding maple leaf
Reading time: 3 minutes

LONDON - January 30, 2024Pearson (FTSE: PSON.L), the world’s leading learning company, today announced that bookings are now open for PTE Core, its newest English language proficiency test. PTE Core received approval from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) last year and can now be taken to provide proof of English language proficiency for the purposes of permanent economic immigration to Canada or Canadian citizenship. The first PTE Core tests can be taken from February 12 onwards.

PTE Core is a new addition to the Pearson Test of English portfolio, sharing many of the unique characteristics of PTE Academic. It is a two-hour, computer-based exam taken in a test centre environment that tests four key English language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The key difference is that PTE Core is relevant for the vocational test taker, designed with a real-life, non-academic focus. It was created to meet Canada’s specific migration needs and the IRCC’s language proficiency requirements, but could be used to assess the English proficiency of vocational test takers in any country.

Gio Giovannelli, President of the English Language Learning division at Pearson, said: “We are excited to roll out PTE Core to test takers across the world. It was designed to test real life language skills and allows test takers to showcase their proficiency and be themselves in English. Whether people are looking to work, study or migrate to Canada, there’s a Pearson English language proficiency test that suits their requirements.”

Every year, Canada welcomes hundreds of thousands of permanent residents, temporary foreign workers (TFWs), students, and visitors. Canada also supports the reunification of families and the protection of refugees and persons at risk. With an increased focus on supporting Canada’s economic resurgence and post-pandemic growth, IRCC is increasing its Levels Plan to further address the growing demand for the coming years. With high demand in Canada for professionals in areas such as nursing, engineering and web development, the approval of PTE Core arrives at a good time for test takers and opens new opportunities for Pearson.

PTE Core was created in response to Canadian economic migration needs. Alongside this, PTE Academic was accepted from August 2023 by IRCC as an approved English proficiency test for all Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa applications – it is already recognised by more than 97 per cent of universities and 95 per cent of colleges in Canada. The UK, Australian and New Zealand governments also accept PTE tests for all visa applications. PTE Academic is also accepted by 100 per cent of Australian, New Zealand and Irish Universities and 99 per cent of UK universities.

The fully digital PTE Core test is delivered through Pearson VUE, the computer-based testing business of Pearson. The latest AI technology, calibrated and reviewed by human raters, is used for scoring, and biometric data collection provides enhanced security measures. These cutting-edge technologies ensure the provision of an impartial and highly accurate test of a test taker’s English language proficiency.

Furthermore, test takers can book PTE Core online up to 24 hours in advance, take advantage of year-round worldwide test centre slots and receive their results on average within two days.

PTE Core will be rolled out across Pearson’s existing network, with more than 400 PTE centres in 118 countries. This includes 25 test centres across Canada.

About Pearson

At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to add life to a lifetime of learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. That’s why our c.18,000 Pearson employees are committed to creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are the world’s leading learning company, serving customers in c.200 countries with digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data. For us, learning isn’t just what we do. It’s who we are. Visit us at pearsonplc.com

About PTE

PTE Academic and PTE Academic Online provide secure English language testing for study applications worldwide, including Canada. PTE English proficiency tests are accepted for applications for work and migration in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. PTE Academic Online is not accepted for work and migration purposes. PTE Core is accepted for applications for permanent economic immigration to Canada. 

Media contact

media@pearson.com

Related Content

  • Image- Canadian flag, 667px
    ApplyProof and Pearson PTE partnership to help Canada bound students
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    Partnership enables universities and immigration agencies to verify scores in a ‘one-stop shop’ with no extra costs or additional steps for students.

    Wednesday, 26th May (AM) London: Pearson, the world’s learning company, has today announced a partnership with the international student recruitment platform, ApplyBoard to use its stand-alone document verification platform – ApplyProof.

    This new partnership will ensure that students taking PTE to study in Canada will have greater transparency and portability of their test results than ever before. ApplyProof will enable verifiers to access digital PTE results as needed, efficiently, and at no additional cost.

    Immigration officials, government agencies, schools, and others can require students to provide proof of English language proficiency. The ApplyProof technology affords a secure and decentralized solution to the challenge of verification. These stakeholders will be able to verify the validity of PTE test scores in seconds.

    In partnership with schools, colleges, and universities across Canada, ApplyProof already enables secure, efficient verification of official student documents such as Proof of Acceptance. The partnership with Pearson adds Proof of English Language Proficiency, a giant step toward ApplyProof serving as one place to verify international student documentation.

    Assia Hamdane, Pearson’s Director of PTE in Canada, said: “We are always looking for ways to make PTE an ever more beneficial, seamless, and effective experience for our test takers.

    “We believe our partnership with ApplyProof will help us do this by enabling students and verifiers to share and access PTE scores more quickly and easily than before.

    “More widely we look forward to the benefits of our innovative partnership having a positive impact on international student migration into Canada.”

    “We believe that partnering with Pearson will bring a new level of clarity, certainty, and ease-of-use to the processes for students, immigration officials, and institutions,” says ApplyProof Head, Iman Hassani.

    “ApplyProof and Pearson’s commitment to interoperability makes access and verification of results transparent and efficient. For students and users, ApplyProof makes their results truly portable.

    “ApplyProof enables admission and immigration stakeholders to trust the information submitted to them. All of that in a secure environment, accomplished in a matter of seconds.”

    PTE Academic is accepted by over 90% of Canadian Universities and colleges as proof of English language ability – 199 Canadian institutions and still growing.

    About ApplyProof

    ApplyProof, a stand-alone platform developed by ApplyBoard, transforms the way official student documents are verified and shared with students, government, and education stakeholders. Driven by the need for trust in international student documents and mitigating fraud, ApplyProof enables government stakeholders to verify the authenticity of a document by viewing the digital original held securely on ApplyProof servers using unique identifier passcodes. For more information visit https://www.applyproof.com/about

    About Pearson

    Learning is the most powerful force for change in the world. More than 20,000 Pearson employees deliver our products and services in nearly 200 countries, all working towards a common purpose – to help everyone achieve their potential through learning. We do that by providing high-quality, digital content and learning experiences, as well as assessments and qualifications that help people build their skills and grow with the world around them. We are the world’s leading learning company.

    Learn more at pearsonplc.com.

    Find out more about PTE – the leading English Language Proficiency test trusted by universities, colleges, and governments around the world.

  • Image- Turkey flag- 1080px
    Pearson PTE launches two new test centers to deliver Secure English Language Testing in Turkey
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    The centers will provide better choice and accessibility to study abroad aspirants.

    London and Turkey, June 23, 2021: Pearson, the world’s learning company, today announced that two PTE Centers in Turkey, namely, at Dokuz Eylul University (Izmir) and British Side English Language School (Ankara) will now offer PTE Secure English Language Testing (SELTs) to cater to the demand of study abroad aspirants. These tests have been approved by the UK Home Office and are used for UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) purposes. 

    These centers are fully equipped with state-of-the-art facility security measures and will increase accessibility for a fast, flexible, secure and unbiased exam for test-takers to ascertain their English language skills to work, settle or study abroad.

    These centers are in addition to two existing PTE UKVI locations in Istanbul.

    The language tests will be delivered through Pearson VUE’s test center network. Pearson VUE has implemented a number of proactive health and safety measures including, but not limited to, adhering to local social distancing requirements, readily available hand sanitiser, increased sanitisation in high touch areas, and the regular disinfection of testing workstations (completed between each test taker). These measures support the safety of both testing candidates and staff. Face masks are required at all Pearson VUE-owned test centers. 

    Senior Vice President for PTE at Pearson, Freya Thomas Monk, says these tests offer a fast, fair and convenient choice for anyone who wishes to work, study or come to live in the UK. Thomas Monk is excited about expanding PTE’s UKVI service in the country and believes that it will help many learners broaden their horizons and apply for opportunities in the UK. “The process is simple and brilliantly designed, interactive and a true reflection of someone’s language ability. We look forward to offering more choices and opportunities for students in Turkey.”

    Commenting on the launch of UKVI at the centers, Ipek Aydin, Head of PTE for the Middle East & North Africa said: “The number of students in Turkey aspiring to study abroad is increasing and an English language proficiency exam plays a crucial role in providing a pathway to enable them to do so.

    “The establishment of more UKVI test centers in the country supports Pearson’s aim to increase the reach of our centers across Turkey to offer easy, local access to a globally recognized, fast and reliable English language proficiency test for immigration and study abroad opportunities. We are committed to delivering a world-class experience to our test takers and will continue to build a robust network of test centers across the country.” 

    Pearson’s SELT tests are as follows:

    • PTE Academic (UKVI) – a four-skills language test accepted for work and study visas. It tests Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening skills.

    • PTE Home – a two-skills language test accepted for family, settlement, citizenship applications as well as Sportsperson and Representative of an Overseas Business applications. It tests speaking and listening skills.

    There are now more than 190 UKVI approved PTE centers across the globe. Keep up to date on the latest approved locations.

  • Image - Canada - Toronto
    PTE the ready choice for Indian students looking to study in Canada
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    Canada has become the fastest-growing destination for international study and Indian students are right at the top of this trend, accounting for more than a third of all Canadian study permits issued in 2019. 

    Marlene Olsavsky, Managing Director for Pearson Canada, explains how PTE can help these increasing numbers of Indian students achieve their Canadian dream. 

    Marlene said: “Indian students can take advantage of the fact PTE Academic is one of the mandatory English language tests accepted by Canada for its regular study permit application stream, also known as non-Study Direct Stream (non-SDS)."

    “Test takers have a choice of more than 30 PTE centers currently open in India, including in Punjab, Gujarat and Hyderabad, all with required health and safety measures in place. 

    “PTE is a seamless experience for students from start to finish, from being able to book a test slot online and year-round, through to only having to wait up to 48 hours on average to receive results. 

    “Once they get their PTE score, students are then able to send it to any number of universities they are interested in, unlike other English tests which limit the amount of institutions where a score can be sent.” 

    Learn more about applying to study in Canada or check available PTE test dates near you.