For many international students, the process of applying for a secondary or post-secondary program revolves around this one milestone – going beyond the required threshold for the language test. A large majority of students get the required grades in one attempt. But some students have to reappear and go through repaying for the test and putting in additional efforts. That raises a fundamental question that may come to your mind – why are these tests necessary?
For instance, if you are applying for an MBA program, a GMAT or GRE score should communicate your linguistic ability. But some programs would still require you to appear for TOEFL or IELTS.
In this post, our team lays out the key reasons schools and universities add weight to the language tests.
5 Reasons Colleges/Universities Want Your Language Tests
If you are reading this post, there is a good chance that you will meet the linguistic criteria set by the colleges and universities in Canada. However, you will still be expected to provide your language test results. Here are some common reasons why universities and colleges require these scores as a part of the admission process.
1. To Determine Your Fit for the Program.
First and foremost, the school would be interested in examining whether you will be a fit for the program or not. For instance, if you plan to take up LLB at a law school in Canada, you would be expected to have studied a course that gave you some exposure to law and reasoning. Alongside such technical requirements, almost all the post-secondary programs care about these two points:
You will comprehend what is delivered in the program.
The language of instruction in most Canadian educational programs is either English or French. If you do not have the basic linguistic skills to understand what is taught in the classroom, you will have a tough time graduating from the program. And while it might seem counterintuitive, the schools in Canada are not interested in withholding you on-campus beyond your program’s timeline.
You will be able to attempt the tests and graded components.
This is another area where language plays a key role. Once you have understood what is taught in the lectures, you would be expected to produce assignments and graded components. If you do not have the basic linguistic skills for the program, you might be able to get in, but you will be stuck in the loop of either reappearing for exams or working with just satisfactory grades.
2. To Examine Your Eligibility for an Exemption.
Yes. This is one of the reasons why universities and schools are interested in your linguistic abilities. If you can provide sufficient proof that you have completed your entire education in English or French or had English or French as your first language for years, you might not be required to appear for the language test altogether.
On the flip side, if you produce just the minimum grades required to get admitted in the program, the admission advisor might recommend taking extra or non-credit courses to sharpen your linguistic skills.
3. To Sync the Program with IRCC Rules.
IRCC does not dictate the university and college programs to take up linguistic scores as a critical component in the admission process. However, the school admission teams understand that most applicants will have to appear for either IELTS or TOEFL to get the study permit. By requiring these scores as a part of the admission process, they ensure that each language test report goes through thorough scrutiny at least twice.
Even if IRCC does not require you to submit your IELTS or TOEFL score, which is highly unlikely, you might have to appear for one of the tests when you apply for your work permit or permanent residence. The schools’ admission process comes to your rescue since you would already be accustomed to the standard language tests process.
4. To Ensure You Will Fit into the Student Community.
Canadian multiculturalism is touted across the globe as one of the most recognizable traits in Canadians. But, it goes both ways – if Canadians are welcoming to you, you have to seem accessible. And speaking the local language is essential for this cultural assimilation to happen.
Networking is a critical skill to get a Canadian job and progress in your career. If you have a hundred students in your classroom, you have opportunities to network with at least a hundred people and then with their network. The school admission teams understand that without the necessary language skills, you will not feel engaged with the student community and miss out on networking opportunities.
5. To Ensure You Will Be Employable Upon Graduation.
Even if you are studying something not directly related to what you want to do, eventually, you will enter the job market, and the university/college wants you to be employable. Even if you have the right skills, you will have to position your profile with essays, resumes, video interviews, presentations, and in-person interviews.
Each of these stages will test your technical skills and ability to work with people. And without the right linguistic skills in place, you will have a tough time proving your technical skills and getting a suitable job.
The university or college you attend wants to see you employed since it will add value to the school’s alumni network.
In Summary
If you have been out of school for a while, it would be dreadful to get back to preparing for a test. But, here is how you can train your brain into taking a healthier approach – you are preparing for your life in Canada and not just a language test. The scores of this test will help the school determine your ability to participate in the classroom, engage with the student body, meet the IRCC’s requirements, and be placed in a job.
Now that you are on track to rock that language test, let’s get you ready for everything else that awaits you in Canada. Click here and book a free consultation with one of our experts to get all your questions related to Canadian immigration answered.
