Is CELPIP cheaper than IELTS?

When budgeting for your Canadian immigration journey, every dollar counts. A common question is: is CELPIP cheaper than IELTS? In most Canadian locations, the answer is yes, CELPIP is slightly cheaper.

1. The base registration fee

In Canada, the CELPIP-General test currently costs $299 CAD plus applicable taxes. On the other hand, the IELTS General Training test typically costs between $335 and $380 CAD depending on the province and testing center. This means choosing CELPIP can immediately save you around $35 to $80 CAD on the registration fee alone.

2. Preparation materials

While IELTS has been around longer and has more free resources scattered across the internet, the official practice tests can be expensive. CELPIP provides a few free official tests, and platforms like CelpipUni offer comprehensive, AI-graded mock exams that simulate the real test for a fraction of the cost of traditional tutoring. Because CELPIP is fully computer-based, practicing online is exactly like the real thing.

3. Rescheduling and cancellation

Both tests have strict cancellation policies. However, CELPIP often has more flexible and slightly cheaper administrative fees if you need to transfer your test date (usually around $50 CAD compared to higher fees for IELTS).