The Writing Test is designed to assess your ability to express ideas clearly, organize information logically, and use appropriate grammar and vocabulary in written English. The test is 60 minutes long and consists of two tasks:
- Task 1: For General Training, you will write a letter based on a given situation—formal, semi-formal, or informal. For Academic, you’ll describe visual information such as a graph, chart, or diagram.
- Task 2: You will write an essay responding to a point of view, argument, or problem. This task is the same for both Academic and General Training versions and requires you to present and support your opinion clearly and coherently.
The test is marked based on four key criteria: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.
Strong writing skills are essential for success in academic, professional, and immigration settings. A high score in the Writing Test is often required for study permits, permanent residence (e.g., Express Entry), and professional certification in Canada. Many pre-arrival and settlement programs across Canada offer writing test preparation and academic English support to help newcomers succeed.