A concordance study of CELPIP General and IELTS General Training

This report outlines a concordance study conducted between the CELPIP General and IELTS General Training tests. The focus is on IELTS General Training, rather than IELTS Academic, due to its closer alignment with the construct of the CELPIP test. To ensure objectivity, the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) was commissioned to lead the analysis. The results presented in this report were prepared by ACER, with additional contributions from the research teams of both CELPIP and IELTS. The report is structured as follows: it begins with a description of the two tests, followed by the methodology employed in the study, then breaks down the concordant results, and concludes with caveats for using the concordant results and references. The report presents concordance tables that compare CELPIP and IELTS scores across all test sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing), as well as an overall score comparison. These concordance tables were derived using equipercentile equating procedures. We advise caution when interpreting the results, particularly against using the concordance tables in isolation. Many factors can influence the concordance outcomes, including differences in how the tests assess language proficiency, variations in reporting scales, and the methodological choices made during the analysis. Additionally, differences in test-taker populations and small sample sizes at extreme score levels may lead to imprecise concordance results. Therefore, score users, including institutions that rely on these scores for decision-making, are advised to interpret the concordance tables with caution and to consider supplementary evidence to support their decisions. It is important to note that the tests and their scores presented in this report do not replace the current English tests and scores accepted for Australian visa purposes, nor do they indicate acceptance of these tests and their scores by the Department of Home Affairs for Australian visa purposes in the future.