There's no universal answer on which language test is 'easier' — it depends on which skill you're strongest in. Two people who took both tests reported opposite experiences:
- One test-taker scored an 8.5 overall on IELTS, then took CELPIP and scored the equivalent of 12-12-12-10 across the four skills. Their takeaway: IELTS felt easier for speaking, but CELPIP felt easier for everything else (listening, reading, writing).
- Another test-taker felt the opposite — that IELTS was easier overall than CELPIP, particularly because CELPIP's format (speaking to a computer instead of a person, and reading/listening/note-taking happening simultaneously) was harder to adapt to.
Practical implication: if you're deciding between the two, it may come down to test format preference (computer-based speaking vs. in-person, or how the reading/listening sections are structured) rather than one test being objectively easier. If you've already written IELTS and are close to your target CRS score, retaking the same test format you're used to may be lower-risk than switching.