Sitting an 'English' test in Canada... dealing with the differences
 

Has anyone had any experience in sitting an English / aptitude test with a Canadian employer?

My question is in regards to the spelling differences in the UK vs Canada.

As an applicant, did you have to adapt your 'way' of spelling certain words to the Canadian way? Which would require a bit of pre-study, and a conscious effort to remind yourself of the Canadian way.

An extreme long shot, but by any chance did the employer take into account your UK education and let you away with spelling it the 'right' way in the test? lol

Re: Sitting an 'English' test in Canada... dealing with the differences
 

Hi


1. You realize that the Canadian spellings are the same as the UK? Even though some people do use the American spellings.
2. Note that this form accepts the American spellings only.

Re: Sitting an 'English' test in Canada... dealing with the differences
 

Hi. Appreciate your reply. As much as I would love to take what you say as true, I would happily shut my trap if you are correct and i am wrong, but....

In my experience in the past, the spelling used by a Canadian employer / test books are different. Canadian / American spelling techniques are used.

British, Canadian and American Spelling

A text I found on a website...
While, in general, it is closer to the English, the American variant is sometimes preferred, and often either would be considered acceptable (although the English is still usually considered “more correct”).

Re: Sitting an 'English' test in Canada... dealing with the differences
 

How very charming !
PMM is one of the more knowledgeable contributors to this board. As a newbie you might be well advised to wind your own neck in if you want further help from folks here.

Re: Sitting an 'English' test in Canada... dealing with the differences
 

Eh. You read my post wrong mate. I said I (me) would shoosh if i was wrong. Lol

Edited to make that a little clearer... I come in peace internet friend lol

Re: Sitting an 'English' test in Canada... dealing with the differences
 

From the above:

either would be considered acceptable (although the English is still usually considered “more correct”).

Re: Sitting an 'English' test in Canada... dealing with the differences
 

Also from the above:

the American variant is sometimes preferred...

More from the text found :
It can even be argued that there is a regional bias within Canada: in general terms, Ontario, British Columbia and Newfoundland are usually closer to the British usage, and Albert and the Prairie provinces closer to the American.

So we can conclude that it is clear as mud. lol :rofl:

That aside then, the thread is to find anyone who has any first hand experience with sitting exams/tests with a Canadian employer or any other kind of establishment, and what they did when they encountered this spelling dilemma! :thumbsup:

Re: Sitting an 'English' test in Canada... dealing with the differences
 

It does not really matter which you use, provided you are consistent.

The one time I worked, briefly, for a Canadian company the rule was to use US spelling because most of its clients were in the USA.

Even the Globe & Mail mixes US and Brit spelling in the same article.

Here is a radical idea. Why not just phone the company and ask if it uses US or Brit spelling? Or look at the company website?

Re: Sitting an 'English' test in Canada... dealing with the differences
 

What kind of aptitude tests/spelling tests are you pondering over?:unsure:

My husband has just sat a Canadian medical exam- he didn't give spelling a second thought and mentions he carries on to spell medical words as he was taught rather than the "Americanised" version e.g Oesphagus vs Esophagus.... he will also have to sit the IELTS for an application for PR- again though why worry? If you are a fluent English speaker and can at least spell correctly in English it will be recognized. I suppose problems might arise if your grammar, punctuation and spelling leaves little to be desired.

Re: Sitting an 'English' test in Canada... dealing with the differences
 

You have just awoken my inner pedant.

Re: Sitting an 'English' test in Canada... dealing with the differences
 

Well hullo ther "bored housewife". lol

Im thinkin of going for a career as a Ice cream taster. Think id be great at that.

Aye, my inglish is pure dead magic by the way, ah dae no bad at that spellin carry on..
Cheers :thumbup:

Re: Sitting an 'English' test in Canada... dealing with the differences
 

Ha ha I spotted one and changed it. The other must have slipped through on the iPhone spelling!

Re: Sitting an 'English' test in Canada... dealing with the differences
 

Does putting lol after everything automatically mean that you're funny? Or just that you think you are?

Maybe I should have waived a disclaimer by your spelling I didn't mean specifically yours the op, more a generalised your.

Re: Sitting an 'English' test in Canada... dealing with the differences
 

Just think I am I suppose. Only havin a joke with ye. That's what BE is all about is it not? Light hearted banter! . . LOL

But in all seriousness, I think your spelling differences with the 2 words in your above post kind of proves my point in regards to the topic of the thread.

But you know what. Its not that important. I can see we (people on BE ) will not come to an agreement. The spelling differences between the UK + Canada/America are different. And there are variations in usage / enforcement depending on a variety of factors.
As pointed out above it'll be a good idea to consult with any prospective employers or test organisers to determine what can be accepted.

Re: Sitting an 'English' test in Canada... dealing with the differences
 

Well I think the Maple Leaf is light hearted, but if you're going to ask what appear to be serious questions as if you actually want to hear the answers then I wouldn't expect the funnies.

What the spelling shows is that Souvy is a bit pedantic (me too actually) and that the iPhone (Canadian) auto corrected and I picked up on one spelling and not the other. Given that nobody will be using a phone to complete an English test that is a non issue as well an s or a z being that important.

Anyway haven't you got the federal skilled application in already and have already had to complete the IELTS or equivalent for it?