Most citizenship applicants will soon be required to provide up-front objective evidence of their language ability at the time they apply, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today. This change will be implemented as of November 1, 2012. Currently, Citizenship and Immigration Canada assesses the language ability of applicants, aged 18–54, solely through interactions with CIC staff and by using the results of the citizenship knowledge test.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2012/2012-09-28.asp