CLB Calculator – Convert Your Test Scores to CLB
Enter your language test scores to see your Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or NCLC level for each ability, and how many CRS points each one earns. Based on IRCC's official equivalency charts.
CLB conversion: key facts
- What CLB is
- Canadian Language Benchmark (NCLC for French): the scale IRCC uses for Express Entry language requirements and CRS points
- Tests accepted
- English: IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, PTE Core. French: TEF Canada, TCF Canada
- CLB 7 in all four abilities
- Federal Skilled Worker minimum; skill-transferability points for education and foreign work start here
- CLB 9 in all four abilities
- Doubles most skill-transferability points
- IELTS for CLB 9
- Listening 8.0, reading 7.0, writing 7.0, speaking 7.0
- Result validity
- Less than 2 years old when you create your profile and when you apply
Updated
| Ability | Level | CRS points (single) | CRS points (with spouse) |
|---|
Common IELTS results and what they are worth
IELTS results are usually written in the order listening, reading, writing, speaking (so "8777" means listening 8.0 and 7.0 in the rest). CRS totals are for a sample profile: single, age 29, bachelor's degree, 3 years of foreign skilled work, no Canadian experience. Open any row in the calculator and change the rest to match your situation.
| IELTS (L / R / W / S) | CLB (L / R / W / S) | First-language points | CRS total (sample) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 / 6.0 / 6.0 / 6.0 | 7 / 7 / 7 / 7 | 68 | 336 | Open in calculator |
| 6.5 / 6.5 / 6.5 / 6.5 | 7 / 8 / 8 / 8 | 86 | 354 | Open in calculator |
| 7.0 / 7.0 / 7.0 / 7.0 | 7 / 9 / 9 / 9 | 110 | 378 | Open in calculator |
| 7.5 / 7.5 / 7.5 / 7.5 | 8 / 9 / 10 / 10 | 122 | 390 | Open in calculator |
| 8.0 / 7.0 / 7.0 / 7.0 | 9 / 9 / 9 / 9 | 124 | 429 | Open in calculator |
| 8.5 / 8.0 / 7.5 / 7.5 | 10 / 10 / 10 / 10 | 136 | 441 | Open in calculator |
Listening is the band that most often blocks CLB 9. 7.0 in every IELTS band gives CLB 9 in reading, writing and speaking but only CLB 7 in listening. Raising listening to 8.0 (8/7/7/7) lifts this sample profile from 378 to 429 points (+51), because CLB 9 in all four abilities also unlocks the higher skill-transferability points.
Scores you need for CLB 7, 9 and 10
Minimum score in each ability. You need the level in all four abilities for the thresholds below to apply.
| Test | Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS General Training | CLB 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | Federal Skilled Worker minimum; education and foreign-work transferability points start |
| CLB 9 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | Doubles most skill-transferability points | |
| CLB 10+ | 8.5 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 | Maximum first-language points per ability | |
| CELPIP-General | CLB 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | Federal Skilled Worker minimum; education and foreign-work transferability points start |
| CLB 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | Doubles most skill-transferability points | |
| CLB 10+ | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Maximum first-language points per ability | |
| PTE Core | CLB 7 | 60 | 60 | 69 | 68 | Federal Skilled Worker minimum; education and foreign-work transferability points start |
| CLB 9 | 82 | 78 | 88 | 84 | Doubles most skill-transferability points | |
| CLB 10+ | 89 | 88 | 90 | 89 | Maximum first-language points per ability |
French tests (TEF Canada, TCF Canada) use the same NCLC levels; see their full charts below and French-language draws.
CLB equivalency charts
Each ability is converted separately. "10" means CLB/NCLC 10 or higher. Below level 4, no first-language CRS points are given.
CELPIP-General to CLB
| CLB | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | CRS points per ability (single) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10+ | 10–12 | 10–12 | 10–12 | 10–12 | 34 |
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 31 |
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 23 |
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 9 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
IELTS General Training to CLB
| CLB | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | CRS points per ability (single) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10+ | 7.5–9.0 | 8.5–9.0 | 8.0–9.0 | 7.5–9.0 | 34 |
| 9 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 7.0–7.5 | 7.0 | 31 |
| 8 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 23 |
| 7 | 6.0 | 6.0–7.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 17 |
| 6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.0–5.5 | 5.5 | 9 |
| 5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.0–4.5 | 5.0 | 6 |
| 4 | 4.0–4.5 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0–4.5 | 6 |
PTE Core to CLB
| CLB | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | CRS points per ability (single) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10+ | 89–90 | 89–90 | 88–90 | 90 | 34 |
| 9 | 84–88 | 82–88 | 78–87 | 88–89 | 31 |
| 8 | 76–83 | 71–81 | 69–77 | 79–87 | 23 |
| 7 | 68–75 | 60–70 | 60–68 | 69–78 | 17 |
| 6 | 59–67 | 50–59 | 51–59 | 60–68 | 9 |
| 5 | 51–58 | 39–49 | 42–50 | 51–59 | 6 |
| 4 | 42–50 | 28–38 | 33–41 | 41–50 | 6 |
TEF Canada to NCLC
| NCLC | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | CRS points per ability (single) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10+ | 393–450 | 316–360 | 263–300 | 393–450 | 34 |
| 9 | 371–392 | 298–315 | 248–262 | 371–392 | 31 |
| 8 | 349–370 | 280–297 | 233–247 | 349–370 | 23 |
| 7 | 310–348 | 249–279 | 207–232 | 310–348 | 17 |
| 6 | 271–309 | 217–248 | 181–206 | 271–309 | 9 |
| 5 | 226–270 | 181–216 | 151–180 | 226–270 | 6 |
| 4 | 181–225 | 145–180 | 121–150 | 181–225 | 6 |
TCF Canada to NCLC
| NCLC | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | CRS points per ability (single) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10+ | 16–20 | 549–699 | 549–699 | 16–20 | 34 |
| 9 | 14–15 | 523–548 | 524–548 | 14–15 | 31 |
| 8 | 12–13 | 503–522 | 499–523 | 12–13 | 23 |
| 7 | 10–11 | 458–502 | 453–498 | 10–11 | 17 |
| 6 | 7–9 | 398–457 | 406–452 | 7–9 | 9 |
| 5 | 6 | 369–397 | 375–405 | 6 | 6 |
| 4 | 4–5 | 331–368 | 342–374 | 4–5 | 6 |
CLB calculator FAQ
Is IELTS 7 in every band CLB 9?
No. IELTS 7.0 is CLB 9 for reading, writing and speaking, but listening needs 8.0 for CLB 9 (7.0 is only CLB 7). For a typical profile that one band is worth 51 CRS points: 378 with 7/7/7/7 versus 429 with 8/7/7/7.
What is IELTS 8777 in CLB?
IELTS listening 8.0, reading 7.0, writing 7.0 and speaking 7.0 is CLB 9 in all four abilities — the minimum IELTS result for CLB 9 across the board.
What IELTS score is CLB 7?
IELTS General Training 6.0 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking equals CLB 7. For listening, 6.0–7.0 is CLB 7.
What IELTS score is CLB 9?
Listening 8.0, reading 7.0 (7.0–7.5), writing 7.0 and speaking 7.0. Reaching CLB 9 in all four abilities sharply increases your CRS score through language and skill-transferability points.
What CELPIP score is CLB 7?
CELPIP-General levels map one-to-one: a CELPIP score of 7 in an ability is CLB 7. Scores of 10–12 count as CLB 10.
What is CLB 5 in French (NCLC 5)?
For TEF Canada: speaking 226–270, listening 181–216, reading 151–180, writing 226–270. For TCF Canada: speaking 6, listening 369–397, reading 375–405, writing 6.
Which language tests does Express Entry accept?
English: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core. French: TEF Canada and TCF Canada. IELTS Academic and PTE Academic are not accepted, and IELTS One Skill Retake is not accepted for Express Entry.
How long are language test results valid?
Language test results must be less than two years old when you create your profile and when you apply for permanent residence.
Source: IRCC, Express Entry: Language test results. Next step: calculate your full CRS score.