Methodology: Sources, Testing and Estimates

1. Sources

• CRS points: IRCC, Comprehensive Ranking System criteria (canada.ca). Rules in force since 2025-03-25 (job-offer points removed), last verified Oct 3, 2026.
• Language levels: IRCC, language test equivalency charts for CELPIP, IELTS, PTE Core, TEF Canada and TCF Canada.
• Draws and pool distribution: IRCC, Express Entry rounds of invitations, read from IRCC's published data file. Latest round in our data: #447 on Oct 1, 2026.

2. Testing against IRCC's own calculator

IRCC's "Check your score" tool runs a public JavaScript file. Our automated tests run that exact file in an isolated environment and compare its result with ours.

• On every change, the tests generate 5,000 random profiles (fixed seed, so the run is reproducible) covering every age, education level, language test and level, work history, spouse combination and additional factor.
• Every profile is checked. 4,709 give exactly the same total as IRCC's tool.
• The other 291 fall into one of two edge cases where IRCC's tool does not follow IRCC's published criteria (below). For each of them the test requires our total to equal the tool's total plus exactly the documented difference — so the difference is explained to the point, not just tolerated.
• Worked examples you can re-check yourself, including both edge cases, are on the test cases page.
• Hand-checked profiles test caps and boundaries separately (for example the second-language cap with a spouse, and age 17/18/45).

Known differences from IRCC's tool

1. TCF Canada at NCLC 4: the published criteria give 6 points per ability for a first official language at this level; IRCC's tool gives 0. We give 6.
2. French-first candidates whose English test is PTE Core: the published criteria give the 50-point French bonus when English is CLB 5 or higher in all four abilities; IRCC's tool does not apply it for PTE Core. We apply it.

Every day an automated job downloads IRCC's criteria page and calculator script. If either changes, the comparison is re-run against the new script and the change is reviewed before the site is updated. Confirmed changes are listed on CRS rule changes.

3. Pool rank is an estimate

IRCC does not publish how many candidates have each exact score. It publishes how many candidates are in each score range. To estimate how many candidates are above a specific score, we assume scores are spread evenly within its range. The estimate is closest in the narrow 10-point ranges and roughest in wide ones such as 501–600. The pool rank is for the whole pool, not for a single draw category.

4. What past cut-off comparisons mean

• "Met the cut-off" means a score was at or above the lowest score invited in a past round. It is not a prediction or a probability: future cut-offs change.
• Category-based and program-specific rounds only consider eligible candidates. A score that met a category's cut-off does not mean you are eligible for that category.
• When several candidates tie at the cut-off, IRCC invites those who submitted their profile earliest.
• PNP rounds are left out of score comparisons because those candidates already have 600 additional points.

5. Updates and dates

• IRCC's draw data is checked every six hours; pages built from it are rebuilt when a new round appears.
• "Updated" dates on pages show when their data or rules last changed, not when the page was last rebuilt.

6. Limits

The result is an estimate of your CRS score only. It does not check whether you are eligible for Express Entry programs or categories, and it is not immigration advice. Your official score is the one in your Express Entry profile. Found something that looks wrong? Tell us — please include the shared result link.

7. Corrections log

Mistakes we found or were told about in this site's own content, newest first. Changes to IRCC's rules are listed separately on CRS rule changes.

• Oct 7, 2026 — Canadian work experience: we said self-employment never counts. IRCC lets some physicians count self-employed work providing publicly funded medical services. The FAQ and key facts now say self-employment “generally” does not count, with that exception.
• Oct 7, 2026 — Testing claim: we said 484 of the 5,000 test profiles were skipped. Every profile is now checked: 4,709 match IRCC’s tool exactly and 291 differ by exactly the documented amount. Worked examples are on the test cases page.
• Oct 5, 2026 — Score pages said a score “would have qualified” for past draws. They now say it “met the published cut-off”, and note that category draws need eligibility, ties are broken by profile submission time, and past cut-offs are not predictions.
• Oct 5, 2026 — Removed “practically guarantees an invitation” about provincial nominations, and the Canadian Experience Class description now lists the 3-year and language requirements instead of implying one year of work is enough.
• Oct 5, 2026 — Pool rank is now labelled as an estimate, with the method explained. The homepage accuracy statement had not mentioned the excluded edge cases; it now does.
• Oct 5, 2026 — Shared result links now keep answers after the “#”, which browsers do not send to servers. Before, the answers were in the query string and passed through our hosting provider when a link was opened.
• Oct 5, 2026 — The credit link under the embeddable draw widget used varied keyword text; it is now a plain brand link marked rel="nofollow".
• Oct 4, 2026 — For a few minutes after Google Analytics was switched on, page addresses that included calculator answers could be sent to Analytics. Fixed within the hour: only the page path (and campaign tags) is sent.