CLB calculator: convert your test score

An IELTS General Training score of 6.0 is CLB 7 in reading, writing and speaking, and CLB 7 in listening as well, since listening runs from 6.0 to 7.0 at that level. CLB 7 across all four abilities is the minimum for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and for the Canadian Experience Class in TEER 0 and TEER 1 occupations, which is why 6.0 is the number most Express Entry applicants are aiming at.

CLB 9 needs IELTS General Training scores of 7.0 in reading, 7.0 in writing, 8.0 in listening and 7.0 in speaking. Listening is the outlier and the one that catches people out. CLB 9 matters because the Comprehensive Ranking System pays significantly more for it than for CLB 8, so for many candidates lifting listening by half a band is the single cheapest way to add CRS points.

Effectively yes. CELPIP-General is reported on a scale designed to line up with the Canadian Language Benchmarks, so a CELPIP 7 is CLB 7, a CELPIP 9 is CLB 9 and so on. That one-to-one mapping is why some applicants find CELPIP easier to plan around than IELTS. CELPIP is only available for English, and you must take CELPIP-General rather than CELPIP-General LS.

Your lowest one. Program minimums are expressed as a level in all four abilities, so a candidate with CLB 9 reading, 9 writing, 9 speaking and 6 listening meets CLB 6, not CLB 9. This calculator shows each ability separately and then reports the lowest, because that is the number that decides eligibility. The CRS scores each ability individually, so an uneven profile still earns points for the strong abilities.

Two years from the date of the test for Express Entry purposes. The results must be valid when you submit your Express Entry profile and still valid when you apply for permanent residence after an invitation, which is the part people miss. If your test is approaching two years old and you are close to an invitation, retaking it early is usually cheaper than losing the profile (IRCC language test results page, checked October 13, 2026).

No. Express Entry accepts IELTS General Training only, and an Academic result cannot be used no matter how strong it is. IRCC also does not accept the IELTS One Skill Retake for Express Entry, so if you retake a single component you generally need to sit the full test again. The accepted English tests are IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General and PTE Core (IRCC, checked October 13, 2026).

Both are accepted and both convert to NCLC, the French equivalent of CLB. The practical differences are availability and format rather than difficulty, so the usual deciding factor is which one you can sit sooner near you. For TEF Canada, IRCC converts the "équivalence ancien score" printed on your result for each ability, not the score out of 699, so enter that figure in the calculator.

For many candidates, yes, and it is often underrated. Strong French adds bonus CRS points, and IRCC has run large French-language category draws with cut-offs far below the Canadian Experience Class rounds: in 2026 French rounds have ranged from 382 to 435 while CEC rounds sat between 507 and 523. If you already have some French, testing it can change which draws you are competitive in entirely.