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CLB to IELTS Converter
Short answer: your Canadian Language Benchmark level is your lowest IELTS ability, not your average. CLB 9 needs General Training 8.0 Listening and 7.0 in Reading, Writing and Speaking; CLB 7 needs 6.0 in all four. Express Entry accepts IELTS General Training only.
Your Express Entry level
CLB 8 · 92 CRS points from language
Set by your Listening and Reading and Writing and Speaking — one CLB level on every skill is worth 32 more points.
Your IELTS General Training bands
General Training only — IRCC does not accept IELTS Academic for Express Entry.
| Ability | Band | CLB | Points | Next level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listeningholding you back | 7.5 | 8 | 23 | 8.0 → CLB 9 (+8) |
| Readingholding you back | 6.5 | 8 | 23 | 7.0 → CLB 9 (+8) |
| Writingholding you back | 6.5 | 8 | 23 | 7.0 → CLB 9 (+8) |
| Speakingholding you back | 6.5 | 8 | 23 | 7.0 → CLB 9 (+8) |
Points shown are CRS core points for your first official language, without a spouse or common-law partner. Skill transferability and second-language points are awarded separately.
Book the right test
IRCC accepts the IELTS General Training option only. IELTS Academic cannot be used for Express Entry — it is the most expensive mistake on this page, because the fee and the weeks are both lost.
Reading is the skill where the two modules differ most, so General Training practice is not optional if Canada is your goal.
Close the gap
One CLB level on all four skills is worth up to 32 CRS points. Most applicants are held back by a single ability — find out which one, with marking against the official band descriptors.
Or work out your overall band first →IELTS General Training → CLB
The full CLB equivalency chart
IRCC publishes CLB 4 through 10. There is no level above 10 on the CRS language scale, so a band higher than the CLB 10 row earns no extra points. Points below are core CRS points per ability for your first official language.
| CLB | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Points (no spouse) | Points (spouse) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 34 | 32 |
| 9 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 31 | 29 |
| 8 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 23 | 22 |
| 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 17 | 16 |
| 6 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 9 | 8 |
| 5 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 6 | 6 |
| 4 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 6 | 6 |
Program floors
The minimum CLB each Express Entry program asks for
Meeting the floor makes you eligible. It does not make you competitive — CRS cut-offs sit far above the minimum, which is why the points table above matters more than the eligibility table below.
| Program | Language requirement |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker | CLB 7 in all four abilities |
| Canadian Experience Class (TEER 0 or 1) | CLB 7 in all four abilities |
| Canadian Experience Class (TEER 2 or 3) | CLB 5 in all four abilities |
| Federal Skilled Trades | CLB 5 Speaking and Listening, CLB 4 Reading and Writing |
Common questions
What IELTS score is CLB 9?
CLB 9 is IELTS General Training 8.0 in Listening, 7.0 in Reading, 7.0 in Writing and 7.0 in Speaking. You need all four — Express Entry takes your lowest ability as your level, so a single 6.5 leaves you at CLB 8.
What IELTS score is CLB 7?
CLB 7 is IELTS General Training 6.0 in every skill — Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. CLB 7 is the language floor for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and for Canadian Experience Class applicants in TEER 0 or 1 jobs.
Does Express Entry accept IELTS Academic?
No. IRCC accepts the IELTS General Training option only. IELTS Academic is not accepted for Express Entry, so booking the wrong module means paying for a test that cannot be used in your profile.
Is my CLB level the average of my four skills?
No — it is your lowest. If your abilities map to CLB 9, 9, 9 and 7, your level is CLB 7, not 8.5. This is the single most common misreading of the chart, and it is why one weak skill is worth so many CRS points.
How many CRS points is CLB 9 worth compared with CLB 8?
Without a spouse or common-law partner, each ability is worth 31 points at CLB 9 against 23 at CLB 8 — 8 points per skill, so 32 points across all four. With a spouse the figures are 29 and 22, a gain of 28 points in total.
Is a band above the top of the chart worth extra points?
No. CLB 10 is the top of the CRS language scale, so Listening 8.5 and Listening 9.0 earn identical points. Once every ability reaches CLB 10 there is nothing further to gain from a higher band.
How long are my IELTS results valid for Express Entry?
Your test results must be less than two years old both when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you submit your application for permanent residence. Expired results lead to a refusal.
Sources and currency
Every figure on this page is taken from official IRCC guidance and was verified in September 2026. Immigration rules and point scales change: this is general information, not immigration advice, and the official pages below always win. Confirm before you book a test or submit a profile.
Next steps for Canada
- IELTS score for Canada PR: Express EntryWhich CLB level each program needs, and what the points are really worth.
- CELPIP vs IELTS for Canada PRThe decision every applicant makes first, compared honestly.
- Best IELTS preparation websites in CanadaWhere to actually practise General Training, reviewed.
- IELTS band score calculatorOverall band from four skills, plus raw score conversion.