Express Entry, and most other pathways to Canada, measure language in Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels, or NCLC levels for French. Each test reaches those levels at different scores, and some skills climb faster than others. Knowing exactly where the line sits turns a vague worry into a clear, reachable target.
Find your target score
Your test
Your target level
- ListeningAt least7
- ReadingAt least7
- WritingAt least7
- SpeakingAt least7
CELPIP-General at CLB 7: each skill needs at least the score shown.
The full CELPIP-General chart
| Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 10+ | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| CLB 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| CLB 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| CLB 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| CLB 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| CLB 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| CLB 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
The lowest score for each level, from IRCC's equivalency chart. The top row means that level and above. Tap a row to see it above.
Rules worth knowing
- For English, IRCC accepts only CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core.
- For French, IRCC accepts TEF Canada and TCF Canada, and reads the results as NCLC levels.
- Your results must be less than two years old when you create your profile and on the day you apply.
- IELTS One Skill Retake results are not accepted for Express Entry.
Practise with a partner
If one skill sits just under your target, focused practice often closes the gap faster than you expect, and every level up can add CRS points.
KoloLingo
Our recommended partner
KoloLingo helps people prepare for CELPIP, IELTS and PTE Core, and their guide to choosing a test walks through the same IRCC chart.
KoloLingo is our partner. If you buy lessons through this link, we earn a referral reward, at no extra cost to you. It never changes the facts on this page, which come from IRCC.
You don’t have to face the wait alone.
Thousands of people have shared their real timelines so the next person isn’t left guessing in the dark. Add yours, keep your own application and your family’s together in one place, and see a grounded estimate of how long your decision might take, drawn from people who are walking the same path.
- Share your timeline and help the next applicant find their footing.
- Track your own and your family’s applications together, in one calm place.
- See a realistic estimate of your wait, based on people on the same journey.
It’s free, and what you track stays private to you. Sharing your timeline with the community is always your choice.
Key takeaways
- Express Entry measures language in CLB levels (NCLC for French), and each test reaches them at different scores.
- In IELTS, reaching CLB 8 takes a bigger jump in listening than in the other skills: 7.5 against 6.5.
- Results must come from an approved test and be less than two years old.
Last reviewed: Nov 7, 2026