CLB 7, 8 and 9: the exact score you need in CELPIP, PTE Core, IELTS and TCF Canada
Aman Batth · 7 min read ·
One table per CLB level with the minimum score in each skill on all four tests IRCC accepts for Express Entry, the CRS points each level is worth, and the two rules that decide your real CLB, which is never your average.
Short answer. These are the minimum scores IRCC sets for each level, in every skill, on the four tests accepted for Express Entry:
| Level | CELPIP General | PTE Core (L / R / W / S) | IELTS General Training (L / R / W / S) | TCF Canada (L / R / W / S) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 7 | 7 in each | 60 / 60 / 69 / 68 | 6.0 / 6.0 / 6.0 / 6.0 | 458 / 453 / 10 / 10 |
| CLB 8 | 8 in each | 71 / 69 / 79 / 76 | 7.5 / 6.5 / 6.5 / 6.5 | 503 / 499 / 12 / 12 |
| CLB 9 | 9 in each | 82 / 78 / 88 / 84 | 8.0 / 7.0 / 7.0 / 7.0 | 523 / 524 / 14 / 14 |
L = listening, R = reading, W = writing, S = speaking. TCF Canada writing and speaking are out of 20; its levels are called NCLC, the French name for the same benchmarks.
All figures are from IRCC's language test equivalency charts, which we last checked on 30 September 2026. That page governs your application. Check it before you book a test.
Two rules decide what any of these numbers mean for you.
Rule 1: your lowest skill is your CLB
IRCC converts each skill on its own and never averages them. CLB 9, 9, 9 and 7 is a CLB 7 profile for eligibility, and programmes such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program check that every skill clears the minimum.
That is why the tables below are per skill. The question is never "what overall score do I need", it is "what does my weakest skill need".
Rule 2: points are counted per skill
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores each skill on its own CLB. For a candidate without a spouse or common-law partner, the first official language earns per skill:
| CLB in that skill | CRS points |
|---|---|
| 7 | 17 |
| 8 | 23 |
| 9 | 31 |
| 10 or higher | 34 |
So someone at CLB 9, 9, 9 and 7 earns 31 + 31 + 31 + 17 = 110 points, even though their profile counts as CLB 7 for eligibility. The jump from CLB 8 to CLB 9 is worth 8 points per skill, 32 across four. That is the biggest single step on the table, and why CLB 9 is the level most competitive candidates plan for. Candidates with a spouse use a slightly lower grid.
CLB 7: the Express Entry minimum
| Test | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CELPIP General | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| PTE Core | 60 | 60 | 69 | 68 |
| IELTS General Training | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| TCF Canada (NCLC) | 458–502 | 453–498 | 10–11 /20 | 10–11 /20 |
CLB 7 in every skill is the minimum for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and for Canadian Experience Class jobs in TEER 0 and 1. It earns 17 CRS points per skill.
Note the PTE Core row: writing and speaking need almost 10 points more than listening and reading for the same level. If PTE Core is your test and writing is your weak skill, that is where CLB 7 is won or lost.
CLB 8
| Test | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CELPIP General | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| PTE Core | 71 | 69 | 79 | 76 |
| IELTS General Training | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| TCF Canada (NCLC) | 503–522 | 499–523 | 12–13 /20 | 12–13 /20 |
CLB 8 earns 23 CRS points per skill. On IELTS, listening jumps a full band above the other three, so a flat 7.0 is CLB 8 in reading, writing and speaking but only CLB 7 in listening. That is the most common misreading of the IELTS table.
CLB 9: where the points jump
| Test | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CELPIP General | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| PTE Core | 82 | 78 | 88 | 84 |
| IELTS General Training | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| TCF Canada (NCLC) | 523–548 | 524–548 | 14–15 /20 | 14–15 /20 |
CLB 9 earns 31 CRS points per skill. Each test puts the difficulty in a different place:
- IELTS wants 8.0 in listening and 7.0 everywhere else.
- PTE Core wants 88 out of 90 in writing, ten points more than reading.
- CELPIP wants a 9 in everything. Nothing to convert, nothing uneven.
- TCF Canada gives you only two marks of room per level in writing and speaking: 14 or 15 out of 20.
Pick the test where your weakest skill has the easiest target. That choice is worked through in CELPIP vs IELTS vs PTE Core: which test can you actually score CLB 9 in?
CLB 10 and above
| Test | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CELPIP General | 10 or higher | 10 or higher | 10 or higher | 10 or higher |
| PTE Core | 89 | 88 | 90 | 89 |
| IELTS General Training | 8.5 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| TCF Canada (NCLC) | 549–699 | 549–699 | 16–20 /20 | 16–20 /20 |
CLB 10 earns the maximum 34 points per skill. Nothing above it earns more, so a CELPIP 11 or 12, or a perfect IELTS 9, adds no CRS points over CLB 10.
CLB 4 to 6
| CLB | CELPIP | PTE Core (L / R / W / S) | IELTS GT (L / R / W / S) | TCF Canada (L / R / W / S) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 in each | 50 / 51 / 60 / 59 | 5.5 / 5.0 / 5.5 / 5.5 | 398 / 406 / 7 / 7 |
| 5 | 5 in each | 39 / 42 / 51 / 51 | 5.0 / 4.0 / 5.0 / 5.0 | 369 / 375 / 6 / 6 |
| 4 | 4 in each | 28 / 33 / 41 / 42 | 4.5 / 3.5 / 4.0 / 4.0 | 331 / 342 / 4 / 4 |
CLB 5 is the minimum for Canadian Experience Class jobs in TEER 2 and 3. CLB 4 in speaking and listening is the language requirement for Canadian citizenship.
Four mistakes that cost a level
- Taking the wrong version of the test. IRCC accepts IELTS General Training, not Academic, and PTE Core, not PTE Academic. CELPIP must be CELPIP General; the LS version is for citizenship only.
- Averaging. Your weakest skill sets your CLB. A strong reading score cannot carry a weak writing score.
- Letting the result expire. Results must be less than two years old when you create your Express Entry profile and again when you apply for permanent residence.
- Ignoring French. If you reach NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills on TCF Canada or TEF Canada, Express Entry adds extra CRS points on top: 50 if your English is CLB 5 or higher, 25 if it is CLB 4 or lower, at the time of writing. Check IRCC's CRS criteria for the current values. The French tables are explained in the TCF Canada score chart.
Work out your own CLB
Paste your real scores into the tool for your test. Each one shows the CLB per skill, the skill holding you back, and your CRS language points:
- CELPIP score converter: CELPIP levels to CLB, IELTS and PTE Core
- PTE Core CLB calculator: PTE Core scores to CLB, with the points the next level is worth
- IELTS band calculator: raw listening and reading answers to bands, then CLB
- TCF Canada score chart: every TCF score to NCLC
If you have not sat the test yet, a full mock tells you which skill is your real bottleneck before you pay the exam fee. Hilingo scores every task with our own engine on the real scale, and the first full mock in CELPIP, PTE Core, IELTS or TCF Canada is free and needs no card.
Frequently asked questions
What is CLB 7 in PTE Core?
60 in listening, 60 in reading, 69 in writing and 68 in speaking. All four are needed; your lowest skill sets your level.
What is CLB 9 in IELTS?
IELTS General Training 8.0 in listening and 7.0 in reading, writing and speaking. A flat 7.0 is only CLB 8 in listening, which makes the whole profile CLB 8.
What is CLB 8 in CELPIP?
CELPIP General 8 in each skill. CELPIP levels map one to one to CLB from 4 to 9, and 10, 11 and 12 all count as CLB 10.
What TCF Canada score is NCLC 7?
458 in listening, 453 in reading and 10 out of 20 in both writing and speaking.
Does IRCC average my four scores?
No. Each skill is converted on its own. Your lowest skill decides eligibility, and each skill earns its own CRS points.