Home
Immigrate
Tools
CLB converter

Free tool

CLB language score converter.

Pick your test and enter your four scores. You’ll see the CLB level for each skill, using IRCC’s official tables.

Last reviewed October 1, 2026 against IRCC’s language testing page

Your CLB levels

Test results are valid for 2 years for Express Entry. Quebec uses NCLC for French, which maps to the same levels. Scores below CLB 4 are shown as “below CLB 4”.

How it works

How CLB levels work.

The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) are Canada’s standard for describing English ability. French uses the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC), which has the same 12 levels. Immigration programs ask for a minimum level in each of four skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Each skill is scored on its own. Your lowest skill is often the one that decides whether you meet a minimum, so we show it separately. Express Entry points, Provincial Nominee programs and citizenship each use CLB differently, so check the requirement for the program you are applying to.

The tables

Official score tables.

Copied from IRCC’s language testing page. Ranges show the scores that give each CLB level.

IELTS General Training

Level	Speaking	Listening	Reading	Writing
CLB 4	4.0 to 4.5	4.5	3.5	4.0 to 4.5
CLB 5	5.0	5.0	4.0 to 4.5	5.0
CLB 6	5.5	5.5	5.0 to 5.5	5.5
CLB 7	6.0	6.0 to 7.0	6.0	6.0
CLB 8	6.5	7.5	6.5	6.5
CLB 9	7.0	8.0	7.0 to 7.5	7.0
CLB 10+	7.5 or higher	8.5 or higher	8.0 or higher	7.5 or higher

CELPIP General

Level	Speaking	Listening	Reading	Writing
CLB 4	4	4	4	4
CLB 5	5	5	5	5
CLB 6	6	6	6	6
CLB 7	7	7	7	7
CLB 8	8	8	8	8
CLB 9	9	9	9	9
CLB 10+	10 or higher	10 or higher	10 or higher	10 or higher

PTE Core

Level	Speaking	Listening	Reading	Writing
CLB 4	42 to 50	28 to 38	33 to 41	41 to 50
CLB 5	51 to 58	39 to 49	42 to 50	51 to 59
CLB 6	59 to 67	50 to 59	51 to 59	60 to 68
CLB 7	68 to 75	60 to 70	60 to 68	69 to 78
CLB 8	76 to 83	71 to 81	69 to 77	79 to 87
CLB 9	84 to 88	82 to 88	78 to 87	88 to 89
CLB 10+	89 or higher	89 or higher	88 or higher	90 or higher

TEF Canada

Level	Speaking	Listening	Reading	Writing
CLB 4	181 to 225	145 to 180	121 to 150	181 to 225
CLB 5	226 to 270	181 to 216	151 to 180	226 to 270
CLB 6	271 to 309	217 to 248	181 to 206	271 to 309
CLB 7	310 to 348	249 to 279	207 to 232	310 to 348
CLB 8	349 to 370	280 to 297	233 to 247	349 to 370
CLB 9	371 to 392	298 to 315	248 to 262	371 to 392
CLB 10+	393 or higher	316 or higher	263 or higher	393 or higher

TCF Canada

Level	Speaking	Listening	Reading	Writing
CLB 4	4 to 5	331 to 368	342 to 374	4 to 5
CLB 5	6 to 6	369 to 397	375 to 405	6 to 6
CLB 6	7 to 9	398 to 457	406 to 452	7 to 9
CLB 7	10 to 11	458 to 502	453 to 498	10 to 11
CLB 8	12 to 13	503 to 522	499 to 523	12 to 13
CLB 9	14 to 15	523 to 548	524 to 548	14 to 15
CLB 10+	16 or higher	549 or higher	549 or higher	16 or higher

FAQ

Common questions.

Which tests does IRCC accept for English?

For Express Entry: IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General and PTE Core. For French: TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Academic IELTS is not accepted for Express Entry.

How long are language results valid?

Two years from the test date for Express Entry. They must still be valid when you submit your profile and when you apply for permanent residence.

What is the difference between CLB and NCLC?

CLB is the English scale and NCLC is the French scale. Both have levels 1 to 12 and are used in the same way.

Does my lowest score matter most?

Often yes. Many programs set a minimum for every skill, so one low skill can limit you even when the other three are high.

Are these tables up to date?

We checked them against IRCC’s language testing page on October 1, 2026. IRCC can change them, so confirm on the official page before you apply.

Keep going

General information, not legal advice. Immigration rules change often and depend on your situation. Check IRCC or speak with a licensed consultant (RCIC) or lawyer before you apply.