WHAT IS CLB?
The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) assess proficiency in both English and French. These standards serve as a benchmark index for comparing scores from language tests such as IELTS, CELPIP, PTE, TEF, and TCF. The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) utilizes CLB to establish language requirements for immigration programs.
CLB assesses IELTS, CELPIP and PTE scores for English proficiency and TCF and TEF scores for French proficiency. CLB scores range from 1 to 12. A lower CLB score indicates limited ability to communicate and understand English or French, while a higher score indicates greater proficiency in English or French.
CLB for Express Entry Programs
For the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or the Federal Skilled Trades Program, the minimum CLB requirement is 5 or higher. For the Federal Skilled Worker Program, a minimum CLB of 7 is required, with additional points awarded for higher scores. The Federal Skilled Trades Program requires a minimum CLB of 5 in Listening and Speaking, while CLB 4 is required in Reading and Writing. To apply for a study visa under the Direct Student Program or SDS, an applicant needs a minimum CLB score of 7 or 6 bands in each module.
IELTS to CLB Calculator
IELTS, or the International English Language Testing System, administered by IDP International and the British Council worldwide, assesses candidates' English language proficiency. It confirms whether candidates can communicate and understand English and provides scores based on the results of each test component.
To convert IELTS scores to CLB, you can use our free tool or follow the table below, which may be complex. For example, if a candidate's IELTS score is 6 in each module, its equivalent score in CLB will be 7.
Please note that IELTS Academic is NOT sufficient for immigration programs in Canada. IRCC only accepts IELTS General for immigration purposes. If you have taken the IELTS Academic test, you must take the IELTS General training exam.
Overall IELTS Score
| CLB | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 8-9 | 7.5-9 | 8.5-9 | 7.5-9 |
| 9 | 7-7.5 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
| 8 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 6.5 |
| 7 | 6 | 6 | 6-7 | 6 |
| 6 | 5-5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| 5 | 4-4.5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | 3.5 | 4-4.5 | 4.5 | 4-4.5 |
IELTS to CLB - Module Wise
Reading
| IELTS Score | CLB |
|---|---|
| 8-9 | 10 |
| 7-7.5 | 9 |
| 6.5 | 8 |
| 6 | 7 |
| 5-5.5 | 6 |
| 4-4.5 | 5 |
| 3.5 | 4 |
Writing
| IELTS Score | CLB |
|---|---|
| 7.5-9 | 10 |
| 7 | 9 |
| 6.5 | 8 |
| 6 | 7 |
| 5.5 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 4-4.5 | 4 |
Listening
| IELTS Score | CLB |
|---|---|
| 8.5-9 | 10 |
| 8 | 9 |
| 7.5 | 8 |
| 6-7 | 7 |
| 5.5 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 4.5 | 4 |
SPEAKING
| IELTS Score | CLB |
|---|---|
| 7.5-9 | 10 |
| 7 | 9 |
| 6.5 | 8 |
| 6 | 7 |
| 5.5 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 4-4.5 | 4 |
Overall CELPIP Score
| CLB | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
CELPIP to CLB - Module Wise
Reading
| CELPIP Score | CLB |
|---|---|
| 10-12 | 10 |
| 9 | 9 |
| 8 | 8 |
| 7 | 7 |
| 6 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 4 | 4 |
| 3 | 3 |
Writing
| CELPIP Score | CLB |
|---|---|
| 10-12 | 10 |
| 9 | 9 |
| 8 | 8 |
| 7 | 7 |
| 6 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 4 | 4 |
| 3 | 3 |
Listening
| CELPIP Score | CLB |
|---|---|
| 10-12 | 10 |
| 9 | 9 |
| 8 | 8 |
| 7 | 7 |
| 6 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 4 | 4 |
| 3 | 3 |
SPEAKING
| CELPIP Score | CLB |
|---|---|
| 10-12 | 10 |
| 9 | 9 |
| 8 | 8 |
| 7 | 7 |
| 6 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 4 | 4 |
| 3 | 3 |
OVERALL PTE SCORE
| CLB | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 88-90 | 90 | 89-90 | 89-90 |
| 9 | 78-87 | 88-89 | 82-88 | 84-88 |
| 8 | 69-77 | 79-87 | 71-81 | 76-83 |
| 7 | 60-68 | 69-78 | 60-70 | 68-75 |
| 6 | 51-59 | 60-68 | 50-59 | 59-67 |
| 5 | 42-50 | 51-59 | 39-49 | 51-58 |
| 4 | 33-41 | 41-50 | 28-38 | 42-50 |
| 3 | 24-32 | 32-40 | 18-27 | 34-41 |
Overall TCF Score
| CLB | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 549-699 | 16-20 | 549-699 | 16-20 |
| 9 | 524-548 | 14-15 | 523-548 | 14-15 |
| 8 | 499-523 | 12-13 | 503-522 | 12-13 |
| 7 | 453-498 | 10-11 | 458-502 | 10-11 |
| 6 | 4-6=452 | 7-9 | 398-457 | 7-9 |
| 5 | 375-405 | 6-6 | 369-397 | 6-6 |
| 4 | 342-374 | 4-5 | 331-368 | 4-5 |
TCF to CLB - Module Wise
Reading
| TCF Score | CLB |
|---|---|
| 549-699 | 10 |
| 524-548 | 9 |
| 499-523 | 8 |
| 453-498 | 7 |
| 406-452 | 6 |
| 375-405 | 5 |
| 342-374 | 4 |
Writing
| TCF Score | CLB |
|---|---|
| 16-20 | 10 |
| 14-15 | 9 |
| 12-13 | 8 |
| 10-11 | 7 |
| 7-9 | 6 |
| 6-6 | 5 |
| 4-5 | 4 |
Listening
| TCF Score | CLB |
|---|---|
| 549-699 | 10 |
| 523-548 | 9 |
| 503-522 | 8 |
| 458-502 | 7 |
| 398-457 | 6 |
| 369-397 | 5 |
| 331-368 | 4 |
SPEAKING
| TCF Score | CLB |
|---|---|
| 16-20 | 10 |
| 14-15 | 9 |
| 12-13 | 8 |
| 10-11 | 7 |
| 7-9 | 6 |
| 6-6 | 5 |
| 4-5 | 4 |
Overall TEF Score
| CLB | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 263-300 | 393-450 | 316-360 | 393-450 |
| 9 | 248-262 | 371-392 | 298-315 | 371-392 |
| 8 | 233-247 | 349-370 | 280-297 | 349-370 |
| 7 | 207-232 | 310-348 | 249-279 | 310-348 |
| 6 | 181-206 | 271-309 | 217-248 | 271-309 |
| 5 | 151-180 | 226-270 | 181-216 | 226-270 |
| 4 | 121-150 | 181-225 | 145-180 | 181-225 |
CLB to TEF Scores - Module Wise
Reading
| TEF Score | CLB |
|---|---|
| 263-300 | 10 |
| 248-262 | 9 |
| 233-247 | 8 |
| 207-232 | 7 |
| 181-206 | 6 |
| 151-180 | 5 |
| 121-150 | 4 |
Writing
| TEF Score | CLB |
|---|---|
| 393-450 | 10 |
| 371-391 | 9 |
| 349-370 | 8 |
| 310-348 | 7 |
| 271-309 | 6 |
| 226-270 | 5 |
| 181-225 | 4 |
Listening
| TEF Score | CLB |
|---|---|
| 316-360 | 10 |
| 298-315 | 9 |
| 280-297 | 8 |
| 249-279 | 7 |
| 217-248 | 6 |
| 181-216 | 5 |
| 145-180 | 4 |
SPEAKING
| TEF Score | CLB |
|---|---|
| 393-450 | 10 |
| 371-392 | 9 |
| 349-370 | 8 |
| 310-348 | 7 |
| 271-309 | 6 |
| 226-270 | 5 |
| 181-225 | 4 |