FREE TOOL

IELTS to CLB converter

Express Entry is scored in Canadian Language Benchmarks, not in bands. Enter your IELTS General Training bands to see the CLB level IRCC gives each ability, the CRS points it earns and the program minimums it meets. Or pick a level to see the bands it needs.

The chart, the minimums and the points are IRCC's own, from “Express Entry: Language test results” and “Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) criteria” on canada.ca, read 22 September 2026.

Your IELTS General Training bands, as CLB levels

SpeakingListeningReadingWriting

Ability	Band	Level	CRS points
Speaking	7.0	CLB 9	31
Listening	7.5	CLB 8	23
Reading	6.5	CLB 8	23
Writing	6.0	CLB 7	17

My spouse or common-law partner is coming to Canada with me

94 of the 136 CRS points available for your first official language.

Express Entry minimums these bands meet

Federal Skilled Worker Program: CLB 7 in all fourMeets
Canadian Experience Class, NOC TEER 0 or 1: CLB 7Meets
Canadian Experience Class, NOC TEER 2 or 3: CLB 5Meets
Federal Skilled Trades Program: CLB 5 in speaking and listening, CLB 4 in reading and writingMeets

The bands a CLB level needs

CLB level

CLB 9 needs at least these IELTS General Training bands:

Ability	Lowest band
Speaking	7.0
Listening	8.0
Reading	7.0
Writing	7.0

IRCC reads each ability on its own, so there is no overall CLB. These are the minimums it publishes for Express Entry, and your level is IRCC's to decide on your application.

The chart IRCC publishes

Each ability is converted on its own. A band reaches a level when it meets that level's minimum, so Listening 7.5 is CLB 8 and Listening 8.0 is CLB 9. IRCC publishes the chart for IELTS General Training only.

IELTS General Training bands for each CLB level, as IRCC publishes them
CLB level	Speaking	Listening	Reading	Writing
CLB 10 and above	7.5 to 9.0	8.5 to 9.0	8.0 to 9.0	7.5 to 9.0
CLB 9	7.0	8.0	7.0	7.0
CLB 8	6.5	7.5	6.5	6.5
CLB 7	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0
CLB 6	5.5	5.5	5.0	5.5
CLB 5	5.0	5.0	4.0	5.0
CLB 4	4.0	4.5	3.5	4.0

What each Express Entry program asks

The Federal Skilled Worker Program asks for CLB 7 in all four abilities. The Canadian Experience Class sets its minimum by the NOC TEER category of your job, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program asks for less in reading and writing.

Minimum CLB level per ability for each Express Entry program
Program	Speaking	Listening	Reading	Writing
Federal Skilled Worker Program	CLB 7	CLB 7	CLB 7	CLB 7
Canadian Experience Class, NOC TEER 0 or 1	CLB 7	CLB 7	CLB 7	CLB 7
Canadian Experience Class, NOC TEER 2 or 3	CLB 5	CLB 5	CLB 5	CLB 5
Federal Skilled Trades Program	CLB 5	CLB 5	CLB 4	CLB 4

CRS points for your first official language

These are the core points per ability. Language also counts inside the skill transferability factors, where it combines with education or work experience, so this table is not all that language adds to your score.

CRS points per ability for the first official language
CLB level per ability	With a spouse or partner	Without
Less than CLB 4	0	0
CLB 4 or 5	6	6
CLB 6	8	9
CLB 7	16	17
CLB 8	22	23
CLB 9	29	31
CLB 10 or more	32	34

What this cannot tell you

This reads the chart IRCC publishes; it decides nothing. For Express Entry IRCC accepts only the General Training version of IELTS, not Academic and not IELTS One Skill Retake, and your results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your profile and when you apply for permanent residence. For everything else IRCC asks, and how to prepare each ability, read IELTS for Canada Express Entry. For an estimate of your Writing or Speaking band before you book, Liguastic marks Writing against the four criteria and scores Speaking from your recording, and always calls the number an estimate.

Questions about IELTS and CLB

How do I convert IELTS to CLB?

Convert each ability on its own with IRCC's chart. Your level in an ability is the highest CLB whose minimum band you meet, so Speaking 7.0 is CLB 9 and Listening 7.5 is CLB 8. Express Entry has no overall CLB, and IRCC publishes this chart for IELTS General Training only.

What IELTS score is CLB 7?

6.0 in each of the four abilities on IELTS General Training. CLB 7 in all four is the minimum for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, and the Canadian Experience Class asks for it when your job is in NOC TEER 0 or 1.

What IELTS score is CLB 9?

8.0 in Listening, and 7.0 in Reading, Writing and Speaking. CLB 9 earns 31 CRS points per ability for your first official language without a spouse or partner, and 29 with one.

What IELTS score is CLB 10?

8.5 in Listening, 8.0 in Reading, 7.5 in Writing and 7.5 in Speaking, or higher. IRCC prints this row as CLB 10 and above, and it earns the most points a level can: 34 per ability without a spouse or partner, 32 with one.

Does IRCC accept IELTS Academic for Express Entry?

No. For Express Entry IRCC accepts the General Training version of IELTS, and it does not accept IELTS One Skill Retake. For English it also accepts CELPIP-General and PTE Core.

How long are IELTS results valid for Express Entry?

IRCC says your results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you submit your application for permanent residence.

Is this an official result?

No. The converter reads the chart IRCC publishes against the bands you enter. Your level is decided by IRCC on your application, from the result your test centre issues.

Ready when you are.

START

The first thing it does is measure you.

A placement test, then a plan written from what it measured.

Start learning See pricing

Free placement check, no card · Cancel anytime · 14-day refund on an unused first payment