CLB Calculator – Convert Your IELTS, CELPIP, PTE, TEF & TCF Score in 2026
Every Canadian immigration program runs on CLB. It does not matter which test you took — what matters is what your score means in Canadian Language Benchmark terms. Convert your IELTS, CELPIP, PTE Core, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada results to CLB instantly and find out exactly where your language profile stands.
What Is CLB — And Why Does It Matter for Canadian Immigration?
CLB stands for Canadian Language Benchmark. It is Canada’s national standard for measuring English and French language proficiency, and IRCC uses it across every immigration program to assess whether applicants meet language requirements.
The CLB scale runs from 1 to 12. Every approved language test maps to it — IELTS, CELPIP, and PTE Core for English, and TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French. Your CLB level determines two things: whether you are eligible for a program, and how many CRS points you earn in Express Entry.
⚠️ The Rule Most Applicants Get Wrong — And It Costs Them
Your CLB is not an average of your four skill scores. It is determined by your lowest skill. IRCC assesses each skill separately — the weakest one sets your level.
Result: Your CLB is 7 — not 9. Full stop. Knowing this before you apply, not after, is the difference between a competitive profile and a rejected one.
Which Language Tests Does IRCC Accept — And Which Version Do You Need?
IRCC accepts five language tests for immigration purposes. Each one has a specific version — and using the wrong version means your results are invalid.
General Training only. Academic is not accepted for immigration.
Valid 2 yearsCELPIP-General only. LS version (listening/speaking) is not accepted.
Valid 2 yearsPTE Core only. Approved by IRCC in 2023. PTE Academic is not accepted.
Valid 2 yearsUpdated scoring bands in December 2023. Pre-2023 results use different ranges.
Valid 2 yearsSecond approved French option. Numeric scale for listening and reading.
Valid 2 yearsMost applicants don’t realize that IELTS Academic — the version most universities require — is not accepted for Canadian immigration applications. If you took Academic, you need to retake the General Training version before submitting any immigration application.
IELTS to CLB Conversion — Full Score Chart
If you took IELTS General Training, use this table to find your CLB level for each skill. Your overall CLB is your lowest skill result — not an average.
| CLB Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 10 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| CLB 9 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| CLB 8 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| CLB 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| CLB 6 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| CLB 5 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| CLB 4 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
CELPIP to CLB Conversion — Full Score Chart
CELPIP is Canada’s own English proficiency test and maps directly to CLB on a one-to-one basis — making it one of the simpler conversions to read.
| CLB 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 |
CELPIP scores of 10, 11, and 12 all map to CLB 10 for immigration purposes.
PTE Core to CLB Conversion — Full Score Chart
PTE Core uses a 10–90 point scale for each skill. The conversion to CLB is less intuitive than IELTS or CELPIP — use this table to find your exact level.
| CLB Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 10 | 89–90 | 88–90 | 90 | 89–90 |
| CLB 9 | 82–88 | 78–87 | 88–89 | 84–88 |
| CLB 8 | 71–81 | 69–77 | 79–87 | 76–83 |
| CLB 7 | 60–70 | 60–68 | 69–78 | 68–75 |
| CLB 6 | 50–59 | 51–59 | 60–68 | 59–67 |
| CLB 5 | 39–49 | 42–50 | 51–59 | 51–58 |
| CLB 4 | 28–38 | 33–41 | 41–50 | 42–50 |
TEF Canada to CLB Conversion — Full Score Chart
TEF Canada results are reported in NCLC — the French-language equivalent of CLB. The scoring bands changed in December 2023. The table below reflects the current bands.
| NCLC Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCLC 10 | 546–699 | 546–699 | 558–699 | 556–699 |
| NCLC 9 | 503–545 | 503–545 | 512–557 | 518–555 |
| NCLC 8 | 462–502 | 462–502 | 472–511 | 494–517 |
| NCLC 7 | 434–461 | 434–461 | 428–471 | 456–493 |
| NCLC 6 | 393–433 | 393–433 | 379–427 | 422–455 |
| NCLC 5 | 352–392 | 352–392 | 330–378 | 387–421 |
| NCLC 4 | 306–351 | 306–351 | 268–329 | 328–386 |
TEF Canada updated its scoring bands in December 2023. If your test was taken before that date, different score ranges apply. Always verify against your official result letter.
TCF Canada to CLB Conversion — Full Score Chart
TCF Canada uses a different scoring format — numeric scales for listening and reading, and a shorter scale for writing and speaking.
| NCLC Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCLC 10 | 549–699 | 549–699 | 16–20 | 16–20 |
| NCLC 9 | 523–548 | 524–548 | 14–15 | 14–15 |
| NCLC 8 | 503–522 | 499–523 | 12–13 | 12–13 |
| NCLC 7 | 458–502 | 453–498 | 10–11 | 10–11 |
| NCLC 6 | 398–457 | 406–452 | 7–9 | 7–9 |
| NCLC 5 | 369–397 | 375–405 | 6 | 6 |
| NCLC 4 | 331–368 | 342–374 | 4–5 | 4–5 |
What CLB Score Do You Need? — Minimum Requirements by Immigration Program
CLB requirements vary by program and by occupation type within programs. Here is the complete picture in one place.
| Immigration Program | Minimum CLB Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) | CLB 7 — all 4 skills | Higher CLB = more CRS points |
| Canadian Experience Class — TEER 0/1 | CLB 7 — all 4 skills | |
| Canadian Experience Class — TEER 2/3 | CLB 5 — all 4 skills | |
| Federal Skilled Trades (FSTP) | CLB 5 S/L · CLB 4 R/W | Different per skill group |
| Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) | CLB 7 / CLB 5 | CLB 7 bachelor’s+; CLB 5 college — from Nov 2024 |
| Atlantic Immigration Program — TEER 0–3 | CLB 5 | |
| Atlantic Immigration Program — TEER 4 | CLB 4 | |
| Caregiver Programs | CLB 4 | |
| Most PNP Skilled Worker Streams | CLB 4–7 | Varies by province and stream |
| Canadian Citizenship | CLB 4 (ages 18–54) |
CLB requirements can change. Always verify current requirements on the official IRCC website before submitting any application.
📊 Know Your CLB? See Its CRS Impact
CLB 9 in all four skills can add up to 136 CRS points for a single applicant in Express Entry. Check your full CRS score now and see exactly how your language results affect your ranking in the Express Entry pool.
Check Your CRS Score →Frequently Asked Questions About the CLB Calculator
How do I calculate my CLB score from IELTS?
Enter your IELTS General Training band scores for listening, reading, writing, and speaking into the CLB calculator above. It converts each skill to a CLB level. Your overall CLB is your lowest skill result — not an average of the four.
What is CLB in Canadian immigration?
CLB stands for Canadian Language Benchmark. It is Canada’s national language proficiency standard, ranging from 1 to 12. IRCC uses it to assess English and French skills across all immigration programs. Your approved test score — IELTS, CELPIP, PTE Core, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada — gets converted to a CLB level.
Is IELTS Academic accepted for Canadian immigration?
No. IRCC only accepts IELTS General Training for immigration purposes. IELTS Academic is for university admissions — not immigration applications. If you took Academic, you need to retake the General Training version before applying.
How long is my language test valid for immigration?
Most approved test results are valid for 2 years from the date of the test. If your results have expired before you submit your application, you need to retake the test. Expired results will not be accepted by IRCC.
What is the difference between CLB and NCLC?
CLB measures English proficiency. NCLC — Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien — is the French-language equivalent. TEF Canada and TCF Canada results are reported as NCLC scores. For all Canadian immigration programs, CLB and NCLC levels are treated the same way.
Can I use PTE Core for Canadian immigration?
Yes. IRCC approved PTE Core as an accepted English language test in 2023. Note that PTE Academic is a different product and is not accepted for immigration. Only PTE Core qualifies.
What CLB score do I need for Express Entry?
The Federal Skilled Worker Program requires CLB 7 in all four skills. The Canadian Experience Class requires CLB 7 for TEER 0/1 occupations and CLB 5 for TEER 2/3. Higher CLB scores earn more CRS points — CLB 9 in all four skills gives significantly more points than CLB 7.
Why does my lowest skill score determine my CLB?
IRCC assesses each language skill separately and sets requirements per skill — not as an average. Your effective CLB is the level where all four skills meet the threshold. If writing is your weakest area, that score determines your CLB regardless of how strong your other three skills are.
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