Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)

Canadian-Language-Benchmark

If you are looking to immigrate to Canada, you need to show you can speak one or both of Canada’s official languages, English and French, at a certain level. Immigration officials ask for scores from an approved language test to figure out how well a person speaks a language. They check the scores to see if it meets the CLB (for English language) requirements or not. Hence, the objective of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) is to measure the different test scores. 

Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB)

The Canadian Language Benchmarks have 12 levels. These range from simple (CLB 1) to complex (CLB 12). These test one’s skills in: listening, speaking, reading, and writing in the English language.

Canadian Language Benchmarks assess a person’s ability to speak, read, write, and listen to the English language. Basically how well a non-native English speaker is able to converse in English. 

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Why do we need to take a language test for Canada PR?

Canada is a bilingual country, meaning it has two official languages. One is English and the other French. Immigrants coming to the country have to showcase the required amount of fluency in at least one of these languages. 

Moreover, Canadian immigration is point-based. This means candidates who wish to immigrate to Canada have to meet the requirements of the points system. Points are calculated based on various criteria such as your age, work experience, education, and let’s not forget, language proficiency. 

If you are applying to immigrate to Canada through the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), you need to score at least 67 out of 100 points. And out of these, the most points you can achieve are for language proficiency. Thus, you can see how important language skills are in Canadian immigration. 

Next, let’s check out which language tests are approved for Canada PR

Which language tests are approved for Canada PR?

Canada accepts only a few language test results. The approved language tests for Canada PR are:

  1. IELTS General Training (English)
  2. CELPIP-General (English)
  3. PTE Core (English)
  4. TCF Canada (French)
  5. TEF Canada (French)

1. IELTS General Training

The International English Language Testing System, in short IELTS, evaluates a person’s English-speaking proficiency. It is one of the most popular language tests for people who want to immigrate to Canada

IELTS are conducted in various nations across the world. Those who are taking the IELTS test for Canada PR must take the General Training option. 

Your abilities in speaking, listening, reading, and writing are evaluated through the test. Each ability is given a score between 0 and 9 band score. 

2. CELPIP-General

CELPIP, short for Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program, is one of two tests that can be used to show that you can speak English well enough to move to Canada.

The test looks at how well you can speak, listen, read, and write in English. The test goes on for about 3 hours and presents almost real-life based questions. 

3. PTE Core

PTE Core is the newest English language test approved by IRCC. The test is computer-based and goes on for about 2 hours. The Pearson Test of English test results are approved for immigration, citizenship and work purposes by the IRCC. 

4. TCF Canada

Test de connaissance du français (TCF) is one of the two accepted French language proficiency exams for Canada immigration.

Four skills are assessed on the test: verbal, listening, reading, and writing. The TCF language test lasts for about 2 hours and 47 minutes. 

5. TEF Canada

The Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) is one of the two tests approved by IRCC to test French language proficiency. 

TEF assesses your French language skills based on the following abilities:

  • Oral Comprehension
  • Written Comprehension
  • Oral Expression
  • Written Expression 

Now that we have understood a little about these language tests, next let’s see how Canadian Language Benchmarks evaluates test results.  

How does Canada measure language test results?

To measure language test results, Canada uses:

  • For English- CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks)
  • For French- NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien)

For economic immigration programs, this is the required CLB/NCLC level one needs to aim for. 

Language Test Score Evaluation

Let’s evaluate the scores for Express Entry and other Canadian immigration programs below. 

1. Federal Skilled Worker Program

IELTS General Training

First official language

CLB LevelSpeakingListeningReadingWritingPoints 
766664
86.57.56.56.55
978776
10 and above7.5-9.08.5-9.08.0-9.07.5-9.06

Second official language

CLB LevelSpeakingListeningReadingWritingPoints (total)
5 and above5.0-9.05.0-9.04.0-9.05.0-9.04

CELPIP-General

First official language

CLB LevelSpeakingListeningReadingWritingPoints 
7 CELPIP-G77774
8 CELPIP-G88885
9 CELPIP-G99996
10 and above CELPIP-G10+10+10+10+6

Second official language

CLB LevelSpeakingListeningReadingWritingPoints (total)
5 and above5-125-125-125-124

PTE Core

First official language

CLB LevelSpeakingListeningReadingWritingPoints 
768-7560-7060-6869-784
876-8371-8169-7779-875
984-8882-8878-8788-896
10 and above89+89+88+90+6

Second official language

CLB LevelSpeakingListeningReadingWritingPoints (total)
5 and above51-9039-9042-9051-904

TCF Canada

First official language

NCLC LevelSpeaking  Listening   Reading    Writing Points
710-11458-502453-49810-114
812-13503-522499-52312-135
9 and above14+523+524+14+6

Second official language

NCLC LevelSpeaking  Listening   Reading    Writing Points (total)
5 and above6+369-397+375-405+6+4

TEF Canada

First official language

NCLC LevelSpeaking  Listening   Reading    Writing Points
7310-348249-279207-232310-3484
8349-370280-297233-247349-3705
9 and above371+298+248+371+6

Second official language

NCLC LevelSpeaking  Listening   Reading    Writing Points (total)
5 and above226-371+181-298+151-248+226-371+4

2. Federal Skilled Trades Program

IELTS General Training

CLB LevelSpeakingListeningReadingWriting
10 and above7.5-9.08.5-9.08.0-9.07.5-9.0
97877
86.57.56.56.5
76666
65.55.555.5
55545
444.53.54

CELPIP-General

CLB LevelSpeakingListeningReadingWriting
9 and above9+9+9+9+
88888
77777
66666
55555
44444

PTE Core

CLB LevelSpeakingListeningReadingWriting
10 and above89+89+88+90+
984-8882-8878-8788-89
876-8371-8169-7779-87
768-7560-7060-6869-78
659-6750-5951-5960-68
551-5839-4942-5051-59
442-5028-3833-4141-50

TCF Canada

NCLC LevelSpeaking  Listening   Reading    Writing 
10 and above16-20549-699549-69916-20
914-15523-548524-54814-15
812-13503-522499-52312-13
710-11458-502453-49810-11
67-9398-457406-4527-9
56369-397375-4056
44-5331-368342-3744-5

TEF Canada

NCLC LevelSpeakingListeningReadingWriting 
9 and above371+298+248+371+
8349-370280-297233-247349-370
7310-348249-279207-232310-348
6271-309217-248181-206271-309
5226-270181-216151-180226-270
4181-225145-180121-150181-225

3. Canadian Experience Class

IELTS General Training

NOC TEERCLB LevelSpeakingListeningReadingWriting
0 and 110 and above7.5-9.08.5-9.08.0-9.07.5-9.0
0 and 197877
0 and 186.57.56.56.5
0 and 176666
2 and 365.55.555.5
2 and 355545

CELPIP-General

NOC TEERCLB LevelSpeakingListeningReadingWriting
0 and 19 and above9+9+9+9+
0 and 188888
0 and 177777
2 and 366666
2 and 355555

PTE Core

NOC TEERCLB LevelSpeakingListeningReadingWriting
0 and 110 and above89+89+88+90+
0 and 1984-8882-8878-8788-89
0 and 1876-8371-8169-7779-87
0 and 1768-7560-7060-6869-78
2 and 3659-6750-5951-5960-68
2 and 3551-5839-4942-5051-59

TCF Canada

NOC TEERNCLC LevelSpeakingListeningReadingWriting
0 and 110 and above16-20549-699549-69916-20
0 and 1914-15523-548524-54814-15
0 and 1812-13503-522499-52312-13
0 and 1710-11458-502453-49810-11
2 and 367-9398-457406-4527-9
2 and 356369-397375-4056

TEF Canada

NOC TEERNCLC LevelSpeakingListeningReadingWriting
0 and 19 and above371+298+248+371+
0 and 18349-370280-297233-247349-370
0 and 17310-348249-279207-232310-348
2 and 36271-309217-248181-206271-309
2 and 35226-270181-216151-180226-270

CLB Evaluation for Immigration Programs

IELTS General Training

CLB levelReadingWritingListeningSpeaking
1087.58.57.5
97787
86.56.57.56.5
76666
655.55.55.5
54555
43.544.54

CELPIP-General

CLB levelReadingWritingListeningSpeaking
1010101010
99999
88888
77777
66666
55555
44444

PTE Core

CLB levelReadingWritingListeningSpeaking
1088-909089-9089-90
978-8788-8982-8884-88
869-7779-8771-8176-83
760-6869-7860-7068-75
651-5960-6850-5959-67
542-5051-5939-4951-58
433-4141-5028-3842-50
324-3232-4018-2734-41

TEF Canada

CLB levelReadingWritingListeningSpeaking
10263-300393-450316-360393-450
9248-262371-392298-315371-392
8233-247349-370280-297349-370
7207-232310-348249-279310-348
6181-206271-309217-248271-309
5151-180226-270181-216226-270
4121-150181-225145-180181-225

TCF Canada

CLB levelReadingWritingListeningSpeaking
10549-69916-20549-69916-20
9524-54814-15523-54814-15
8499-52312-13503-52212-13
7453-49810-11458-50210-11
6406-4527-9398-4577-9
5375-4056369-3976
4342-3744-5331-3684-5

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