Language testing—Skilled immigrants (Express Entry)

You must prove your language skills by taking an approved language test.

To do this you must

Language tests we accept

You can take any of these approved language tests:

English French
CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
  • You must take the CELPIP-General test.
TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français
IELTS: International English Language Testing System
  • You must take the IELTS General Training option.
TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français

PTE Core: Pearson Test of English

  • You must take the PTE Core option

What happens next

We will verify the test results with the testing organizations to prove your language skills.

Your test results must be valid (less than 2 years old) when you:

The Express Entry profile is valid for 12 months. Make sure that your language test results are valid for the same time period.

If your test results expire soon, you should re-take the test and update your Express Entry profile with your new test results.

Check your language level

To measure your English or French levels, we use

Based on your test results, you can assess your level in each of the following abilities:

The required minimum level and the number of points you’ll get for your language skills will depend on the specific program you’re applying to.

If you aren’t able to complete one or more sections of your language test because of a disability

If you have a physical or mental disability and you aren’t able to complete one or more sections of your language test

The Comprehensive Ranking System – Language calculator isn’t the same as the Comprehensive Ranking System tool.

Federal Skilled Worker Program

CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program

First official language (maximum 24 points)

Test results for each ability
CLB Level Speaking Listening Reading Writing Points per ability
7
CELPIP-G
7 7 7 7 4
8
CELPIP-G
8 8 8 8 5
9
CELPIP-G
9 9 9 9 6
10 and above
CELPIP-G
10+ 10+ 10+ 10+ 6

Second official language (4 points if you meet the minimum threshold in each of the four language abilities)

Test results for each ability
CLB Level Speaking Listening Reading Writing Points (total)
5 and above 5-12 5-12 5-12 5-12 4

How to calculate your points

  1. First official language:
    • Speaking + Listening + Reading + Writing = your subtotal
  2. Second official language:
    • Add four points to your subtotal if you meet the minimum level in all four abilities. If you do not, you get 0 points for your second official language.
  3. Add (1) and (2) together for your total points.

Federal Skilled Worker Program

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

First official language (maximum 24 points)

Test results for each ability
CLB Level Speaking Listening Reading Writing Points per ability
7 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 4
8 6.5 7.5 6.5 6.5 5
9 7.0 8.0 7.0 7.0 6
10 and above 7.5-9.0 8.5-9.0 8.0-9.0 7.5-9.0 6

Second official language (4 points if you meet the minimum threshold in each of the four language abilities)

Test results for each ability
CLB Level Speaking Listening Reading Writing Points (total)
5 and above 5.0-9.0 5.0-9.0 4.0-9.0 5.0-9.0 4

How to calculate your points

  1. First official language:
    • Speaking + Listening + Reading + Writing = your subtotal
  2. Second official language:
    • Add four points to your subtotal if you meet the minimum level in all four abilities. If you do not, you get 0 points for your second official language.
  3. Add (1) and (2) together for your total points.

Federal Skilled Worker Program

PTE Core: Pearson Test of English

First official language (maximum 24 points)

Test results for each ability
CLB Level Speaking Listening Reading Writing Points per ability
7 68-75 60-70 60-68 69-78 4
8 76-83 71-81 69-77 79-87 5
9 84-88 82-88 78-87 88-89 6
10 and above 89+ 89+ 88+ 90+ 6

Second official language (4 points if you meet the minimum threshold in each of the four language abilities)

Test results for each ability
CLB Level Speaking Listening Reading Writing Points (total)
5 and above 51-90 39-90 42-90 51-90 4

Federal Skilled Worker Program

TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français

Your language level will be based on the “Équivalence ancien score” (previous score equivalency).

  • Only enter the scores for each language ability from that column.
  • If you don’t enter the correct scores, we may refuse your application.
  • Your attestation de résultats (statement of results) will also include test results in the column marked “Score / 699.” Don’t enter these results in your Express Entry profile. They aren’t compatible with our system at this time.

First official language (maximum 24 points)

Test results for each ability
NCLC Level Speaking (expression orale) Listening (compréhension de l’oral) Reading (compréhension de l’écrit) Writing (expression écrite) Points (per ability)
7 310-348 249-279 207-232 310-348 4
8 349-370 280-297 233-247 349-370 5
9 and above 371+ 298+ 248+ 371+ 6

Second official language (4 points if you meet the minimum threshold in each of the four language abilities)

Test results for each ability
NCLC Level Speaking (expression orale) Listening (compréhension de l’oral) Reading (compréhension de l’écrit) Writing (expression écrite) Points (total)
5 and above 226-371+ 181-298+ 151-248+ 226-371+ 4

The testing organization will issue you a copy of TEF Canada electronic test results. The results will include:

  • your score
  • the NCLC equivalence level you achieved for each test component

How to calculate your points

  1. First official language:
    • Speaking + Listening + Reading + Writing = your subtotal
  2. Second official language:
    • Add four points to your subtotal if you meet the minimum level in all four abilities. If you do not, you get 0 points for your second official language.
  3. Add (1) and (2) together for your total points.

Federal Skilled Worker Program

TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français

First official language (maximum 24 points)

Test results for each ability
NCLC Level Speaking (expression orale) Listening (compréhension de l’oral) Reading (compréhension de l’écrit) Writing (expression écrite) Points (per ability)
7 10-11 458-502 453-498 10-11 4
8 12-13 503-522 499-523 12-13 5
9 and above 14+ 523+ 524+ 14+ 6

Second official language (4 points if you meet the minimum threshold in each of the four language abilities)

Test results for each ability
NCLC Level Speaking (expression orale) Listening (compréhension de l’oral) Reading (compréhension de l’écrit) Writing (expression écrite) Points (total)
5 and above 6+ 369-397+ 375-405+ 6+ 4

How to calculate your points

  1. First official language:
    • Speaking + Listening + Reading + Writing = your subtotal
  2. Second official language:
    • Add four points to your subtotal if you meet the minimum level in all four abilities. If you do not, you get 0 points for your second official language.
  3. Add (1) and (2) together for your total points.

Federal Skilled Trades Program

CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
Test results for each ability
CLB Level Speaking Listening Reading Writing
9 and above 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

Federal Skilled Trades Program

IELTS: International English Language Testing System
Test results for each ability
CLB Level Speaking Listening Reading Writing
10 and above 7.5-9.0 8.5-9.0 8.0-9.0 7.5-9.0
9 7.0 8.0 7.0 7.0
8 6.5 7.5 6.5 6.5
7 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0
6 5.5 5.5 5.0 5.5
5 5.0 5.0 4.0 5.0
4 4.0 4.5 3.5 4.0

Federal Skilled Trades Program

PTE Core: Pearson Test of English
Test results for each ability
CLB Level Speaking Listening Reading Writing
10 and above 89+ 89+ 88+ 90+
9 84-88 82-88 78-87 88-89
8 76-83 71-81 69-77 79-87
7 68-75 60-70 60-68 69-78
6 59-67 50-59 51-59 60-68
5 51-58 39-49 42-50 51-59
4 42-50 28-38 33-41 41-50

Federal Skilled Trades Program

TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français

Your language level will be based on the “Équivalence ancien score” (previous score equivalency).

  • Only enter the scores for each language ability from that column.
  • If you don’t enter the correct scores, we may refuse your application.
  • Your attestation de résultats (statement of results) will also include test results in the column marked “Score / 699.” Don’t enter these results in your Express Entry profile. They aren’t compatible with our system at this time.
Test results for each ability
NCLC Level Speaking (expression orale) Listening (compréhension de l’oral) Reading (compréhension de l’écrit) Writing (expression écrite)
9 and above 371+ 298+ 248+ 371+
8 349-370 280-297 233-247 349-370
7 310-348 249-279 207-232 310-348
6 271-309 217-248 181-206 271-309
5 226-270 181-216 151-180 226-270
4 181-225 145-180 121-150 181-225

The testing organization will issue you a copy of TEF Canada electronic test results. The results will include:

  • your score
  • the NCLC equivalence level you achieved for each test component

Federal Skilled Trades Program

TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français
Test results for each ability
NCLC Level Speaking (expression orale) Listening (compréhension de l’oral) Reading (compréhension de l’écrit) Writing (expression écrite)
10 and above 16-20 549-699 549-699 16-20
9 14-15 523-548 524-548 14-15
8 12-13 503-522 499-523 12-13
7 10-11 458-502 453-498 10-11
6 7-9 398-457 406-452 7-9
5 6 369-397 375-405 6
4 4-5 331-368 342-374 4-5

Canadian Experience Class

Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) centres are not approved testing agencies for people who apply under the Canadian Experience Class.

CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
Test results for each ability
NOC TEER CLB Level Speaking Listening Reading Writing
0 and 1 9 and above 9+ 9+ 9+ 9+
0 and 1 8 8 8 8 8
0 and 1 7 7 7 7 7
2 and 3 6 6 6 6 6
2 and 3 5 5 5 5 5

Canadian Experience Class

Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) centres are not approved testing agencies for people who apply under the Canadian Experience Class.

IELTS: International English Language Testing System
Test results for each ability
NOC TEER CLB Level Speaking Listening Reading Writing
0 and 1 10 and above 7.5-9.0 8.5-9.0 8.0-9.0 7.5-9.0
0 and 1 9 7.0 8.0 7.0 7.0
0 and 1 8 6.5 7.5 6.5 6.5
0 and 1 7 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0
2 and 3 6 5.5 5.5 5.0 5.5
2 and 3 5 5.0 5.0 4.0 5.0

Canadian Experience Class

Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) centres are not approved testing agencies for people who apply under the Canadian Experience Class.

PTE Core: Pearson Test of English
Test results for each ability
NOC TEER CLB Level Speaking Listening Reading Writing
0 and 1 10 and above 89+ 89+ 88+ 90+
0 and 1 9 84-88 82-88 78-87 88-89
0 and 1 8 76-83 71-81 69-77 79-87
0 and 1 7 68-75 60-70 60-68 69-78
2 and 3 6 59-67 50-59 51-59 60-68
2 and 3 5 51-58 39-49 42-50 51-59

Canadian Experience Class

Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) centres are not approved testing agencies for people who apply under the Canadian Experience Class.

TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français

Your language level will be based on the “Équivalence ancien score” (previous score equivalency).

  • Only enter the scores for each language ability from that column.
  • If you don’t enter the correct scores, we may refuse your application.
  • Your attestation de résultats (statement of results) will also include test results in the column marked “Score / 699.” Don’t enter these results in your Express Entry profile. They aren’t compatible with our system at this time.
Test results for each ability
NOC TEER NCLC Level Speaking (expression orale) Listening (compréhension de l’oral) Reading (compréhension de l’écrit) Writing (expression écrite)
0 and 1 9 and above 371+ 298+ 248+ 371+
0 and 1 8 349-370 280-297 233-247 349-370
0 and 1 7 310-348 249-279 207-232 310-348
2 and 3 6 271-309 217-248 181-206 271-309
2 and 3 5 226-270 181-216 151-180 226-270

The testing organization will issue you a copy of TEF Canada electronic test results. The results will include:

  • your score
  • the NCLC equivalence level you achieved for each test component

Canadian Experience Class

Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) centres are not approved testing agencies for people who apply under the Canadian Experience Class.

TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français
Test results for each ability
NOC TEER NCLC Level Speaking (expression orale) Listening (compréhension de l’oral) Reading (compréhension de l’écrit) Writing (expression écrite)
0 and 1 10 and above 16-20 549-699 549-699 16-20
0 and 1 9 14-15 523-548 524-548 14-15
0 and 1 8 12-13 503-522 499-523 12-13
0 and 1 7 10-11 458-502 453-498 10-11
2 and 3 6 7-9 398-457 406-452 7-9
2 and 3 5 6 369-397 375-405 6

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