CLB to IELTS Converter (CLB 4–10)
Already know the CLB level you need for Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee Program or citizenship? Pick it below to see the minimum IELTS General Training, PTE Core and CELPIP-General score required in each skill. Every number comes from IRCC's official language equivalency charts.
CLB → IELTS, PTE Core & CELPIP
Choose a CLB level
| Skill | IELTS GT | PTE Core | CELPIP-G |
|---|
How CLB levels work
The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) describe English ability on a scale from 1 to 12. IRCC does not give you one overall CLB: each skill — Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking — gets its own level, and most programs set a minimum for every skill. That is why the IELTS score for “CLB 7” is different for Reading than for Listening at some levels.
CLB to IELTS General Training chart
Minimum IELTS General Training band in each skill. IELTS Academic is not accepted for Express Entry.
| CLB | 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 |
CLB to PTE Core chart
PTE Core (not PTE Academic) is the Pearson test accepted for Canadian economic immigration.
| CLB | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 10 | 89 | 88 | 90 | 89 |
| CLB 9 | 82 | 78 | 88 | 84 |
| CLB 8 | 71 | 69 | 79 | 76 |
| CLB 7 | 60 | 60 | 69 | 68 |
| CLB 6 | 50 | 51 | 60 | 59 |
| CLB 5 | 39 | 42 | 51 | 51 |
| CLB 4 | 28 | 33 | 41 | 42 |
CLB to CELPIP chart
CELPIP-General levels were designed around the CLB, so for CLB 4 to 9 the CELPIP level matches the CLB number in every skill. CELPIP 10, 11 and 12 all count as CLB 10.
| CLB | CELPIP-General (each skill) |
|---|---|
| CLB 10 | 10–12 |
| CLB 9 | 9 |
| CLB 8 | 8 |
| CLB 7 | 7 |
| CLB 6 | 6 |
| CLB 5 | 5 |
| CLB 4 | 4 |
Which CLB level do you need?
- CLB 7 in all four skills is the minimum for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. In IELTS General Training that is 6.0 in every skill.
- CLB 9 earns the maximum first-language points under the Comprehensive Ranking System for most profiles. In IELTS that means Listening 8.0 and 7.0 in Reading, Writing and Speaking.
- CLB 4 in Speaking and Listening is the usual requirement for Canadian citizenship.
- Requirements for Provincial Nominee Programs and the Canadian Experience Class vary by occupation, so check the program page.
Already have your test results? Use the IELTS to CLB calculator or the PTE Core to CLB calculator to convert them in the other direction.
Sources: IRCC language test equivalency charts and Express Entry language test results. Last checked November 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What IELTS score is CLB 7?
CLB 7 needs at least 6.0 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking in IELTS General Training.
What IELTS score is CLB 9?
CLB 9 needs Listening 8.0, Reading 7.0, Writing 7.0 and Speaking 7.0 in IELTS General Training.
Is CELPIP 7 the same as CLB 7?
Yes. For levels 4 to 9, a CELPIP-General level in a skill equals the same CLB level in that skill.