Proving one’s English or French language skills is an integral part of the Canadian immigration process. Language skills are measured against the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB), and potential English-speaking immigrants must take one of two officially approved tests: the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP).
Each of these two tests will evaluate four primary areas of English aptitude: Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing. While the IELTS gives an “Overall Band Score,” what is relevant is the individual scores for each ability.
CELPIP scores convert to CLB points on a 1:1 scale:
| CLB Level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | Points per Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 |
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 |
| 10 or more | 10+ | 10+ | 10+ | 10+ | 6 |
IELTS General Training Test scores convert to CLB points as follows:
| CLB Level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | Points per Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 6 | 6.0-7.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 4 |
| 8 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 5 |
| 9 | 7 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6 |
| 10 or more | 7.0-9.0 | 8.5-9.0 | 8.0-9.0 | 7.5-9.0 | 6 |