CELPIP Score Chart and CLB Conversion
Here is the short answer: your CELPIP level is your CLB level. There is no formula and nothing to convert. CELPIP 9 is CLB 9. CELPIP 7 is CLB 7. The number on your score report is the number IRCC reads.
The rest of this page explains what each level actually means, which score each immigration program asks for, and where people lose points without realising it.
CELPIP to CLB conversion chart
CELPIP-General was built against the Canadian Language Benchmarks, so the two scales are the same scale. You get a level from 1 to 12 in each of the four skills, and each one converts one to one.
| CELPIP level | CLB level | What it means | Where it gets you |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 12 | You handle any topic, including abstract and specialised ones, as a strong speaker would. | Maximum language points in every program. |
| 11 | 11 | You communicate comfortably in demanding professional and academic situations. | Maximum language points in every program. |
| 10 | 10 | You work confidently in English and handle detail, nuance and disagreement well. | Top CRS band for language. Strong for competitive Express Entry draws. |
| 9 | 9 | You are fluent in most work and community situations. Errors do not block understanding. | The level most people aim for. Extra CRS points open up here. |
| 8 | 8 | You manage most everyday and workplace tasks, with effort on complex topics. | Above the common CLB 7 threshold, with useful extra points. |
| 7 | 7 | You get your meaning across on familiar topics and follow normal-speed conversation. | Minimum for Federal Skilled Worker and for CEC with TEER 0 or 1 work experience. |
| 6 | 6 | You handle routine, predictable situations. Complex or fast speech is still hard. | Below the CLB 7 threshold. Enough for some provincial streams. |
| 5 | 5 | You cope with simple, familiar exchanges and short, clear texts. | Minimum for CEC with TEER 2 or 3 experience, and for Federal Skilled Trades speaking and listening. |
| 4 | 4 | You manage basic, concrete needs with short sentences and common words. | Minimum for Federal Skilled Trades reading and writing, and for Canadian citizenship. |
| 3 | 3 | You handle very basic personal information and simple, slow speech. | Below the minimum for federal economic immigration programs. |
Levels below 3 exist but sit under the minimum for every federal economic immigration program, so they are left out of the table above.
How CELPIP scoring actually works
You are scored separately in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Each skill gets its own level from 1 to 12.
There is no overall score and no average. This surprises people who come from other exams. Your score report lists four numbers, and immigration programs read all four separately.
The practical consequence is the single most important thing on this page: your lowest skill decides your outcome. Three skills at CLB 9 and one at CLB 6 does not meet a CLB 7 requirement. A strong skill never compensates for a weak one.
What score do you need?
These are the published minimums. They are floors, not targets. Meeting the minimum makes you eligible; it does not make you competitive in an Express Entry draw.
| Program | Minimum | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker | CLB 7 in all four skills | So CELPIP 7 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. |
| Canadian Experience Class (TEER 0 or 1) | CLB 7 in all four skills | Applies when your Canadian work experience is in a TEER 0 or 1 occupation. |
| Canadian Experience Class (TEER 2 or 3) | CLB 5 in all four skills | The lower threshold for TEER 2 and 3 occupations. |
| Federal Skilled Trades | CLB 5 speaking and listening, CLB 4 reading and writing | The only federal program that sets different levels per skill. |
| Canadian citizenship | CLB 4 in speaking and listening | Applies to applicants aged 18 to 54. |
Requirements change. Confirm yours on canada.ca before you book a test date.
How your level turns into CRS points
In Express Entry, each CLB level is worth points, awarded per skill. How many depends on your level, on whether you have a spouse or common-law partner, and on how language combines with your education and work experience.
We deliberately do not reproduce the points table here. IRCC updates it, and a stale table copied from a blog is worse than no table at all when you are planning around a few points. Use the official calculator:
Comprehensive Ranking System criteria on canada.ca
One rule of thumb does hold: CLB 9 is the level worth pushing for. It is where additional points open up, which is why so many candidates target CELPIP 9 rather than stopping at the CLB 7 minimum.
How long your score lasts
Two years from the date your score report is issued. The date that matters is the day you submit your application, not the day you create your profile. If your results expire mid-process you have to sit the test again, so work backwards from your planned submission date when you book.
Raising your weakest skill
Since the lowest of your four levels decides the outcome, the fastest way to move your result is to find the weak skill and work on that one, not the one you enjoy most.
Practise each skill separately and under time pressure, then look at where the marks actually go. On EnvolPrep the Writing and Speaking practice returns AI feedback with an estimated level per response, so you can see which skill is holding you back before you pay for a real test sitting.
If Writing is your weak skill, start with three full Task 1 sample answers to see what a strong response looks like before you write your own.
Find your weak skill for free
Free CELPIP-inspired practice for all four skills, with instant AI feedback on Writing and Speaking. No credit card, no limit on attempts.
Start practisingFrequently asked questions
CELPIP 9 is CLB 9. CELPIP-General levels map one to one onto CLB levels, so the number on your score report is already your CLB level. The same holds at every level: CELPIP 7 is CLB 7, CELPIP 10 is CLB 10.
No. There is no calculation to do. CELPIP-General was designed against the Canadian Language Benchmarks, so the level is the benchmark. Enter the same number for each skill in your Express Entry profile.
No. You get a separate level for Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, and there is no overall score. Immigration programs read each skill on its own, so your lowest skill is the one that decides whether you meet a minimum.
For a program that requires CLB 7, you do not meet the requirement. Minimums apply to each skill separately, and a high score in one skill never compensates for a low score in another. Put your preparation time into the weakest skill.
Two years from the date the score report is issued. Your results must still be valid on the day you submit your application, not only on the day you create your profile.
It depends on the level, on whether you have a spouse or common-law partner, and on your other factors, and IRCC updates the tables. Rather than trust a number copied from a blog, use the official Comprehensive Ranking System calculator on canada.ca. As a rule of thumb, CLB 9 is where meaningfully more points open up.
Neither is easier overall, but they suit different people. CELPIP is fully computer-delivered, uses Canadian English and accents, and is finished in one sitting including Speaking. IELTS General Training is handwritten or typed with a separate face-to-face Speaking interview. Both are accepted by IRCC, so choose the format you perform better in.
CLB 4 in speaking and listening, which is CELPIP 4, for applicants aged 18 to 54. That is well below the level most economic immigration programs ask for.
Last reviewed: August 2026. EnvolPrep is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Paragon Testing Enterprises. Immigration requirements change, so always confirm details on canada.ca before making decisions.