Express Entry - Skilled Immigrant - Language Tests

Language is an essential part of any immigration process. It is necessary to be able to understand and speak the language of the destination of immigration, in this case: Canada. Being familiar with the language of the country not only helps in adjusting to the country, it also increases your chances to get the job you wish for.

Under the Official Languages Act of 1969, Canada has both English and French as its official languages. Most Canadian immigration programs have a minimum language requirement to be eligible for those programs. These requirements are stated in the form of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLBs).

The following language tests are accepted by the Government of Canada for application to any program under Express Entry.

For English
- CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program.
  Note: Only CELPIP-General test is accepted for Express Entry application.
- IELTS: International English Language Testing System
  Note: Only IELTS General Training option is accepted for Express Entry application.
For French
- TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français, including: compréhension de l’écrit, compréhension de l’oral, expression écrite, and expression orale.
- TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français, including: compréhension de l’écrit, compréhension de l’oral, expression écrite, and expression orale.

Equivalencies between the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLBs) (for English), the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (for French), and the results of language tests from designated testing organizations have been established and are summarized below.

If you are a person with disability, please contact us as your language assessment is calculated using different methods.

Key: CLB Level = Canadian Level Benchmark Level; R = Reading; W = Writing; L = Listening; S = Speaking.

For Canadian Experience Class

CELPIP-G

Key: CLB Level = Canadian Level Benchmark Level; R = Reading; W = Writing; L = Listening; S = Speaking

NOC TEER 0 & 1

CLB Level (9 and above) = S (9+) | L (9+) | R (9+) | W (9+)

CLB Level (8) = S (8) | L (8) | R (8) | W (8)

CLB Level (7) = S (7) | L (7) | R (7) | W (7)

NOC TEER 2 & 3

CLB Level (6) = S (6) | L (6) | R (6) | W (6)

CLB Level (5) = S (5) | L (5) | R (5) | W (5)

IELTS General

Key: CLB Level = Canadian Level Benchmark Level; R = Reading; W = Writing; L = Listening; S = Speaking

NOC TEER 0 & 1

CLB Level (10 and above) = L (8.5-9.0) | R (8.0-9.0) | W (7.5-9.0) | S (7.5-9.0)

CLB Level (9) = L (8.0) | R (7.0) | W (7.0) | S (7.0)

CLB Level (8) = L (7.5) | R (6.5) | W (6.5) | S (6.5)

CLB Level (7) = L (6.0) | R (6.0) | W (6.0) | S (6.0)

NOC TEER 2 & 3

CLB Level (6) = L (5.5) | R (5.0) | W (5.5) | S (5.5)

CLB Level (5) = L (5.0) | R (4.0) | W (5.0) | S (5.0)

TEF Canada

Key: NCLC = Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens; R = Reading (compréhension de l’écrit); W = Writing (expression écrite); L = Listening (compréhension de l’oral); S = Speaking (expression orale)

NOC TEER 0 & 1

NCLC Level (9 and above) = S (371+) | L (298+) | R (248+) | W (371+)

NCLC Level (8) = S (349-370) | L (280-297) | R (233-247) | W (349-370)

NCLC Level (7) = S (310-348) | L (249-279) | R (207-232) | W (310-348)

NOC TEER 2 & 3

NCLC Level (6) = S (271-309) | L (217-248) | R (181-206) | W (271-309)

NCLC Level (5) = S (226-270) | L (181-216) | R (151-180) | W (226-270)

TCF Canada

Key: NCLC = Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens; R = Reading (compréhension de l’écrit); W = Writing (expression écrite); L = Listening (compréhension de l’oral); S = Speaking (expression orale)

NOC TEER 0 & 1

NCLC Level (10 and above) = S (16-20) | L (549-699) | R (549-699) | W (16-20)

NCLC Level (9) = S (14-15) | L (523-548) | R (524-548) | W (14-15)

NCLC Level (8) = S (12-13) | L (503-522) | R (499-523) | W (12-13)

NCLC Level (7) = S (10-11) | L (458-502) | R (453-498) | W (10-11)

NOC TEER 2 & 3

NCLC Level (6) = S (7-9) | L (398-457) | R (406-452) | W (7-9)

NCLC Level (5) = S (6) | L (369-397) | R (375-405) | W (6)

For Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP)

CELPIP-G

Key: CLB Level = Canadian Level Benchmark Level; R = Reading; W = Writing; L = Listening; S = Speaking

First Official Language

CLB Level (10 and above) = S (10+) | L (10+) | R (10+) | W (10+)

CLB Level (9) = S (9) | L (9) | R (9) | W (9)

CLB Level (8) = S (8) | L (8) | R (8) | W (8)

CLB Level (7) = S (7) | L (7) | R (7) | W (7)

Second Official Language

CLB Level (5 and above) = S (5+) | L (5+) | R (5+) | W (5+)

IELTS General

Key: CLB Level = Canadian Level Benchmark Level; R = Reading; W = Writing; L = Listening; S = Speaking

First Official Language

CLB Level (10 and above) = S (7.5+) | L (8.5+) | R (8.0+) | W (7.5+)

CLB Level (9) = S (7.0) | L (8.0) | R (7.0) | W (7.0)

CLB Level (8) = S (6.5) | L (7.5) | R (6.5) | W (6.5)

CLB Level (7) = S (6.0) | L (6.0-7.0) | R (6.0) | W (6.0)

Second Official Language

CLB Level (5 and above) = S (5.0+) | L (5.0+) | R (4.0+) | W (5.0+)

TEF Canada

Key: NCLC = Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens; R = Reading (compréhension de l’écrit); W = Writing (expression écrite); L = Listening (compréhension de l’oral); S = Speaking (expression orale)

First Official Language

NCLC Level (9 and above) = S (371+) | L (298+) | R (248+) | W (371+)

NCLC Level (8) = S (394-370) | L (280-297) | R (233-247) | W (349-370)

NCLC Level (7) = S (310-348) | L (249-279) | R (207-232) | W (310-348)

Second Official Language

NCLC Level (5 and above) = S (226+) | L (181+) | R (151+) | W (226+)

TCF Canada

Key: NCLC = Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens; R = Reading (compréhension de l’écrit); W = Writing (expression écrite); L = Listening (compréhension de l’oral); S = Speaking (expression orale)

First Official Language

NCLC Level (9 and above) = S (14+) | L (523+) | R (524+) | W (14+)

NCLC Level (8) = S (12-13) | L (503-522) | R (499-523) | W (12-13)

NCLC Level (7) = S (10-11) | L (458-502) | R (453-498) | W (10-11)

Second Official Language

NCLC Level (5 and above) = S (6+) | L (369+) | R (375+) | W (6+)

For Federal Skilled Trades Program

CELPIP-G

Key: CLB Level = Canadian Level Benchmark Level; R = Reading; W = Writing; L = Listening; S = Speaking

CLB Level (9 and above) = S (9+) | L (9+) | R (9+) | W (9+)

CLB Level (8) = S (8) | L (8) | R (8) | W (8)

CLB Level (7) = S (7) | L (7) | R (7) | W (7)

CLB Level (6) = S (6) | L (6) | R (6) | W (6)

CLB Level (5) = S (5) | L (5) | R (5) | W (5)

CLB Level (4) = S (4) | L (4) | R (4) | W (4)

IELTS General

Key: CLB Level = Canadian Level Benchmark Level; R = Reading; W = Writing; L = Listening; S = Speaking

CLB Level (10 and above) = L (8.5+) | R (8.0+) | W (7.5+) | S (7.5+)

CLB Level (9) = L (8.0) | R (7.0) | W (7.0) | S (7.0)

CLB Level (8) = L (7.5) | R (6.5) | W (6.5) | S (6.5)

CLB Level (7) = L (6.0) | R (6.0) | W (6.0) | S (6.0)

CLB Level (6) = L (5.5) | R (5.0) | W (5.5) | S (5.5)

CLB Level (5) = L (5.0) | R (4.0) | W (5.0) | S (5.0)

CLB Level (4) = L (4.5) | R (3.5) | W (4.0) | S (4.0)

TEF Canada

Key: NCLC = Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens; R = Reading (compréhension de l’écrit); W = Writing (expression écrite); L = Listening (compréhension de l’oral); S = Speaking (expression orale)

NCLC Level (9 and above) = S (371+) | L (298+) | R (248+) | W (371+)

NCLC Level (8) = S (349-370) | L (280-297) | R (233-247) | W (349-370)

NCLC Level (7) = S (310-348) | L (249-279) | R (207-232) | W (310-348)

NCLC Level (6) = S (271-309) | L (217-248) | R (181-206) | W (271-309)

NCLC Level (5) = S (226-270) | L (181-216) | R (151-180) | W (226-270)

NCLC Level (4) = S (181-225) | L (145-180) | R (121-150) | W (181-225)

TCF Canada

Key: NCLC = Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens; R = Reading (compréhension de l’écrit); W = Writing (expression écrite); L = Listening (compréhension de l’oral); S = Speaking (expression orale)

NCLC Level (10 and above) = S (16+) | L (549+) | R (549+) | W (16+)

NCLC Level (9) = S (14-15) | L (523-548) | R (524-548) | W (14-15)

NCLC Level (8) = S (12-13) | L (503-522) | R (499-523) | W (12-13)

NCLC Level (7) = S (10-11) | L (458-502) | R (453-498) | W (10-11)

NCLC Level (6) = S (7-9) | L (398-457) | R (406-452) | W (7-9)

NCLC Level (5) = S (6) | L (369-397) | R (375-405) | W (6)

NCLC Level (4) = S (4-5) | L (331-368) | R (342-374) | W (4-5)