- How CELPIP converts to CLB
- CRS language points, per ability
- What CLB level you actually need
- IELTS General Training to CLB
- PTE Core to CLB
- Australian DHA levels from CELPIP
- How long your result counts for
How CELPIP converts to CLB (it's 1:1)
This is the part people overcomplicate. CELPIP General scores are calibrated directly against the Canadian Language Benchmarks, so the conversion is one-to-one: CELPIP 7 = CLB 7, CELPIP 8 = CLB 8, CELPIP 9 = CLB 9, and so on — separately for each of the four abilities. There is no lookup table to memorise and no penalty for a weak skill, because each ability is measured on its own.
IRCC's own charts confirm the pattern at every level that matters for points: at CLB 7 the CELPIP requirement is 7 in speaking, listening, reading and writing; at CLB 8 it's 8 in each; at CLB 9 it's 9 in each; at CLB 10 or more it's 10 or more in each. That's why the calculator above needs no conversion layer for CELPIP — the score is the CLB level.
The wrinkle: your CRS points are awarded per ability, not on your average. A single skill stuck at CLB 8 costs you 6 CRS points even if the other three are CLB 10 — which is exactly why the calculator reports the per-ability breakdown and not just a total.
CRS language points, per ability
Official-language proficiency is worth up to 136 CRS points for your first official language (or 128 with a spouse/partner, because total core/human capital points are capped differently for each case). These are IRCC's published values per ability:
| CLB level per ability | With a spouse or partner | Without a spouse or partner |
|---|---|---|
| Less than CLB 4 | 0 | 0 |
| CLB 4 or 5 | 6 | 6 |
| CLB 6 | 8 | 9 |
| CLB 7 | 16 | 17 |
| CLB 8 | 22 | 23 |
| CLB 9 | 29 | 31 |
| CLB 10 or more | 32 | 34 |
| Maximum for 4 abilities | 128 | 136 |
A second official language adds up to 6 points per ability (maximum 22 with a spouse, 24 without): CLB 5 or 6 gives 1 point, CLB 7 or 8 gives 3, and CLB 9 or more gives 6. There is no partial credit for a second language — it only counts as a set, which is what the calculator checks.
Separately, the Federal Skilled Worker selection grid awards 4 points per ability at CLB 7, 5 at CLB 8, and 6 at CLB 9 or more, up to a maximum of 24. That grid only decides whether you are eligible (67 points out of 100 across all factors) — it is not your CRS score, and the two are easy to confuse. The calculator shows both.
What CLB level you actually need
| Program | Minimum language | In CELPIP terms |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker | CLB 7 in all four abilities | CELPIP 7 in each |
| Canadian Experience Class — TEER 0 or 1 occupation | CLB 7 in all four | CELPIP 7 in each |
| Canadian Experience Class — TEER 2 or 3 occupation | CLB 5 in all four | CELPIP 5 in each |
| Federal Skilled Trades | CLB 5 speaking & listening, CLB 4 reading & writing | CELPIP 5 L/S, 4 R/W |
| Second official language points | CLB 5 or more in all four | CELPIP 5+ in each |
Note that meeting the minimum only gets you eligible. Because CRS is a ranked system, most people chasing an invitation are aiming for CLB 9 or higher, where each ability jumps from 16–17 points to 29–31. Moving one ability from CLB 7 to CLB 9 is worth more than most people expect. Use the official CRS criteria page to add age, education and experience points on top.
IELTS General Training to CLB (IRCC published bands)
If you're deciding between tests, this table is the argument-ender: IELTS listening is unusually demanding at the higher levels, needing 8.0 for CLB 9 while reading and writing need only 7.0.
| CLB level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 10 or more | 8.5–9.0 | 8.0–9.0 | 7.5–9.0 | 7.5–9.0 |
| 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 5 or more (second language) | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
IRCC publishes these bands for CLB 7 and above for a first official language, plus the CLB 5 threshold used for second-language points — it does not publish finer gradations below CLB 7, which is why the calculator reports "below CLB 7" rather than inventing CLB 6 and CLB 4 bands for IELTS.
PTE Core to CLB
| CLB level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 10 or more | 89+ | 88+ | 90+ | 89+ |
| CLB 9 | 82–88 | 78–87 | 88–89 | 84–88 |
| CLB 8 | 71–81 | 69–77 | 79–87 | 76–83 |
| CLB 7 | 60–70 | 60–68 | 69–78 | 68–75 |
| CLB 5 or more (second language) | 39+ | 42+ | 51+ | 51+ |
For Express Entry you must take PTE Core specifically — PTE Academic is a different test and isn't accepted for Express Entry. Note too that IRCC does not accept IELTS One Skill Retake for Express Entry, so a single improved skill cannot be patched in after the fact.
Australian DHA levels from CELPIP
If Australia is part of your plan, the same CELPIP result is graded by the Department of Home Affairs into one of its own levels, and the higher levels carry migration points. These thresholds are published by DHA:
| DHA level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Points on the skilled visa points test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superior English | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | +20 |
| Proficient English | 9 | 8 | 10 | 8 | +10 |
| Competent English | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 (the eligibility floor) |
| Vocational English | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
This is where CELPIP has a real edge over MET: CELPIP can reach Proficient and Superior, while DHA's Proficient and Superior requirements are not published for MET at all. If you are chasing points rather than just eligibility, that matters. Full per-visa detail is on our CELPIP for Australian visas (DHA) page, and CELPIP must be taken at a test centre — CELPIP Online is not accepted for Australian visas.
How long your result counts for
Your results must be less than 2 years old both when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you submit your application for permanent residence — both dates, not just the first. If your result expires mid-process you either retake the test, apply before expiry, or decline the invitation and re-enter the pool. Applying with expired results means refusal, so it's worth timing your test rather than testing as early as possible.
This calculator reproduces the published IRCC conversion charts and CRS tables, and DHA's published CELPIP thresholds, for study purposes. It is not an official IRCC or DHA tool, and your real score is calculated by IRCC in your Express Entry profile. Check canada.ca and immi.homeaffairs.gov.au for the current rules. PrepSettle is independent and not affiliated with IRCC, Paragon Testing Enterprises or the Department of Home Affairs.