Free IELTS tool
IELTS to CLB Calculator
Express Entry uses IELTS General Training, not Academic and not the One Skill Retake. Enter your four General Training bands below and this tool maps each one to CLB using the official IRCC chart. The mapping differs by skill, so the band you need for a given CLB level changes depending on the ability. You get your overall CLB (your lowest of the four skills) plus the exact Express Entry CRS language points your bands earn for single and with-spouse applicants.
Took a different test? CELPIP to CLB · TEF to CLB · Full CRS calculator
Your IELTS General Training bands
Enter your four band scores
Pick the band you scored in each section. Your CLB level and Express Entry language points update instantly. Express Entry accepts IELTS General Training only.
= CLB 9
= CLB 9
= CLB 9
= CLB 9
IELTS bands map to CLB per ability using the official IRCC chart, and the mapping differs by skill (for example, Listening needs a higher band than Reading for the same CLB). Your overall CLB is your lowest of the four.
Your result
Overall (lowest) CLB level
9
Most programs use your lowest section
Listening
CLB 9
Reading
CLB 9
Writing
CLB 9
Speaking
CLB 9
Express Entry CRS language points
These are language points only, the part of your CRS score your test results control. Your total CRS score also depends on age, education, work experience and other factors.
Need a higher CLB?
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How IELTS General Training bands convert to CLB
The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) are the national standard Canada uses to describe English ability on a 12-level scale. Unlike CELPIP, IELTS was not built on that scale, so IRCC publishes an official chart that maps each IELTS band to a CLB level, and the mapping is different for every ability. A band that counts as CLB 9 in Listening will not be CLB 9 in Reading, so you have to check each skill against its own column.
IRCC always works in CLB levels, not raw IELTS bands. When an Express Entry program asks for “CLB 7” it means your band has to reach the CLB 7 minimum in that skill. The table below lists the minimum General Training band you need for each CLB level per ability.
| CLB level | 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 |
Bands shown are the minimum needed for each CLB level per ability (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking). A band that falls between two listed values keeps the lower CLB. CLB 7 in all four abilities is the usual Express Entry minimum.
FAQ
IELTS, CLB and CRS questions
What IELTS score do I need for CLB 9?
For IELTS General Training, CLB 9 requires Listening 8.0, Reading 7.0, Writing 7.0 and Speaking 7.0. Notice the bands are not the same across skills: Listening asks for the highest band while Reading, Writing and Speaking all sit at 7.0. You need every ability to reach its CLB 9 minimum, because your overall CLB is set by your lowest skill.
What IELTS score is CLB 7?
CLB 7 is a clean 6.0 in all four abilities on IELTS General Training: Listening 6.0, Reading 6.0, Writing 6.0 and Speaking 6.0. This is the one CLB level where the required band is identical across every skill, which makes it an easy target to remember. CLB 7 in all four is also the usual minimum for Express Entry eligibility.
Does Express Entry accept IELTS Academic?
No. Express Entry only accepts IELTS General Training for English. IELTS Academic and the IELTS One Skill Retake are not valid for these immigration programs, so booking the correct version matters. If you already sat Academic, you would need to take the General Training test before your scores can be used in your profile.
How many CRS points does my IELTS give me?
Your IELTS bands do not earn CRS points directly. IRCC first converts each band to a CLB level using the official chart, then awards language points based on that CLB per ability. For a single applicant, CLB 7 earns 17 points per skill (68 total), CLB 8 earns 23 (92 total), CLB 9 earns 31 (124 total), and CLB 10 or higher earns the maximum 34 (136 total). The calculator above shows your exact totals.
Is IELTS or CELPIP better for CLB?
Both tests are accepted by IRCC and both convert to the same CLB scale, so neither is inherently better for immigration. The difference is how they map: CELPIP is one to one (CELPIP 9 equals CLB 9), while IELTS varies by skill, so the band you need changes depending on the ability. Pick the test format you perform best in, then use the conversion chart to confirm your bands reach the CLB you are targeting.
Does the IELTS to CLB conversion round my bands?
It does not round up. The chart lists the minimum band for each CLB level per ability, and a band that falls between two listed values keeps the lower CLB. For example, a Reading band of 6.5 still counts as CLB 7 because it has not reached the 7.0 needed for CLB 8. Always check each skill against its own column rather than assuming one band applies to all four.
Conversion figures are based on the official IRCC IELTS-to-CLB equivalency chart and the Comprehensive Ranking System criteria (current as of the 2025 IRCC update). This is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with IRCC or the IELTS partners. Always confirm current requirements on canada.ca before making immigration decisions. Last reviewed June 2026.