Language test equivalency charts

Global Vision Immigration > Language test equivalency charts

This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada staff. It is posted on the Department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.

Canadian experience class, federal skilled workers class, federal skilled trades class, provincial nominee class, caring for children class, caring for people with high medical needs class, and Immigrant Investor Venture Capital class

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 in the following tables.

Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General 2014 Test score equivalency chart for reports issued on or after April 1, 2014

CLB Level Reading Writing Listening Speaking
10 10 10 10 10
9 9 9 9 9
8 8 8 8 8
7 7 7 7 7
6 6 6 6 6
5 5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4 4

Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General — Test score equivalency chart

CLB Level Reading Writing Listening Speaking
10 and above 5H 5H 5H 5H
9 5L 5L 5L 5L
8 4H 4H 4H 4H
7 4L 4L 4L 4L
6 3H 3H 3H 3H
5 3L 3L 3L 3L
4 2H 2H 2H 2H

Note: CELPIP test results for tests written before May 3, 2013, will have a score of 5 for each ability for CLB levels 9 and 10.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training – Test score equivalency chart

CLB Level Reading Writing Listening Speaking
10 8.0 7.5 8.5 7.5
9 7.0 7.0 8.0 7.0
8 6.5 6.5 7.5 6.5
7 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0
6 5.0 5.5 5.5 5.5
5 4.0 5.0 5.0 5.0
4 3.5 4.0 4.5 4.0

Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) – Test score equivalency chart for reports issued on or after April 1, 2014

CLB Level Reading Writing Listening Speaking
10 263-277 393-415 316-333 393-415
9 248-262 371-392 298-315 371-392
8 233-247 349-370 280-297 349-370
7 207-232 310-348 249-279 310-348
6 181-206 271-309 217-248 271-309
5 151-180 226-270 181-216 226-270
4 121-150 181-225 145-180 181-225

Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) – Test score equivalency chart for reports issued before April 1, 2014

CLB Level Reading Writing Listening Speaking
10 263-277 393-415 316-333 393-415
9 248-262 372-392 298-315 372-392
8 233-247 349-371 280-297 349-371
7 206-232 309-348 248-279 309-348
6 181-205 271-308 217-247 271-308
5 150-180 225-270 180-216 225-270
4 121-149 181-224 145-179 181-224

Other written evidence

The option to demonstrate language proficiency through other written evidence is available to applicants in certain economic classes depending on the date of application receipt:

Canadian Experience Class:

Applications for permanent residence must have been received before June 26, 2010.

Federal Skilled Workers Class:

Applications for permanent residence must have been received before June 26, 2010.