How much IELTS score required for Canada Express Entry?
How much IELTS score required for Canada Express Entry?
Immigration to Canada through Express entry program is one of the most viable options for interested internationals. There are three subcategories under the program including Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class. And, each category has its eligibility criteria to determine whether the candidate is fit for Canada or not.
Language proficiency is one of the most prominent selection tools for eligibility of the candidate for the respective program. In Canada, there are two official languages, English and French. So, if an individual wants to immigrate to Canada, then he needs to have a command over either of the language for both professional and personal grounds. To test all four language abilities including reading, writing, listening and speaking, International English language testing system IELTS is the most popular English proficiency test across the globe.
This test assesses the proficiency of an individual in English in every aspect and widely used in education, employment, immigration and other professional work of English speaking countries like Australia, Canada, UK, USA, and New Zealand.
IELTS format:
The IELTS test comprises of four sections including writing, speaking, listening and reading. The total time duration for IELTS is 2 hours and 45 minutes.
| Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | |
| Pattern | 40 questions | 40 questions | 2 tasks | interview |
| Time duration (in minutes) | 30 | 60 | 60 | 15 |
Minimum IELTS band for each category of the Express entry program:
| Eligibility Criteria | Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC) | Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC) | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) |
| Language proficiency | A minimum of Canadian language benchmark (CLB) level 7 in language proficiency test like IELTS. | A minimum of Canadian language benchmark (CLB) 5 for speaking and listening & CLB 4 for reading and writing in language proficiency test like IELTS. | A minimum of Canadian language benchmark (CLB) level 7 in language proficiency test like IELTS if your NOC is 0 or A and
CLB 5 if your NOC is B.
|
Comparison between CLB and IELTS level:
| CLB level | IELTS level in listening | IELTS level in reading | IELTS level in writing | IELTS level in speaking |
| 12 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| 11 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| 10 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| 9 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| 8 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| 6 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| 5 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| 4 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
So, if you are thinking of Canada, then you need to brush up your skills in all four language abilities as language proficiency grants a maximum of 24 points in a minimum 67-point table to become eligible for applying to express entry program.
| CLB | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Points per ability |
| 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 4 |
| 8 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 5 |
| 9 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6 |
| 10 and more | 7.5 – 9.0 | 8.5 – 9.0 | 8.0 – 9.0 | 7.5 – 9.0 | 6 |
Maximum points = 24
After entering profile in express entry pool, there is a race to achieve higher CRS score to get the invitation to apply for Canadian PR visa. Here, the maximum credit points for language proficiency for first official language (English) without spouse are 136 and with the spouse are 128 out of the 1200-point table.
| Canadian Language Benchmark | Points awarded per ability with spouse/common-law partner | Points awarded per ability without spouse/common-law partner |
| less than 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 or 5 | 6 | 6 |
| 6 | 8 | 9 |
| 7 | 16 | 17 |
| 8 | 22 | 23 |
| 9 | 29 | 31 |
| 10 and more | 32 | 34 |
Maximum points (with spouse) = 32 * 4 = 128
Maximum points (without spouse) = 36 * 4 = 136
Remember, you can easily improve your overall CRS score after enhancing your IELTS level. For further information, contact experts of countrywide visas. Countrywide visas is the fastest growing Immigration consultancy with a large, devoted team of Immigration experts offers hassle-free and professional services to its clients for filing their applications for various immigration programs.
You are welcome to call us or send us an email with your immigration questions and inquiries. You may contact us on 011-41075840 / 011-41045840 or leave a mail at info@countrywidevisas.com. You may also fill the Technical Assessment Form for free to get a call back from our Immigration Specialists. All you need to do is fill an assessment form and let our immigration experts assist you over the phone call or by meeting you in person and give you the best available options to fulfill your dreams of settling abroad.
