CLB calculator
Enter your scores from any IRCC-accepted test — CELPIP, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada — and get your Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or NCLC instantly, plus the Express Entry CRS points those scores unlock.
How CLB conversion works
The Canadian Language Benchmarks are the official scale IRCC uses for every Express Entry program (FSW, CEC, FST, PNP) and for Canadian Citizenship (CLB 4 minimum). Every accepted language test has an official equivalency table that maps its scores to CLB levels 1 through 12.
CELPIP General
1-to-1 mapping. CELPIP Level 9 = CLB 9, Level 10 = CLB 10, and so on. This is the simplest conversion and one of the reasons CELPIP is popular with PR applicants targeting a specific CLB target.
IELTS General Training
Each module (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) has its own threshold. Reading at band 7.0 = CLB 9. Listening needs band 8.0 for CLB 9. Writing and Speaking both need 7.0. The uneven scales are why many candidates score CLB 9 on three modules but trip up on Listening.
PTE Core
PTE Core was added to the Express Entry roster in early 2024. Reading at 78, Writing at 88, Listening at 82, and Speaking at 84 each equal CLB 9. The thresholds are set relative to PTE's 90-point scale.
TEF Canada & TCF Canada (French)
French tests convert to NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens), which is the French equivalent of CLB. The scales are completely different — TEF uses 0-450 per module, TCF uses 0-699 for comprehension and 0-20 for production. Hitting NCLC 7 in all four French modules unlocks the Express Entry French-speaker bonus of 25 additional CRS points.
Why your lowest module determines everything
IRCC awards CRS points per module, not per overall score. Your "overall CLB" (what we display at the bottom of the calculator) is the floor of your four modules — because that's the number that determines program eligibility. Federal Skilled Worker requires CLB 7 in all four. If you have CLB 10 in Reading but CLB 6 in Speaking, you're ineligible until Speaking improves.
Frequently asked questions
What is CLB and why do I need it?
CLB stands for Canadian Language Benchmarks. It's the single scale IRCC uses to compare language ability across every accepted test. Your test score (CELPIP level, IELTS band, PTE Core raw) gets converted to a CLB level between 1 and 12 — and that CLB level is what determines your Express Entry CRS points and PR eligibility.
Is this calculator up to date with IRCC's 2024 rules?
Yes. The conversion thresholds come straight from IRCC's official equivalency tables, including the 2024 addition of PTE Core as an accepted test. We update whenever IRCC publishes a new table.
Why do my four module scores give me different CLB levels?
Because each module has its own threshold. Your overall CLB is the lowest of the four — that's the floor IRCC uses for program eligibility and skill-transferability points (core CRS language points are awarded per module). If you have CLB 10 in Reading but CLB 7 in Speaking, your effective overall is CLB 7.
Does this work for French tests (TEF, TCF)?
Yes — pick TEF Canada or TCF Canada. For French tests the output is labelled NCLC, which is the French equivalent of CLB. NCLC 9 in all four French modules gives you the same CRS bonus as CLB 9 in English (with the French bilingual bonus of 50 extra points if you also have CLB 5+ in English).
What's the difference between CLB and CELPIP level?
They're identical. CELPIP was designed specifically to map 1-to-1 with CLB — CELPIP level 9 = CLB 9, CELPIP 10 = CLB 10, and so on. IELTS, PTE Core, TEF, and TCF are converted via lookup tables.
Now go and hit it.
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