IELTS to CLB Calculator (General Training)
For CLB 9 you need IELTS General Training 8.0 in Listening and 7.0 in Reading, Writing and Speaking; for CLB 7 you need 6.0 in every skill.
Calculate your CLB
CLB per skill
Choose your scores above to see your CLB for each skill.
- Listening—
- Reading—
- Writing—
- Speaking—
Programs
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Federal Skilled Worker
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Canadian Experience Class (TEER 0 or 1 job)
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Canadian Experience Class (TEER 2 or 3 job)
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Federal Skilled Trades
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PGWP (university program)
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PGWP (college program)
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Citizenship (ages 18–54)
CRS points for your first official language
Enter all four scores to see CRS points.
Same CLB on other tests
Enter a score to see what it equals on the other tests.
The official IRCC chart
| CLB | 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 |
General Training only
IRCC accepts IELTS General Training. IELTS Academic isn't accepted, so an Academic result can't be used for Express Entry, a PGWP or citizenship. Check the test name on your IELTS report before you enter your band scores here.
IELTS One Skill Retake isn't accepted for Express Entry either. If one skill came in low, a full General Training retake is the result to plan around.
How the 0.5 steps work
IELTS reports each skill from 0 to 9 in steps of 0.5. IRCC's chart gives a minimum IELTS score for each CLB level, skill by skill. Your CLB is the highest level whose minimum you meet.
This means an IELTS gain of half a step doesn't always change your CLB:
- IELTS Listening 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0 are all CLB 7. The next level, CLB 8, starts at 7.5.
- IELTS Speaking 6.5 is CLB 8, but Speaking 6.0 is CLB 7.
- IELTS Reading 5.5 is CLB 6, because CLB 7 starts at 6.0.
Before you book a retake, check how far your score is from the next threshold, not just the next half step.
Listening needs more for the same CLB
From CLB 8 up, IELTS Listening asks for more than the other three skills.
| CLB | IELTS Listening | IELTS Reading | IELTS Writing | IELTS Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
At CLB 7 the IELTS minimum is the same for every skill. At CLB 9, IELTS Listening needs a full band more than Reading, Writing and Speaking.
Worked example: IELTS "8777"
People often quote IELTS results as four digits. "8777" means Listening 8, Reading 7, Writing 7 and Speaking 7. On IRCC's chart, that is CLB 9 in all four skills.
Without a spouse or partner, CLB 9 earns 31 CRS points per skill, so this result gives 124 language points. With a spouse or partner, it's 29 per skill, or 116.
Now change one number. With IELTS Listening at 7.5 instead of 8, Listening drops to CLB 8, worth 23 points without a spouse. The total falls from 124 to 116. You still meet CLB 7 in all four skills for the Federal Skilled Worker program, but your CRS score is lower.
Comparing with CELPIP and PTE Core
The calculator shows your CLB as a score on the other two tests. For example, IELTS Listening 8.0 is CLB 9, which is a CELPIP Listening score of 9 or PTE Core Listening 82 to 88. If you're still choosing a test, the CELPIP vs IELTS guide compares them. You can also open the CELPIP calculator, the PTE Core calculator or the CLB calculator hub. For what each CLB level means for your application, read CELPIP scores for Canadian immigration.
Frequently asked questions
IELTS General Training 6.0 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. CLB 7 is the only level where all four skills share the same IELTS minimum.
8.0 in Listening and 7.0 in Reading, Writing and Speaking. Without a spouse or partner, CLB 9 in all four skills earns 31 CRS points per skill, or 124 in total.
No. IRCC accepts IELTS General Training only. An IELTS Academic result can't be converted to CLB for Express Entry, PGWP or citizenship, so this calculator uses the General Training chart.
Because IRCC's chart sets a separate IELTS minimum for each skill, and Listening's minimums are higher from CLB 8 up and at CLB 4. CLB 9 needs 8.0 in Listening but 7.0 in Reading, Writing and Speaking, and CLB 4, the citizenship level, needs Listening 4.5 but Speaking 4.0.
Yes. Listening 8, Reading 7, Writing 7 and Speaking 7 converts to CLB 9 in all four skills. If Listening had been 7.5 instead, that skill would drop to CLB 8.
This calculator doesn't rate difficulty. Both tests convert to the same CLB levels, and programs check those levels, not the test name. Our CELPIP vs IELTS guide compares the formats so you can choose the one that suits you.
No. IELTS One Skill Retake isn't accepted for Express Entry. Plan to use a full IELTS General Training result for your profile.
Based on IRCC's official tables. IRCC makes the final decision on your application. For Express Entry and PGWP, results must be less than 2 years old when you apply.