Scores and levels
CELPIP vs IELTS General Training: same target, different scales
All three English tests accepted for Express Entry lead to the same CLB. Here is the score each one asks for, skill by skill, at the levels that matter.
Lowest scores for CLB / NCLC 7
| Test | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CELPIP-General | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| IELTS General Training | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0–7.0 | 6.0 |
| PTE Core | 60–68 | 69–78 | 60–70 | 68–75 |
Ranges from the IRCC equivalency charts. A score at the bottom of a range is enough: no rounding is applied.
IRCC accepts three English tests for Express Entry: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training (but not the IELTS One Skill Retake) and PTE Core. Each is converted to a CLB level skill by skill with IRCC's charts, and none is favoured over another. What differs is the scale. On CELPIP-General the level is the CLB itself, so CLB 7 means 7 in each skill. On IELTS General Training, CLB 7 means 6.0 in all four skills, but CLB 9 asks 8.0 in listening against 7.0 in reading, writing and speaking. On PTE Core, CLB 7 starts at 60 in reading and listening, 68 in speaking and 69 in writing. For citizenship, IRCC sets its own thresholds per test: CELPIP-General 4, IELTS General Training 4.5 in listening and 4.0 in speaking, PTE Core 28 and 42. The right test is the one where your weakest skill clears the level you need; this page compares the bands, not the test experience.
One IELTS General Training band to CLB
CLB level
CLB 7
| Band read (half points) | 6.5 |
| CELPIP equivalent | 7 |
Charts, converters and questions by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How charts and questions are built
CLB 7 on each English test
CLB 7 is the Federal Skilled Worker minimum and the point where language points jump. This is what it takes on each test, read on IRCC's equivalency charts:
| Skill | CELPIP-General | IELTS General Training | PTE Core |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 7 | 6.0 | 60 |
| Writing | 7 | 6.0 | 69 |
| Listening | 7 | 6.0 | 60 |
| Speaking | 7 | 6.0 | 68 |
At this level IELTS General Training is flat: 6.0 in every skill. PTE Core is not: writing asks 69 and speaking 68, well above the 60 needed in reading and listening.
CLB 9 on each English test
CLB 9 adds 8 points per skill over CLB 8 for a single candidate, and it is the level, in all four skills, where transferability points reach their higher tier.
| Skill | CELPIP-General | IELTS General Training | PTE Core |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 9 | 7.0 | 78 |
| Writing | 9 | 7.0 | 88 |
| Listening | 9 | 8.0 | 82 |
| Speaking | 9 | 7.0 | 84 |
Now IELTS diverges: listening asks 8.0 while the other skills ask 7.0. On PTE Core, writing at CLB 9 starts at 88, just below the CLB 10 floor of 90, so the CLB 9 writing band is very narrow. CELPIP-General keeps the same number in every skill. Use the tool above to set another target level and read the three columns again.
What IRCC accepts, and what it does not
The Express Entry language page names five tests: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada and TCF Canada. It excludes the IELTS One Skill Retake. Results must be less than 2 years old on the day you create your profile and on the day you apply for permanent residence. Nothing on IRCC's pages gives one English test extra weight: a CLB is a CLB.
The citizenship thresholds
For applicants aged 18 to 54, the citizenship language page only looks at listening and speaking:
| Test | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|
| CELPIP-General | 4 | 4 |
| IELTS General Training | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| PTE Core | 28 | 42 |
Expired results are accepted for citizenship, so an old Express Entry report may already be enough. More on the citizenship page.
How to choose between them
Start from your target CLB and your weakest skill. If listening is your weak point and you need CLB 9 or 10, the IELTS bands are the highest there. If writing is the issue, compare the PTE Core writing band with the IELTS one at your level. Then factor in what this page cannot measure for you: the test format, dates near you and the fee, which we do not list for the English tests because we could not confirm them on an official page. For points, the language points page turns any CLB into CRS points, and the IELTS General Training page gives the full IELTS chart.