Express Entry- Language requirements for Canadian Experience Class

Express Entry- Language requirements for Canadian Experience Class are required to prove language skills by taking the test which is approved by IRCC.

All applicants are required to prove language skills by taking an approved language test, to do this you must do the following:

• Applicants must schedule a test with an agency which is approved by IRCC and pay the cost
• Applicants must enter the test results into your Express Entry Profile (and the personal number, it the systems ask to provide)
• Applicants must include the results with an application if they are invited to apply. If you do not include it, then we will not process your application.

Please do not ask for your language test results to be sent directly to us. Send us your results with your completed application and keep your original test in a safe place as we may ask you later.

The language test we accept and you can take any of these approved language tests:

English

Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)

Must take the CELPIP General Test

We do not accept General –LS test for an Express Entry

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Must take the General Training Option

We do not accept the Academic Option for an Express Entry

• French
  • Test d’évaluation de français, (TEF Canada) including:
    • compréhension de l’écrit
    • compréhension de l’oral
    • expression écrite
    • expression orale
  • Test de Connaissance du français, (TCF Canada) including:
    • compréhension de l’écrit
    • compréhension de l’oral
    • expression écrite
    • expression orale

 

What’s next?

You must see what language level you have based on your test results in:

 

• CLB: Canadian Language Benchmark
• NCLC: Niveaux de compétence Linguistique Canadiens

We will use these test results as proof of your language skills and make sure these results must be valid (less than 2 years old) when you:

• Complete your Express Entry Profile and
• Application for Permanent Residence

Express Entry profile is valid for 12 months only and makes sure that your language test results are valid at the same time. If your test results expire, then you should re-take the test and update your Express Entry Profile with your new test results.

People with a Physical or Mental Disability

If you are not able to complete one or more sections of your language test because of a disability, you must do the following:

• Must use the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) – Language Calculator Tool to find out your score for the abilities that you were not able to complete
• You must input the average scores based on those which you have completed
• The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) – Language Calculator is not the same as the Comprehensive Ranking System Tool.
• Please choose a Program:

Federal Skilled Worker Program

CELPIP-G

First Official Language (Maximum 24 Points)

CLB Level	Ability: Speaking	Ability: Listening	Ability: Reading	Ability: Writing	Points per Ability
7 CELPIP-G	7	7	7	7	4
8 CELPIP-G	8	8	8	8	5
9 CELPIP-G	9	9	9	9	6
10 and Above CELPIP-G	10+	10+	10+	10+	6

Second Official Language (4 Points if you meet the minimum threshold in all 4 language abilities)

CLB Level	Ability: Speaking	Ability: Listening	Ability: Reading	Ability: Writing	Points (TOTAL)
5 and Above	5-12	5-12	5-12	5-12	4

IELTS

First Official Language (Maximum 24 Points)

CLB Level	Ability: Speaking	Ability: Listening	Ability: Reading	Ability: Writing	Points per Ability
7	6.0	6.0-7.0	6.0	6.0	4
8	6.5	7.5	6.5	6.5	5
9	7.0	8.0	7.0	7.0	6
10 and Above	7.5-9.0	8.5-9.0	8.0-9.0	7.5-9.0	6

Second Official Language (4 Points if you meet the minimum threshold in all 4 language abilities)

CLB Level	Ability: Speaking	Ability: Listening	Ability: Reading	Ability: Writing	Points (TOTAL)
5 and Above	5.0-9.0	5.0-9.0	4.0-9.0	5.0-9.0	4

 

TEF Canada

First Official Language (Maximum 24 Points)

NCLC Level	Ability: Speaking (Expression Orale)	Ability: Listening (compréhension de l’oral)	Ability: Reading (compréhension de l’écrit)	Ability: Writing (expression écrite)	Points (per ability)
7	310-348	249-279	207-232	310-348	4
8	349-370	280-297	233-247	249-370	5
9 and Above	371+	298+	248+	371+	6

Second Official Language (4 Points if you meet the minimum threshold in all 4 language abilities)

NCLC Level	Ability: Speaking (Expression Orale)	Ability: Listening (compréhension de l’oral)	Ability: Reading (compréhension de l’écrit)	Ability: Writing (expression écrite)	Points (TOTAL)
5 and Above	226 – 371+	181 – 298+	151 – 248+	226 – 371+	4

 

TCF Canada

NCLC Level	Ability: Speaking (Expression Orale)	Ability: Listening (compréhension de l’oral)	Ability: Reading (compréhension de l’écrit)	Ability: Writing (expression écrite)	Points (per ability)
7	10-11	458 – 502	453 – 498	10 – 11	4
8	12-13	503 – 522	499 – 523	12 – 13	5
9 and Above	14+	523+	524+	14+	6

 Second Official Language (4 Points if you meet the minimum threshold in all 4 language abilities)

NCLC Level	Ability: Speaking (Expression Orale)	Ability: Listening (compréhension de l’oral)	Ability: Reading (compréhension de l’écrit)	Ability: Writing (expression écrite)	Points (TOTAL)
5 and Above	6+	369 – 397+	375 – 405+	6+	4

 

Please add your Points:

• • 1. First Official Language
       • Speaking + Listening + Writing + Reading = Your Subtotal

• • 2. Second Official Language
       • Please add 4 points to your subtotal if you meet the minimum level in all 4 abilities. If you don’t then you will get 0 points for your Second Official Language

• • 3. Please add 1 and 2 together for your total points

 Federal Skilled Trades Program

CELPIP-G

Test results for each ability

CLB Level	Speaking	Listening	Reading	writing
9 and Above	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

 

IELTS

Test results for each ability

CLB Level	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
10 and Above	8.5-9.0	8.0-9.0	7.5-9.0	7.5-9.0
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

 

TEF Canada

Test results for each ability

NCLC Level	Speaking (Expression Orale)	Listening (compréhension de l’oral)	Reading (compréhension de l’écrit)	Writing (expression écrite)
9 and Above	371+	298+	248+	371+
8	349 – 370	280 – 297	233 – 247	349 – 370
7	310 – 348	249 – 279	207 – 232	310 – 348
6	271 – 309	217 – 248	181 – 206	271 – 309
5	226 – 270	181 – 216	151 – 180	226 – 270
4	181 – 225	145 – 180	121 – 150	181 – 225

 

TCF Canada

Test results for each ability

NCLC Level	Speaking (Expression Orale)	Listening (compréhension de l’oral)	Reading (compréhension de l’écrit)	Writing (expression écrite)
10 and Above	16-20	549 – 699	549 – 699	16-20
9	14 – 15	523 – 548	524 – 548	14 – 15
8	12 – 13	503 – 522	499 – 523	12 – 13
7	10 – 11	458 – 502	453 – 498	10 – 11
6	7 – 9	398 – 457	406 – 452	7 – 9
5	6	369 – 397	375 – 405	6
4	4 – 5	331 – 368	342 – 374	4 – 5

 

Canadian Experience Class

CELPIP-G

Test results for each ability

NOC	CLB Level	Speaking	Listening	Reading	writing
0,A	9 and Above	9+	9+	9+	9+
0,A	8	8	8	8	8
0,A	7	7	7	7	7
B	6	6	6	6	6
B	5	5	5	5	5

 

IELTS

Test results for each ability

NOC	CLB Level	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
0, A	10 and Above	8.5-9.0	8.0-9.0	7.5-9.0	7.5-9.0
0, A	9	8.0	7.0	7.0	7.0
0, A	8	7.5	6.5	6.5	6.5
0, A	7	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0
B	6	5.5	5.0	5.5	5.5
B	5	5.0	4.0	5.0	5.0

 

 TEF Canada

Test results for each ability

NOC	NCLC Level	Speaking (Expression Orale)	Listening (compréhension de l’oral)	Reading (compréhension de l’écrit)	Writing (expression écrite)
0, A	9 and Above	371+	298+	248+	371+
0, A	8	349-370	280-297	233-247	349-370
0, A	7	310 – 348	249 – 279	207 – 232	310 – 348
B	6	271 – 309	217 – 248	181 – 206	271 – 309
B	5	226 – 270	181 – 216	151 – 180	226 – 270

 

 TCF Canada

Test results for each ability

NOC	NCLC Level	Speaking (Expression Orale)	Listening (compréhension de l’oral)	Reading (compréhension de l’écrit)	Writing (expression écrite)
0, A	10 and Above	16 – 20	549 – 699	549 – 699	16 – 20
0, A	9	14 – 15	523 – 548	524 – 548	14 – 15
0, A	8	12 – 13	503 – 522	499 – 523	12 – 13
0, A	7	10 – 11	458 – 502	453 – 498	10 – 11
B	6	7 – 9	398 – 457	406 – 452	7 – 9
B	5	6	369 – 397	375 – 405	6

 

Note: The language instruction for newcomers to Canada (LINC) centers are not approved testing agencies for people who apply under the Canadian Experience Class.