The language test for Canada: which test counts, which score you need and what each level earns

Yes, for Canada you need a language test, even if you speak English every day. For the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the route for those who have not yet worked in Canada, CLB 7 is the minimum in your first official language, in all four skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. The finding at the source is in the list of approved tests: Canada accepts IELTS General Training, but not IELTS Academic. Book the wrong version and you have to do it again.

Which tests does Canada accept?

For Express Entry only a test from a designated organisation counts:

Language	Approved test	Not approved
English	CELPIP-General	—
English	IELTS General Training	IELTS Academic, IELTS One Skill Retake
English	PTE Core	—
French	TEF Canada	—
French	TCF Canada	—

Your result must be less than two years old at two moments: when you create your profile, and when you submit your application after an invitation. If your score expires between those two moments, you must retake the test, apply before it expires, or let the invitation go.

Don't let your score expire in the waiting room. Months can pass between creating your profile and an invitation, and after that your application still has to be submitted. A score that is a year and a half old can therefore expire at exactly the wrong moment. Time the test so that it covers the whole period, or allow for a retake.

Which score is CLB 7?

Canada converts every test to the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) or the French equivalent (NCLC). According to IRCC's conversion table:

Test	CLB 7	CLB 5
IELTS General Training	6.0 in reading, writing, listening and speaking	4.0 reading, 5.0 writing, listening and speaking
CELPIP-General	7 in each skill	5 in each skill
PTE Core	reading 60–68, writing 69–78, listening 60–70, speaking 68–75	reading 42–50, writing 51–59, listening 39–49, speaking 51–58
TEF Canada (NCLC 7)	reading 434–461, writing 428–471, listening 434–461, speaking 456–493	—
TCF Canada (NCLC 7)	reading 453–498, writing 10–11, listening 458–502, speaking 10–11	—

Which level do I need?

That depends on the programme:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program: CLB 7 in your first official language; for a second official language CLB 5 applies.
• Canadian Experience Class: CLB 7 for occupations in TEER 0 and 1, CLB 5 for TEER 2 and 3.
• Federal Skilled Trades Program: CLB 5 for speaking and listening, CLB 4 for reading and writing.

What does a higher level earn?

More than you think, because it counts per skill. In the CRS score, for your first official language without a partner you get 17 points per skill at CLB 7, 31 at CLB 9 and 34 at CLB 10 or higher; with a partner 16, 29 and 32. Moving from CLB 7 to CLB 9 in all four skills therefore earns 56 points without a partner. That makes language, after a provincial nomination, one of the biggest levers you control yourself.

French comes on top. If you achieve NCLC 7 in all four French skills, you get 25 additional points, or 50 if your English is at CLB 5 or higher in all four. Why that is worth even more with the French-language draws is in Express Entry and your CRS score.

Does language matter after that?

Yes, for citizenship. Anyone aged 18 to 54 when applying must show that they speak and understand English or French at CLB 4. That is well below the Express Entry threshold, but you do have to prove it again.

Where the test falls in the route, after the credential assessment and before your profile, is at /canada.

In Vertrekklaar this is phase 2 of 5 of the journey, step 2.2: the same steps, but for your situation — in your order, tickable, and with the deadlines watched. See the whole journey to Canada or go straight to step 2.2 in the open plan.