CLB calculator: convert IELTS, CELPIP, PTE, TEF and TCF to CLB/NCLC
Every Canadian immigration program measures language in CLB (English) or NCLC (French) — but each test reports its own scale. Enter your scores from any IRCC-designated test and this calculator shows your level for each skill; the official IRCC charts below also work in reverse, so you can read off the exact test scores a target CLB requires.
Ranges transcribed from IRCC’s equivalency charts on canada.ca (verified July 5, 2026). Always confirm against your official score report before submitting an application.
The official IRCC tables
These are IRCC's own equivalency ranges (canada.ca, verified July 5, 2026). Three rules trip people up: IRCC assesses every skill separately (skills are never averaged), some program and CRS thresholds require a minimum in all four skills, you must take the right test version (IELTS General Training, PTE Core, CELPIP General, TEF/TCF Canada), and you can't combine skills across two sittings — one test result must cover all four.
IELTS General Training → CLB (minimum band per level)
| CLB | Listening | Reading | Writing | 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 |
| 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 |
The highlighted CLB 9 row is the famous "8777". Note listening runs half a band hotter than the other skills at most levels.
CELPIP-General → CLB
CELPIP is the easy one: levels map to CLB 1:1. CELPIP 9 = CLB 9. (An "M" on a CELPIP report means the level couldn't be measured — it is not a score of zero.)
PTE Core → CLB (score ranges)
| CLB | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 89–90 | 88–90 | 90 | 89–90 |
| 9 | 82–88 | 78–87 | 88–89 | 84–88 |
| 8 | 71–81 | 69–77 | 79–87 | 76–83 |
| 7 | 60–70 | 60–68 | 69–78 | 68–75 |
| 6 | 50–59 | 51–59 | 60–68 | 59–67 |
| 5 | 39–49 | 42–50 | 51–59 | 51–58 |
| 4 | 28–38 | 33–41 | 41–50 | 42–50 |
| 3 | 18–27 | 24–32 | 32–40 | 34–41 |
Watch the writing column: CLB 9 is only 88–89 and CLB 10 requires a perfect 90 — the most compressed band on any IRCC chart.
TEF Canada → NCLC (tests taken after December 10, 2023 — all skills scored /699)
| NCLC | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 546–699 | 546–699 | 558–699 | 556–699 |
| 9 | 503–545 | 503–545 | 512–557 | 518–555 |
| 8 | 462–502 | 462–502 | 472–511 | 494–517 |
| 7 | 434–461 | 434–461 | 428–471 | 456–493 |
| 6 | 393–433 | 393–433 | 379–427 | 422–455 |
| 5 | 352–392 | 352–392 | 330–378 | 387–421 |
| 4 | 306–351 | 306–351 | 268–329 | 328–386 |
NCLC 7 (highlighted) is the French-bonus threshold for Express Entry. Took TEF before December 2023? Different tables apply — check the date-matched charts on canada.ca.
TCF Canada → NCLC
| NCLC | Listening (/699) | Reading (/699) | Writing (/20) | Speaking (/20) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 549–699 | 549–699 | 16–20 | 16–20 |
| 9 | 523–548 | 524–548 | 14–15 | 14–15 |
| 8 | 503–522 | 499–523 | 12–13 | 12–13 |
| 7 | 458–502 | 453–498 | 10–11 | 10–11 |
| 6 | 398–457 | 406–452 | 7–9 | 7–9 |
| 5 | 369–397 | 375–405 | 6–6 | 6–6 |
| 4 | 331–368 | 342–374 | 4–5 | 4–5 |
TCF reports two scales at once — listening/reading on 100–699, writing/speaking on 0–20 — and the report shows CEFR letters, not NCLC. Ignore the letters; use the numbers above.
CLB conversion questions
How do I calculate my CLB score?
Look up each skill separately on the IRCC chart for your test: your CLB for that skill is the highest level whose minimum your score meets. Your usable overall level is your LOWEST skill — IRCC never averages the four skills.
What is CLB 9 in IELTS?
CLB 9 on IELTS General Training is Listening 8.0, Reading 7.0, Writing 7.0, Speaking 7.0 — the combination known as "8777". Note that listening needs 8.0, not 7.0.
What is CLB 7 in IELTS?
CLB 7 is 6.0 in all four skills on IELTS General Training — the only level where every skill needs the same band.
What CLB is IELTS 6.5?
It depends on the skill: 6.5 is CLB 8 in reading, writing and speaking, but only CLB 7 in listening (CLB 8 listening requires 7.5).
Is a CELPIP score the same as CLB?
Effectively yes — CELPIP-General levels map to CLB 1:1, so CELPIP 9 = CLB 9. An "M" means the skill could not be measured, not a zero.
What is CLB 9 in PTE Core?
CLB 9 on PTE Core is Listening 82–88, Reading 78–87, Writing 88–89 and Speaking 84–88. The writing band is the tightest on any IRCC chart — 88 or 89 exactly, since 90 is CLB 10.
What TEF Canada score is NCLC 7?
For TEF Canada taken after December 10, 2023 (all skills scored /699): Listening 434–461, Reading 434–461, Writing 428–471, Speaking 456–493. NCLC 7 in all four unlocks the Express Entry French bonus.
Now practise the skill that's holding you back
Train the skill that is below your target threshold first. Free, in replicas of the real exams:IELTS · PTE Core ·CELPIP · TEF Canada ·TCF Canada.