CELPIP Score Chart & CLB Levels
CELPIP is the simplest of the accepted English tests to convert — your score in each skill is your CLB level, with no separate lookup table.
CELPIP score = CLB level
Where IELTS and PTE Core need a conversion chart to translate raw scores into Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels, CELPIP was built to align with CLB directly. A CELPIP score of 9 in Reading simply means CLB 9 in Reading — same number, same meaning. Your overall CLB level is the lowest of your four individual skill scores, so a weak module can hold your whole application back even if the other three are strong.
Full conversion chart
| CELPIP score | CLB level | General description |
|---|---|---|
| 10–12 | 10–12 | Superior — near-native fluency |
| 9 | 9 | Advanced — effective, fluent, precise |
| 8 | 8 | Advanced — effective, generally fluent |
| 7 | 7 | Adequate — effective in most contexts |
| 6 | 6 | Adequate — some hesitation, generally clear |
| 5 | 5 | Limited but functional |
| 4 | 4 | Basic — simple, familiar contexts only |
| 1–3 | 1–3 | Below basic proficiency |
M (below CLB 1) and 0 (unable to be assessed) also appear on official score reports but are uncommon.
Why CLB 7 and CLB 9 matter most
- CLB 4 — minimum required in speaking and listening for Canadian citizenship applications.
- CLB 7 — the baseline most Express Entry programs (like Federal Skilled Worker) require, and a common threshold for provincial nomination streams.
- CLB 9 — the level that unlocks the largest jump in Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for Express Entry, particularly when paired with a spouse's points or Canadian work experience.
Every additional CLB level above these thresholds still adds CRS points, but 7 and 9 are the two everyone builds a study plan around.
How to reach your target level
Since your overall CLB is capped by your weakest skill, the highest-leverage prep is identifying which of the four modules is holding you back and drilling that one specifically — not studying all four evenly. See our study plan by starting level for how to structure that.
Find your current level, free
Take a short placement quiz and get matched to practice at exactly your CLB level.
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