What IELTS score is required for Canada Immigration 2024?

Posted by Nationwide Immigration Services on February 8th, 2024

If you are planning to make your way to Canada in 2024, you first need to meet the eligibility criteria. The most popular immigration pathway is Express Entry, which assesses the profiles of applicants using a point-based system called 67 points Immigration Canada. Your age, education, work experience, adaptability, and language proficiency skills are evaluated.

Proving your proficiency in the English language is necessary for which you need to take the IELTS exam. IELTS score helps the Canadian government to know that you are well-versed in the language and will integrate into Canadian society and the workforce effortlessly.

What is IELTS and its types?

IELTS or International English Language Testing System is a test through which your English language skills are tested. The system uses a 0-9 scale that shows how well your hold of the language is. Now, there are two types of IELTS exams - Academic IELTS and General Training IELTS.

Academic IELTS is for individuals who wish to apply for higher education or professional registration. Whereas, General Training IELTS caters to those who are immigrating to Canada, the UK, and Australia.

IELTS has four modules or sections it tests you on and assigns a score - Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.

Minimum IELTS Score for Canada PR

6.0 is the minimum IELTS score for Canada PR in 2024. Meaning that your score in any module should not be a 6.0 band. This score will then be converted to the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) and should be equivalent to CLB 7 to be eligible for a Canada permanent residency visa. 

Refer to this table to know the CLB Level and its equivalent scores:

CLB Level

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

10

8

7.5

8.5

7.5

9

7

7

8

7

8

6.5

6.5

7.5

6.5

7

6

6

6

6

6

5

5.5

5.5

5.5

5

4

5

5

5

4

3.3

4

4.4

4

IELTS Score Required for Express Entry

If you wish to move to Canada as a skilled worker, Express Entry remains one of the best immigration pathways. It processes the visa applications within 6 months. There are three federal immigration programs under Express Entry: 

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

  • Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Here are the IELTS scores you need to be eligible for a Canada PR Visa under the Express Entry immigration programs:

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

Achieve maximum points if you get CLB 10 or higher - 34, and 32 if you are married. 

CLB Level

Points per band

Listening

Reading

Speaking

Writing

7

4

6.0-7.0

6.0

6.0

6.0

8

5

7.5

6.5

6.5

6.5

9

6

8.0

7.0

7.0

7.0

10 or higher

6

8.5-9.0

8.0-9.0

7.5-9.0

7.5-9.0

If English is your second official language, you can achieve 4 more points if: 

CLB Level

Points per band

Listening

Reading

Speaking

Writing

5 or higher

4

5.0-9.0

4.0-9.0

5.0-9.0

4.0-9.0

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

Look at the scores required per section for each CLB level for FSTP:

CLB Level

Listening

Reading

Speaking

Writing

4

4.5

3.5

4.0

4.0

5

5.0

4.0

5.0

5.0

6

5.5

5.0

5.5

5.5

7

6.0

6.0

6.0

6.0

8

7.5

6.5

6.5

6.5

9

8.0

7.0

7.0

7.0

10 or higher

8.5-9.0

8.0-9.0

7.5-9.0

7.5-9.0

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Occupations listed as Skill level A under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) required a minimum CLB level 7 for Canada PR. If you have NOC Skill level 8, CLB 5 min. Is required.

Here are all the CLB levels with their respective IELTS scores:

NOC Skill level

CLB Level

Listening

Reading

Speaking

Writing

A

10 or higher

8.5-9.0

8.0-9.0

7.5-9.0

7.5-9.0

A

9

8.0

7.0

7.0

7.0

A

8

7.5

6.5

6.5

6.5

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

To find out your score, use a CRS calculator and find out your chances of receiving an invitation to apply in the next Express Entry draw.

Useful guidelines to help you achieve a high score in IELTS

  • Practice regularly

Make solving the four IELTS modules regularly to become more familiar with the pattern and structure of the exam. 

  • Find your weakness

Everyone knows what their weaknesses are. You need to identify yours and improve them. If you are weak in writing, write more essays, and let a teacher evaluate them.

  • Increase your vocabulary 

You must work on building your vocabulary. Try reading newspapers daily, along with books and articles on the Internet. This will improve your reading and writing module scores.

  • Improve your grammar 

Writing following all the rules of grammar is important for the IELTS exam for Canada PR. You can read grammar books and take the help of online resources to solve practice papers to improve your grammar.

Don’t delay the process. If you are sure of moving to Canada, take your IELTS test now! Once you have done that and know you are eligible, move on with the application process to apply for a Canada PR Visa. Seek professional advice from best immigration consultants in Mumbai, Nationwide Visas. Having accumulated a treasure of goodwill and years of experience, Nationwide Visas has over the last 17+ years been assisting thousands of individuals wishing to immigrate to Canada.

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