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CELPIP score chart and CLB conversion
A CELPIP level converts one-to-one to the same Canadian Language Benchmark: CELPIP 7 is CLB 7, CELPIP 9 is CLB 9. IRCC uses this mapping for levels 4 to 10 and above. Each of the four skills gets its own level, and there is no pass or fail.
CELPIP levels and their CLB equivalents
CELPIP-General reports a level from 0 to 12 for each skill: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. For levels 3 to 12 the CLB number is the same as the CELPIP number. Level 2 corresponds to CLB 1–2, and levels 0–1 mean there was not enough to assess. Older CELPIP materials show the lowest band as “M”.
| CELPIP level | CLB | In plain words (our summary) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 12 | Expert, handles demanding professional situations with ease |
| 11 | 11 | Advanced, precise and flexible in demanding situations |
| 10 | 10 | Highly effective in many demanding situations |
| 9 | 9 | Effective in demanding situations, with clear, well-supported ideas |
| 8 | 8 | Good command in fairly demanding situations |
| 7 | 7 | Adequate in somewhat demanding everyday and work situations |
| 6 | 6 | Developing, manages everyday situations |
| 5 | 5 | Acquiring, handles familiar everyday topics |
| 4 | 4 | Adequate for basic daily life |
| 3 | 3 | Some ability in limited contexts |
| 0–2 | 1–2 (level 2) or none | Limited, or not enough to assess |
The plain-words column is our own summary, not CELPIP’s wording. CELPIP publishes its own descriptors for each level on celpip.ca.
CELPIP Listening and Reading score chart (raw score to level)
Listening and Reading each have 38 scored questions, marked right or wrong, with no penalty for guessing. CELPIP publishes example ranges of correct answers for each level. Because each test form is equated for difficulty, the number needed for a level changes slightly from test to test, so the ranges overlap.
| CELPIP level | Listening, correct out of 38 | Reading, correct out of 38 |
|---|---|---|
| 10–12 | 35–38 | 33–38 |
| 9 | 33–35 | 31–33 |
| 8 | 30–33 | 28–31 |
| 7 | 27–31 | 24–28 |
| 6 | 22–28 | 19–25 |
| 5 | 17–23 | 15–20 |
| 4 | 11–18 | 10–16 |
| 3 | 7–12 | 8–11 |
| 0–2 | 0–7 | 0–7 |
Use these ranges as a guide only. Our CELPIP score calculator turns a raw score from a practice set into an approximate level.
How CELPIP Speaking and Writing are scored
Speaking and Writing have no answer key. Trained raters score each response on four dimensions, and CELPIP says each speaking performance is rated by several raters working independently. CELPIP also says Writing now uses an AI-human hybrid system in which human raters review every score.
| Speaking | Writing |
|---|---|
| Content/Coherence: number, quality and organization of ideas | Content/Coherence: the same, plus supporting detail |
| Vocabulary: range, precision and natural use of words | Vocabulary: range, precision and natural use of words |
| Listenability: rhythm, pronunciation, pauses, grammar and sentence variety | Readability: format, paragraphs, connectors, grammar, spelling and punctuation |
| Task Fulfillment: relevance, completeness, tone and length | Task Fulfillment: relevance, completeness, tone and word count |
Your Speaking level comes from all eight tasks together; CELPIP does not publish the weighting. See the Speaking guide and the Writing guide for what each dimension means task by task.
Average score, pass marks and validity
- No pass or fail. You get four separate levels. What counts is whether each level meets the requirement you are aiming for.
- The average is not your CLB. The score report shows an average, but CELPIP’s FAQ says IRCC does not use it. Programs look at each skill.
- Two-year validity. IRCC accepts results less than two years old for most applications. For citizenship, IRCC accepts expired CELPIP results.
CELPIP score compared with IELTS and PTE Core
IRCC publishes one table that converts each accepted English test to CLB. Read across a row to compare (order: Speaking / Listening / Reading / Writing):
| CLB | CELPIP level | IELTS General Training | PTE Core |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 10+ | 10+ | 7.5–9.0 / 8.5–9.0 / 8.0–9.0 / 7.5–9.0 | 89+ / 89+ / 88+ / 90+ |
| CLB 9 | 9 | 7.0 / 8.0 / 7.0 / 7.0 | 84–88 / 82–88 / 78–87 / 88–89 |
| CLB 8 | 8 | 6.5 / 7.5 / 6.5 / 6.5 | 76–83 / 71–81 / 69–77 / 79–87 |
| CLB 7 | 7 | 6.0 / 6.0 / 6.0 / 6.0 | 68–75 / 60–70 / 60–68 / 69–78 |
| CLB 6 | 6 | 5.5 / 5.5 / 5.0 / 5.5 | 59–67 / 50–59 / 51–59 / 60–68 |
| CLB 5 | 5 | 5.0 / 5.0 / 4.0 / 5.0 | 51–58 / 39–49 / 42–50 / 51–59 |
| CLB 4 | 4 | 4.0 / 4.5 / 3.5 / 4.0 | 42–50 / 28–38 / 33–41 / 41–50 |
More detail: CELPIP vs IELTS and CELPIP vs PTE Core.
More on CELPIP scores
- How CELPIP is scored: raters, dimensions, raw scores and why there is no pass mark.
- CLB 7 in CELPIP and CLB 9 in CELPIP: what each level means and how to reach it.
- CELPIP results: how many days they take and how long they are valid.
Frequently asked questions
Is CELPIP 9 the same as CLB 9?
Yes. For levels 4 to 10 and above, IRCC treats a CELPIP-General level as the same CLB level, skill by skill.
How many correct answers do I need for CELPIP 7 in Reading?
CELPIP’s example range for Reading level 7 is 24–28 correct out of 38. The exact number varies slightly between test forms.
What does M mean on a CELPIP score?
Older CELPIP materials used M for the lowest results. Current reports show levels 0–2 instead.
Does IRCC use the CELPIP average score?
No. CELPIP says IRCC does not use the average; each skill is compared with the requirement separately.
Sources
Checked October 19, 2026. Rules and fees change: check the official page before you act. celpip.ca pages were read from public archive snapshots because the site blocks automated access.