If you are choosing IELTS or CELPIP for Express Entry, know this first: neither test earns more CRS points. IRCC turns every score into a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level, and points follow the CLB. The real difference is where each test sets the bar. On IELTS, listening needs a higher band than the other three skills.
This guide uses IRCC’s language test equivalency charts and its Comprehensive Ranking System criteria, both checked on 11 October 2026. The CRS page was last changed on 22 June 2026. If you want the full picture of how points are built, start with our page on how to improve your CRS score.
Does IELTS or CELPIP for Express Entry give more CRS points?
No. CRS points come from your CLB level in each skill, not from the test name. A CLB 9 in reading is worth the same points whether it came from IELTS, CELPIP or PTE Core. So the useful question is a different one. Which test makes it easier for you to reach the CLB level you need?
IRCC accepts three English tests: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core. IELTS Academic does not count. IELTS One Skill Retake is also not accepted for Express Entry.
What score do you need on each test for CLB 9?
For CLB 9, CELPIP asks for a 9 in every skill. IELTS General Training asks for 7.0 in reading, writing and speaking, but 8.0 in listening. That one jump is where many IELTS takers lose points. PTE Core uses score ranges, such as 82 to 88 for listening.
| CLB level | CELPIP-General (each skill) | IELTS General Training (R / W / L / S) | PTE Core (R / W / L / S) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 10 | 10 | 8.0 / 7.5 / 8.5 / 7.5 | 88 to 90 / 90 / 89 to 90 / 89 to 90 |
| CLB 9 | 9 | 7.0 / 7.0 / 8.0 / 7.0 | 78 to 87 / 88 to 89 / 82 to 88 / 84 to 88 |
| CLB 8 | 8 | 6.5 / 6.5 / 7.5 / 6.5 | 69 to 77 / 79 to 87 / 71 to 81 / 76 to 83 |
| CLB 7 | 7 | 6.0 / 6.0 / 6.0 / 6.0 | 60 to 68 / 69 to 78 / 60 to 70 / 68 to 75 |
Source: IRCC language test equivalency charts. R is reading, W is writing, L is listening and S is speaking.
How many CRS points does one weak skill cost you?
More than most people expect. For a single applicant, CLB 9 is worth 31 points per skill and CLB 8 is worth 23. Missing CLB 9 in just one skill costs 8 points directly. It also cuts two skill transferability combinations from a 50 point maximum to 25 each.
Here is the math for a single applicant with no spouse. CLB 9 in all four skills gives 4 x 31 = 124 points. An IELTS result of 7.0, 7.0, 7.5 and 7.0 puts listening at CLB 8, so the total is 31 + 31 + 23 + 31 = 116 points.
The bigger hit comes after that IRCC’s skill transferability rules give up to 50 points for language plus two or more degrees (or a Master’s), but only if all four skills are CLB 9 or higher. With one skill below CLB 9, that bonus drops to 25. If you only hold a single post-secondary degree, dropping one skill below CLB 9 cuts your bonus from 25 points down to 13. The same rule applies to language plus foreign work experience.
Run your own numbers in our Express Entry CRS calculator before you book a test. Seeing the gap in points makes the choice clearer.
How do you choose between IELTS or CELPIP for Express Entry?
Start from your past scores, not from opinions online. If an earlier IELTS result shows listening as your weakest skill, CELPIP removes that higher listening bar. If your IELTS listening is already 8.0 or higher, there is less reason to switch. Pick the test where your weakest skill has the most room.
IRCC does not publish pass rates by test, so nobody can tell you one test is easier for everyone. Anyone who says so is guessing. Your own results are better evidence than any general claim.
Some people never need CLB 9. If your target is a category draw with a lower cut-off, CLB 7 may be enough. Our guide to what a good CRS score looks like in 2026 shows where the ranges sit by category.
What mistakes cost people their language points?
Taking the wrong test version: Only IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, and PTE Core are accepted. Tests like IELTS Academic or IELTS One Skill Retake do not count for Express Entry.
Letting test results expire: IRCC strictly requires your results to be less than two years old on the exact date you create your profile and on the date you submit your permanent residence application.
Applying with expiring scores: A final application submitted with expired results will be refused automatically. If your scores expire before you are ready to submit, you must retest, rush the application before the expiry date, or decline your invitation to re-enter the pool.
Language scores have other quirks too. We explain several of them in 5 surprising truths about your language score.
Sources: IRCC language testing requirements and the IRCC CRS points grid, both last modified June 22, 2026 and checked on October 11, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is CELPIP easier than IELTS for Express Entry?
Nobody can say for certain, because IRCC does not publish results by test. What we can show is the scoring. CELPIP needs the same score in every skill for each CLB level. IELTS needs a higher listening band than the other skills for CLB 8, 9 and 10. That difference matters most if listening is your weak skill.
Can I mix IELTS and CELPIP results in one profile?
No. In your Express Entry profile, you enter one test for your first official language, with all four skill scores taken from that test. If you take both tests, you choose which result to use, and it must be less than two years old.
How many extra points does CLB 10 give over CLB 9?
For a single applicant, CLB 10 or higher is worth 34 points per skill, against 31 at CLB 9. Across all four skills that is 136 points instead of 124, a gain of 12. With a spouse or partner, the values are 32 and 29 per skill, so the gain is also 12 points.
Choosing a test is a small decision with a big effect on your score. If you want help planning your language strategy and your next steps after an invitation, Book Your Strategy Consultation with our team. You can also read the official rules on the IRCC website.
