How PTE Core scores convert to CLB levels for Canadian immigration, skill by skill, with the full conversion table and tips for reaching CLB 7, 8 or 9.
If you are using PTE Core for Canadian permanent residence, your score report is only half the story. What IRCC actually uses is your Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level in each skill. This guide gives the full conversion and shows how to use it to set targets.
| CLB level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|
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| 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 |
This reflects IRCC's published equivalency at the time of writing. IRCC can update its tables, so confirm the current version on the IRCC website before relying on it for an application. You can also view PTE Core, CELPIP and IELTS General side by side in our score converter.
There is no single "PTE Core score to CLB" number. The same score can mean different levels: a 76 is CLB 8 in Listening, Reading and Speaking, but only CLB 7 in Writing. Always look up each skill in its own column.
Look at CLB 9. Listening needs 82, Reading 78, but Writing 88 and Speaking 84. For many candidates, Writing is the skill that decides their CLB level.
Your overall PTE Core score appears on the report, but CLB levels come from the four skill scores.
| Candidate | L | R | W | S | CLB levels (L/R/W/S) | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 75 | 72 | 70 | 70 | 8 / 8 / 7 / 7 | CLB 7 |
| B | 85 | 80 | 80 | 79 | 9 / 9 / 8 / 8 | CLB 8 |
| C | 90 | 88 | 86 | 85 | 10 / 10 / 8 / 9 | CLB 8 |
Candidate C has two CLB 10 scores, but Writing at 86 falls just short of CLB 9 (88). Two more Writing points would have lifted it.
Requirements depend on the program, and they change, so always check IRCC. Two general points:
Writing is fed by Summarize Written Text, Write Email and several integrated tasks such as Write from Dictation and Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks.
Speaking is fed by Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Respond to a Situation and Answer Short Question.
These usually need lower PTE scores for a given CLB level, but do not neglect them: fill-in-the-blank tasks and Write from Dictation feed more than one skill.
All three IRCC-approved English tests are converted to CLB per skill, but they reach CLB 7 in different ways:
| Test | CLB 7 requirement (each skill) |
|---|---|
| PTE Core | Listening 60, Reading 60, Writing 69, Speaking 68 |
| CELPIP-General | Level 7 in every skill |
| IELTS General Training | 6.0 in every skill |
None of the tests is officially "easier". Choose the format that suits how you perform best: fast computer-based tasks (PTE Core), a computer-based test in Canadian English with recorded speaking (CELPIP), or a live speaking interview (IELTS). Our CELPIP vs IELTS General comparison covers the other two in detail.
The gap between levels is not the same for every skill. Using the lower bound of each range:
| Step | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 7 → 8 | +11 | +9 | +10 | +8 |
| CLB 8 → 9 | +11 | +9 | +9 | +8 |
| CLB 9 → 10 | +7 | +10 | +2 | +5 |
Two observations:
Use these gaps to set realistic short-term goals. Moving from 72 to 79 in Writing (CLB 7 to CLB 8) is a clearly defined target you can track in practice tests.
If one skill sits a few points below the next level:
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Take a full mock, convert each skill, and list the tasks that feed your weakest skill |
| 2 | Daily drills on the two highest-frequency tasks for that skill, under real timings |
| 3 | Add accuracy work: spelling for Writing and Listening, pacing and clarity for Speaking |
| 4 | Two full mocks on separate days; confirm the skill is above the threshold with a margin |
Once IRCC converts your scores, the CLB levels are used in two ways. First, they decide whether you meet a program's minimum language requirement at all. Second, in Express Entry, they contribute to your Comprehensive Ranking System score, where higher levels earn more points. That second use is why two candidates who both "meet the minimum" can end up with quite different profiles, and why a single CLB level gained in Writing or Speaking can be worth the extra preparation. The exact point values are set by IRCC and can change, so check the current CRS criteria on the IRCC website.
If your target is CLB 9, aim for scores in practice that sit several points above each threshold, especially in Writing. Test-day nerves, an unfamiliar topic or a microphone issue can move a score by a few points.
Take a full practice test, convert each skill with the table above, and note the lowest CLB level. That skill is your study priority until it catches up.
EnglishHub's PTE Core simulator follows the real format, with 50 full mock tests, 200 practice sets and AI feedback on speaking and writing. Practice scores are estimates, not official Pearson results. Your first mock is free: start a PTE Core mock, or go to the PTE Core hub. New to the test? Read the PTE Core format guide first.
EnglishHub is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with Pearson or IRCC. Always confirm CLB equivalencies and language requirements on the official IRCC website.
For CLB 7 you need at least 60 in Listening, 60 in Reading, 69 in Writing and 68 in Speaking. Each skill must reach its own threshold.
CLB 9 requires at least 82 in Listening, 78 in Reading, 88 in Writing and 84 in Speaking.
IRCC converts each of the four skill scores to a CLB level separately. The overall score does not determine your CLB levels.
No. For Canadian economic immigration, IRCC accepts PTE Core, not PTE Academic. Check IRCC's current list of approved tests before booking.
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