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How to Increase Your CRS Score With Language Tests
Language is the CRS factor most candidates can still change. Moving from CLB 7 to CLB 9 in all four IELTS skills adds 56 points for a single applicant. French at NCLC 7 in all four skills adds a 50-point bonus (with English at CLB 5 or higher) plus 12 second-language points. A spouse's test can add up to 20 more.
| Move | Points added | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS from CLB 7 to CLB 9 in all four | +56, plus higher skill-transferability points | Listening 8.0, Reading 7.0, Writing 7.0, Speaking 7.0 |
| Add French at NCLC 7 in all four (English CLB 5+) | +62 (50 bonus + 12 second-language) | TEF Canada or TCF Canada at NCLC 7 |
| Spouse takes IELTS at CLB 9 in all four | +20 | Spouse: Listening 8.0, Reading 7.0, Writing 7.0, Speaking 7.0 |
| IELTS from CLB 9 to CLB 10 in all four | +12 | Listening 8.5, Reading 8.0, Writing 7.5, Speaking 7.5 |
| Spouse takes IELTS at CLB 7 in all four | +12 | Spouse: 6.0 in each skill |
With a spouse coming with you, your own first-language points are slightly lower: CLB 7 to CLB 9 adds 52 instead of 56.
Why CLB 9 matters more than the table shows
CRS skill-transferability points combine your language level with your education and with your foreign work experience. Each combination is capped at 50 points, and all of them together at 100. CLB 9 in all four skills is what unlocks the higher values. What CLB 9 needs.
French: the biggest single jump
- NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills, with English at CLB 5 or higher: 50 bonus points.
- NCLC 7 or higher in French, with English at CLB 4 or lower or no English test: 25 bonus points.
- Second-language points: 1 per skill at NCLC 5–6, 3 at NCLC 7–8, 6 at NCLC 9 or higher. Up to 24 points (22 with a spouse).
NCLC 7 in all four skills is also the level IRCC uses for French-language proficiency rounds. Calculate your French points or read how to reach NCLC 7.
Retake strategy: fix the skill that holds your CLB back
Your CLB is set skill by skill. If three skills are at 7.0 and one is at 6.5, that one skill decides whether you reach CLB 9. Put most of your preparation into it before you book the retest.
A worked example
| Stage | First-language points | French points | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS 6.0 in each skill (CLB 7) | 68 | 0 | 68 |
| Retake: 8.0, 7.0, 7.0, 7.0 (CLB 9) | 124 | 0 | 124 |
| Add French at NCLC 7 in all four | 124 | 62 | 186 |
Skill-transferability gains come on top of these figures. Check your full score in IRCC's CRS tool.
Official sources
- Express Entry: CRS criteria (IRCC)
- Express Entry: check your score (IRCC)
- Express Entry rounds of invitations (IRCC)
Immigration rules change. Check the IRCC pages above before you apply.