What is the perfect IELTS score for Canada PR?

by Ashish Y. Boulevard to Dream

International English Language Testing System, popularly known as IELTS is an internationally acknowledged test for English language proficiency.

Most of the academic institutions, companies and government institutions in top developed nations accept IELTS as a standardized measure to test an applicant's English language ability. Moreover, it is a key requirement for Canada PR, Canada immigration, New Zealand immigration and Australia immigration.

IELTS is considered as a leading testing system, which employs international English standards to its examinations. Examinees are tested on the basis of 4 key areas, namely:

Listening: It contains 40 questions and 30 minutes of completion time and an extra 10 minutes time for transference.

Reading: It contains 40 questions with 60 minutes of completion time.

Writing: It contains 2 tasks and with 60 minutes of completion time.

Speaking: It contains 3 parts with 11 to 14 minutes of completion time.

Refer the table below to understand about the score rating system that is followed by Comprehensive Ranking System:

First official language (Maximum 24 points)
CLB Level	Ability: Speaking	Ability: Listening	Ability: Reading	Ability: Writing	Points per ability
7	6.0	6.0-7.0	6.0	6.0	4
8	6.5	7.5	6.5	6.5	5
9	7.0	8.0	7.0	7.0	6
10 and above	7.5-9.0	8.5-9.0	8.0-9.0	7.5-9.0	6

The IELTS scores vary from 1 to 9 in terms of CLB band

IELTS BAND SCORE	SKILL LEVEL
9	Expert
8	Very good
7	Good
6	Competent
5	Modest
4	Limited
3	Extremely limited
2	Intermittent
1	Non-user

What should be an ideal IELTS score to apply for a Canadian PR visa in 2023?

IELTS examination is considered as one of the key factors while calculating an applicant's overall CRS score for a Canada Immigration. Ideally a candidate must score a CLB 10 or more to score maximum points in language proficiency section falling under the CRS calculator.

The table drawn below can provide you a better understanding about the IELTS points system:

However, if a candidate scores well in other factors like age, work experience, adaptability and educational qualification, then he/she can also qualify with a CLB 7 score in their first language. It would also prove quite useful to learn English or French as a second language and score additional CLB 5 points and improve the overall CRS score.

Canadian Language Benchmark/CLB	Without an accompanying spouse (max points available: 136)
For each language ability	34 points
CLB 3 or lower	0
CLB 4	6
CLB 5	6
CLB 6	9
CLB 7	17
CLB 8	23
CLB 9	31
CLB 10 or higher	34

Additionally, the IELTS exam has 2 categories, first is general and the second is academic. If you are applying under Express Entry system, then you must choose general scores in the IELTS segment.

Though, in Canada, the requirements for IELTS scores and the overall average IELTS score majorly depends on the type of visa you are applying for. For instance, on the Canadian government’s website, you will find different requirements under the skilled worker visa. Thus, it is always advisable to use a CRS score calculator tool to convert IELTS scores for Canadian immigration requirements.