Choosing a language test for Express Entry looks like the easy part of the process: book a date, sit the exam, upload the result. It is also where a surprising number of files go wrong — the wrong version of the test, one skill below the minimum, or a result that quietly expires while the profile waits in the pool.
Here is what IRCC actually accepts, and the details that decide whether your result still counts.
Five tests: three for English and two for French. And for two of them, the version matters.
| Test | Language · What to book |
|---|---|
| CELPIP |
|
| IELTS |
|
| PTE Core |
|
| TEF Canada |
|
| TCF Canada |
|
The second column is where people lose money. An IELTS Academic result, or a CELPIP version other than CELPIP-General, is not the test IRCC lists for Express Entry. Check the exact name before you pay.
It depends on the program, and the minimum applies to each of the four skills separately.
| Program | Minimum level |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker | CLB 7 in speaking, listening, reading and writing |
| Canadian Experience Class — TEER 0 or 1 job | CLB 7 |
| Canadian Experience Class — TEER 2 or 3 job | CLB 5 |
| Federal Skilled Trades | CLB 5 in speaking and listening, CLB 4 in reading and writing |
The detail that catches people: there is no average. A strong result in three skills does not make up for one skill below the line. If your writing lands one level short, the whole result falls short.
CLB stands for Canadian Language Benchmarks; the French equivalent is the NCLC. Your test gives you a score, and IRCC converts it to a CLB or NCLC level using its official conversion tables — one per test. Use those tables, not a converter you found online.
Less than two years old — at two different moments.
IRCC is precise about this: your results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you submit your application for permanent residence.
That second moment is the trap. A profile can wait in the pool for months. If your result turns two years old before you apply, it no longer counts, and IRCC states plainly that an application submitted with expired language results will be refused.
So check the date on your result against your timeline, not just against today. If it will expire before you are likely to apply, plan the retake now.
Yes — up to 50 additional points, if your French is strong in all four skills.
IRCC awards additional points to candidates who score NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills:
- 25 points if your English is CLB 4 or lower, or you did not take an English test
- 50 points if your English is CLB 5 or higher in all four skills
As with the minimums, it is all four skills or nothing. One French skill below NCLC 7 means no additional points.
- Confirm the minimum for your program in the table above, and aim for every skill, not the average.
- Book the exact version IRCC lists — CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada or TCF Canada.
- Convert your score with IRCC’s official tables before you create your profile.
- Count forward two years from your test date and compare it with when you expect to apply.
- If you have French, test it. Up to 50 points is a real difference in a ranking.
A language result is one line in an Express Entry profile, but it is a line with an expiry date and no room for a weak skill. Immigration Pros can help you:
- Confirm which minimum applies to your program and your job
- Check whether your current result will still be valid when you apply
- Work out whether a French test is worth taking for your score
If you are not sure where your result leaves you, start with a free assessment and we will tell you before you book another exam.
