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Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB)

Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB)

Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB)

The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) standard is a descriptive scale of language ability in English as a Second Language (ESL) written as 12 benchmarks or reference points along a continuum from basic to advanced. The CLB standard reflects the progression of the knowledge and skills that underlie basic, intermediate, and advanced ability among adult ESL learners. It is the national standard in Canada for describing, measuring, and recognizing the English language proficiency of adult immigrants and prospective immigrants for living and working in Canada. 

For each language skill, test taker receives a separate benchmark, and this benchmark indicates how well they can function in that language skill. There are three stages in the CLB. 

  • Stage I covers basic language ability (benchmarks 1 to 4)
  • Stage II covers intermediate language ability (benchmarks 5 to 8)
  • Stage III covers advanced language ability (benchmarks 9 to 12)

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training – Test score equivalency chart

CLB Level Listening Reading Writing Speaking
CLB 12 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
CLB 11 9.0 8.5 8.0 8.0
CLB 10 8.5 8.0 7.5 7.5
CLB 9 8.0 7.0 7.0 7.0
CLB 8 7.5 6.5 6.5 6.5
CLB 7 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0
CLB 6 5.5 5.0 5.5 5.5
CLB 5 5.0 4.0 5.0 5.0
CLB 4 4.5 3.5 4.0 4.0
CLB 3 3.5 2.5 3.0 3.0
CLB 2 2.0 1.5 2.0 2.0
CLB 1 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General 2014 Test score equivalency chart for reports issued on or after April 1, 2014

CLB Level Listening Reading Writing Speaking
CLB 9 + 9 or more 9 or more 9 or more 9 or more
CLB 8 8 8 8 8
CLB 7 7 7 7 7
CLB 6 6 6 6 6
CLB 5 5 5 5 5
CLB 4 4 4 4 4
CLB 3 or less 3 or less 3 or less 3 or less 3 or less

Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) – Test score equivalency chart for reports issued on or after April 1, 2014

CLB Level Listening Reading Writing Speaking
CLB 10 263-277 393-415 316-333 393-415
CLB 9 248-262 371-392 298-315 371-392
CLB 8 233-247 349-370 280-297 349-370
CLB 7 207-232 310-348 249-279 310-348
CLB 6 181-206 271-309 217-248 271-309
CLB 5 151-180 226-270 181-216 226-270
CLB 4 121-150 181-225 145-180 181-225