IELTS General vs PTE Core for Canada: the CLB scores compared

CLB equivalents

From IRCC's language testing page (updated June 2026): CLB 7 is IELTS General listening 6.0, reading 6.0, writing 6.0, speaking 6.0, or PTE Core listening 60 to 70, reading 60 to 68, writing 69 to 78, speaking 68 to 75. CLB 9, which unlocks the skill-transferability points, is IELTS listening 8.0, reading 7.0, writing 7.0, speaking 7.0, or PTE Core listening 82 to 88, reading 78 to 87, writing 88 to 89, speaking 84 to 88.

Program minimums: Federal Skilled Worker needs CLB 7 in all four skills; Canadian Experience Class needs CLB 7 for TEER 0 and 1 jobs or CLB 5 for TEER 2 and 3; Federal Skilled Trades needs CLB 5 in speaking and listening and CLB 4 in reading and writing.

Which test suits you

IELTS General has a human examiner for speaking and a letter in writing Task 1; it is available in more cities in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and the Philippines than PTE Core. PTE Core is fully computer-scored with results in about two days, and its speaking rewards clear, steady delivery. The CLB 9 writing threshold is the hard one on both: IELTS 7.0 or PTE Core 88, so if writing is your weak skill, get it scored on each format before booking.

Common mistakes

Booking IELTS Academic because a university asked for it, then discovering Express Entry needs General Training. Using a One Skill Retake result, which IRCC does not accept for Express Entry. Letting a result pass two years between the profile and the application. Using an overall band: IRCC scores each skill separately, so one weak module sets your CLB.

Frequently asked questions