--- title: "CLB 5 scores: IELTS, CELPIP, PTE Core, TCF and TEF Canada" description: "CLB 5 on IELTS (L 5.0, R 4.0, S 5.0, W 5.0), CELPIP, PTE Core, TCF Canada and TEF Canada, and the 6 CRS points per ability it earns." canonical: https://francaisprep.com/clb/5 last-updated: 2026-10-14 --- [CLB levels](/tools/clb-calculator) # CLB 5: the score you need on every accepted test CLB 5 is level 5 of the Canadian Language Benchmarks, written NCLC 5 for French. It takes 4.0 reading, 5.0 in the other three on IELTS General Training, 5 in every ability on CELPIP-General and L 39, R 42, S 51, W 51 on PTE Core; in French, L 369, R 375, S 6/20, W 6/20 on the TCF Canada and L 181, R 151, S 226, W 226 on the TEF Canada. Updated 14 October 2026 | Test | Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | IELTS General Training | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | | CELPIP-General | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | | PTE Core | 39 to 49 | 42 to 50 | 51 to 58 | 51 to 59 | | TCF Canada | 369 to 397 | 375 to 405 | 6 | 6 | | TEF Canada | 181 to 216 | 151 to 180 | 226 to 270 | 226 to 270 | | Level | Per ability, single | Per ability, with spouse | All four, single | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | CLB 4 | 6 | 6 | 24 | | CLB 5 | 6 | 6 | 24 | | CLB 6 | 9 | 8 | 36 | Scores from IRCC's [language test equivalency charts](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/after-graduation/eligibility/language-results.html) and [French equivalency charts](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-test.html) and points from its [Comprehensive Ranking System criteria](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/check-score/crs-criteria.html), checked against canada.ca on 14 October 2026. IRCC revises these pages, so confirm the current values there before you plan around a number. ## What CLB 5 means NCLC and CLB are the same twelve-level framework under two names. NCLC is the French-language scale and CLB the English-language one, so a French result reported as NCLC 5 is the level English speakers write as CLB 5. IRCC reports French test results in NCLC. IRCC's equivalency charts run from CLB 4 to CLB 10, so CLB 5 is 1 level above the bottom of the published range and 5 below the top. Each ability is converted on its own: a requirement of CLB 5 is met only when every ability it names reaches the level, however strong the others are. ## CLB 5 on each accepted test IELTS General Training: 5.0 in listening, 4.0 in reading, 5.0 in speaking and 5.0 in writing. CELPIP-General: 5 in listening, 5 in reading, 5 in speaking and 5 in writing. PTE Core: 39 to 49 in listening, 42 to 50 in reading, 51 to 58 in speaking and 51 to 59 in writing. TCF Canada: 369 to 397 in listening, 375 to 405 in reading, 6 out of 20 in speaking and 6 out of 20 in writing. TEF Canada: 181 to 216 in listening, 151 to 180 in reading, 226 to 270 in speaking and 226 to 270 in writing. ## CRS points at CLB 5 Express Entry scores each ability separately. At CLB 5 in your first official language that is 6 points per ability for a single applicant and 6 for one with a spouse or common-law partner, so 24 or 24 when all four abilities sit at CLB 5. CLB 6 is worth 3 more points per ability without a spouse and 2 with one. CLB 4 pays the same 6 points per ability, because the table groups the two levels in one row. ## Which programmes ask for CLB 5 IRCC's published minimums name CLB 5 for these programmes. A minimum is met only when every ability it names reaches the level. Canadian Experience Class, NOC TEER 2 or 3: CLB 5 in English, or NCLC 5 in French. Federal Skilled Trades Program: CLB 5 speaking and listening, CLB 4 reading and writing in English, or NCLC 5 speaking and listening, NCLC 4 reading and writing in French. CLB 5 is also the English condition on the French bonus: with NCLC 7 in French, English at CLB 5 or higher in all four abilities lifts the additional points from 25 to 50. ## CLB 5 in French: NCLC 5 In French, CLB 5 is NCLC 5. On the TCF Canada it takes 369 listening, 375 reading, 6/20 speaking and writing; on the TEF Canada, 181 listening, 151 reading, 226 speaking and writing in the Equivalence ancien score column. NCLC 5 sits 2 levels below NCLC 7, where the additional French CRS points begin, so at this level French counts through the per-ability table only. NCLC 5 on the TCF Canada and TEF Canada has its own page, with the score bands, the conversion tool and what the level unlocks. ## Every CLB level - [CLB 4](/clb/4) - [CLB 6](/clb/6) - [CLB 7](/clb/7) - [CLB 8](/clb/8) - [CLB 9](/clb/9) - [CLB 10](/clb/10) ## Check your own result - [NCLC 5 on the TCF and TEF Canada](/nclc-5) - [CLB calculator for all five tests](/tools/clb-calculator) - [TCF and TEF score converter](/tools/score-converter) - [French CRS points calculator](/tools/french-crs-points) Questions ## CLB 5: common questions ### What is CLB 5 in IELTS? CLB 5 on IELTS General Training is 5.0 in listening, 4.0 in reading, 5.0 in speaking and 5.0 in writing. Only the General Training option counts for Express Entry. ### What CELPIP score is CLB 5? A 5 in each ability. CELPIP-General reports on the CLB scale itself, so the number on the score report is the level. ### What PTE Core score is CLB 5? PTE Core needs 39 to 49 in listening, 42 to 50 in reading, 51 to 58 in speaking and 51 to 59 in writing, the bottom of each range being the score that reaches CLB 5. PTE Academic is not accepted for Express Entry. ### What is CLB 5 in French? NCLC 5. On the TCF Canada that is 369 to 397 in listening, 375 to 405 in reading, 6 out of 20 in speaking and 6 out of 20 in writing; on the TEF Canada, 181 to 216 in listening, 151 to 180 in reading, 226 to 270 in speaking and 226 to 270 in writing. ### How many CRS points does CLB 5 give? 6 points per ability without a spouse and 6 with one, for your first official language: 24 or 24 across four abilities. ### Is CLB 5 enough for Express Entry? It meets the minimum for the Canadian Experience Class, NOC TEER 2 or 3 and Federal Skilled Trades Program, as long as every ability named reaches CLB 5. Whether you are invited depends on your full CRS score, not on the language minimum alone. NEXT STEP ## Find out where your French actually stands Book a short assessment with Adèle: one writing task, one speaking task, and an honest plan for the weeks you have left before the exam. [Book an assessment](/book)[See the course tiers](/pricing) --- For agents: site index https://francaisprep.com/llms.txt, developer access https://francaisprep.com/developers, and TCF or TEF to NCLC conversion over a plain GET at https://api.francaisprep.com/v1/score/convert?exam=tcf_canada&listening=512&reading=470&writing=12&speaking=11 (exam is tcf_canada or tef_canada).