CELPIP® score chart: levels, CLB and raw scores

CELPIP-General gives you a level from 0 to 12 in each of the four skills. From level 3 up, each level is the same as the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level that IRCC uses. This page shows every level, the approximate raw scores for Listening and Reading, how Writing and Speaking are rated and the Express Entry points each level earns.

By the Prepiva team · Last reviewed October 30, 2026 · How we make and review our content

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CELPIP levels and CLB

CELPIP levels, their CLB levels and what each level means
CELPIP level	CLB level	What it means
12	12	Expert use in high-stakes situations
11	11	Advanced use in high-stakes situations
10	10	Highly effective in some high-stakes situations
9	9	Effective in some high-stakes situations
8	8	Good in more demanding situations
7	7	Adequate in somewhat demanding situations
6	6	Developing in everyday situations
5	5	Acquiring language for everyday situations
4	4	Adequate for daily life
3	3	Some ability in limited situations
2	1–2	Limited to immediate needs
1	None	Not enough evidence to assess
0	None	Not enough evidence to assess

The descriptions are our own short summaries of each level. Level 2 covers CLB 1 and 2, and levels 0 and 1 have no CLB level. Reports from before December 6, 2023 show M for these lowest results; Paragon replaced M with levels 0, 1 and 2 on that date.

Listening and Reading: approximate raw scores

Listening and Reading each have 38 scored questions, and every correct answer counts the same. Paragon publishes approximate charts of the raw scores that usually lead to each level:

Paragon’s approximate number of correct answers out of 38 for each CELPIP level
CELPIP level	Listening (of 38)	Reading (of 38)
10–12	35–38	33–38
9	33–35	31–33
8	30–33	28–31
7	27–31	24–28
6	22–28	19–25
5	17–23	15–20
4	11–18	10–16
3	7–12	8–11
0–2	0–7	0–7

The charts are approximate, and neighbouring ranges overlap: on different versions of the test, the same number of correct answers can lead to different levels. Nothing in them separates levels 10, 11 and 12. Use them as a guide to how many questions you need, not as an exact conversion.

Prepiva’s mock test turns each raw score into one level, at the cautious end of each overlap.

How Writing and Speaking are rated

Trained raters score every Writing and Speaking response on four dimensions:

Content/Coherence: how many ideas you give, how good they are, how you organize them and how you support them with examples and detail.
Vocabulary: your choice of words and phrases, how suitable they are and how wide and precise your range is.
Readability (Writing) or Listenability (Speaking): for Writing, paragraphs, connectors, grammar, spelling and punctuation; for Speaking, rhythm, pronunciation, intonation, pauses and grammar.
Task Fulfillment: whether you answer the task completely and stay relevant, with a tone that suits the reader or listener, and at a good length.

Several raters score your responses, and their ratings become one level for Writing and one for Speaking. Paragon does not publish the exact rule that turns the ratings into a level. The dimensions are the same in both skills apart from the third: Readability for Writing, Listenability for Speaking.

Four separate levels, no pass mark

CELPIP has no overall pass or fail. Each skill gets its own level, and each program sets its own minimum, usually in every skill. A 9 in Reading does not make up for a 6 in Speaking when a program asks for 7 in each.

Your report also shows an Average Score, the mean of your four levels. It is not a CLB level, and IRCC does not use it: IRCC reads your four levels one by one.

Express Entry CRS points for each level

In Express Entry, each skill in your first official language (English or French) earns points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) by its CLB level. Because a CELPIP level from 3 up is the CLB level, you can read the points straight from your report:

Express Entry CRS points for each CELPIP level
CELPIP level	Per skill, single	Per skill, with spouse or partner	Four skills, single	Four skills, with spouse or partner
10–12	34	32	136	128
9	31	29	124	116
8	23	22	92	88
7	17	16	68	64
6	9	8	36	32
4–5	6	6	24	24
0–3	0	0	0	0

The points come from IRCC’s CRS criteria (page dated October 16, 2026). From November 3, 2026, IRCC changes how it awards points for Canadian work experience and job offers; its notice of that change does not mention the language points. Check canada.ca for the current rules, and work out your own total with the CLB calculator.

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FAQ

What is a good CELPIP score?

It depends on your program. Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker Program asks for 7 in every skill. For CRS points, 9 in every skill earns 124 language points for a single applicant, and 10 or more earns the most, 136.

Is CELPIP level 7 the same as CLB 7?

Yes. From level 3 up, a CELPIP level is the same as the CLB level in that skill. Level 2 covers CLB 1 and 2, and levels 0 and 1 have no CLB level.

How many correct answers do I need for CELPIP level 9?

By Paragon’s approximate charts, about 33–35 of 38 in Listening and 31–33 of 38 in Reading. The ranges overlap with the levels next to them, so treat them as a guide.

Does CELPIP have an overall score?

Your report shows an Average Score, the mean of your four levels, but it is not a CLB level and IRCC does not use it. Programs look at each skill’s level.

What does M mean on a CELPIP score report?

Reports from before December 6, 2023 used M for the lowest results. Paragon now reports them as levels 0, 1 and 2.

How are CELPIP Writing and Speaking scored?

Trained raters score each response on four dimensions: Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Readability and Task Fulfillment for Writing, with Listenability in place of Readability for Speaking. Their ratings become one level for each skill.