Complete Guide For Canadian Language Benchmark For Candidates

CLB, which stands for Canadian Language Benchmark, is the measure utilized by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to assess the English skills of immigrants and candidates. It translates various exam scores from IELTS, PTE, and CELPIP into a general scale, ensuring consistency.

The Canadian Language Benchmark, with its four primary language skills evaluation, empowers candidates to understand their language proficiency and determine if they meet the language requirements for Canadian immigration. This knowledge puts you in control of your immigration journey.

Why The Canadian Language Benchmark Is Crucial For Canadian Immigration

The Canadian Language Benchmark is essential for immigration to Canada because of its two formal languages: English and French. Below is the reason CLB is needed:

1. Standardized Scoring: The Canadian Language Benchmark ensures consistency in assessment across various endorsed exams. ‘Endorsement’ here refers to the recognition and credibility of these exams by the IRCC. The CLB uses 12 fundamentals to develop skills examples to convert these exam scores into Canadian Language Benchmark levels for uniform comparison.
2. Effects CRS Points: In the Express Entry program, increased CLB levels are interpreted as more Comprehensive Ranking Systems (CRS) points, affecting qualification and competitiveness for permanent residence.
3. Least Score Prerequisites: Requests are run only if they satisfy the minimum CLB scores needed by specific programs, including CLB level 7 for the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
4. Double Language Exams: Skills in both English and French can help you achieve extra CRS points. The Canadian Language Benchmark standard also applies to the NCLC points for French exams. ‘Bilingual candidates’ are those who have demonstrated proficiency in both English and French. Being a bilingual candidate can be advantageous in the immigration process, as it can increase your CRS points and enhance your competitiveness for permanent residence in Canada.

How The CLB Score Is Estimated

The Canadian Language Benchmark, a 12-point scale estimating English as a second language skill, was first launched in 1996 and is governed by the Center for Canadian Language Benchmarks. Understanding this process helps you grasp how your language skills are evaluated and where you stand on the CLB scale.

Phase 1: Basic Proficiency carried 1 to 4 points

Phase 2: Intermediate Proficiency carries 5 to 8 points

Phase 3: Advanced Proficiency carries 9 to 12 points

CLB Score Narrations

The narrations below drive into the language capacities portrayed by the 12 Canadian Language Benchmarks about speaking, reading, writing, and listening:

CLB Stage	Speaking	Reading	Writing	Listening
Stage 1	Battkes with fundamental phrases; depends on gestures	Identifies letters, few words, and numbers; depends on visuals	Writes numbers and letters, known words and phrases with mistakes	Know a few simple phrases and words with repetition and gestures
Stage 2	Short words, requires assistance, slow speech	Discovers keywords requires visuals and a dictionary	Communicates basic information, restricted vocabulary	Know simple words and phrases with visual hints
Stage 3	Fundamental sentences concerning needs; visual prompts	Know short texts on familiar subjects; requires visuals	Simple sentences concerning personal experiences, often mistakes	Knows keywords and short sentences, requires repetition and visuals
Stage 4	Communicates fundamental information; battles with grammar	Knows short texts, makes use of dictionary and visuals	Simple, short texts on familiar topics; basic grammar	Knows simple communication assistance by visuals and contextual hints
Stage 5	Retains small crew discussions; daily vocabulary	Knows predictable texts, requires a periodic dictionary	Easy to moderately difficult texts on familiar subjects	Knows moderately difficult communication; transparent on familiar subjects
Stage 6	Interacts in formal texts, some fluency	Knows moderately difficult texts, requires some visuals	Proper paragraphs with some mistakes, generating formality	Knows moderately difficult conversation; clearer speech
Stage 7	Adjust styles to the audience, assured in routine conditions	Knows primary ideas implied definitions in texts	Develop coherent paragraphs with major ideas and assistance	Knows difficult conversations, battles with fast speech
Stage 8	Fluent in unfamiliar teams, minor grammar conditions	Recognizes mood, merges information from texts	Clear, moderately difficult texts on different subjects	Knows difficult communication, retains longer discussions
Stage 9	Assured in difficult and abstract subjects; smooth control	Knows developed texts; translates nuances	Writes prose on abstract subjects, a good range of language	Knows explicit interaction, some complexity with nuances
Stage 10	Fluent in requesting contexts, different vocabulary	Translates author’s intent mood in difficult texts	Build difficult texts for different intentions, minor mistakes	Knows explicit communication, makes use of difficult grammar
Stage 11	Interacts in difficult, non-routine conditions	Knows thick, difficult texts, translates subtleties	Composes difficult texts, synthesizes comprehensive information	Knows explicit communication on abstract and technical subjects
Stage 12	Outstanding control; provides difficult topics	Knows unfamiliar, difficult texts; translates idioms	Compose polished texts suitable for publication	Profound knowledge translates all language nuances

CLB To CEFR Level

The Canadian Language Benchmark evaluates the English skills of Canadian settlers. In contrast, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is a foreign standard for explaining language capacity. Conversion between CLB and CEFR levels helps people know how their language proficiencies match across various evaluation systems.

CLB Level	CEFR Level
–	A1 (starter)
4	A2 (Elementary)
5	B1 (Intermediate)
6-7	B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
8-9	C1 (Advanced)
10-12	C2 (Proficiency)