Free tool
PTE Core to CLB Converter
Set your four PTE Core scores to see the Canadian Language Benchmark level for each skill.
CLB 8
CLB 8
CLB 8
CLB 8
Effective benchmark
8
CRS language points are awarded per skill, so your lowest skill is what limits the profile in practice.
PTE Core to CLB table
| CLB level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 10 | 89 | 88 | 90 | 89 |
| CLB 9 | 82 | 78 | 88 | 84 |
| CLB 8 | 71 | 69 | 79 | 76 |
| CLB 7 | 60 | 60 | 69 | 68 |
| CLB 6 | 50 | 51 | 60 | 59 |
| CLB 5 | 39 | 42 | 51 | 51 |
| CLB 4 | 28 | 33 | 41 | 42 |
PTE Core is the test accepted for Canadian economic immigration; PTE Academic is not. Always confirm the current equivalency chart with IRCC.
Sit PTE Core, not PTE Academic
This is the single most costly mistake in this area. For Express Entry and the other economic immigration streams, the accepted Pearson test is PTE Core. PTE Academic is not accepted for those programmes, no matter how strong the result. The two tests share a name and a score scale but differ in task types and content, and Academic is the test used for university admission and study permits. People book the wrong one regularly, because the Academic test is more widely discussed and more widely available, and the error is only discovered when the profile is submitted. Confirm which test your specific programme requires on the official guidance before you book, and check again if you are applying under more than one stream, since requirements are set per programme.
Your weakest skill sets the outcome
Language points are awarded per skill, against the benchmark reached in each one, so your profile is shaped by all four results rather than by an average. In practice the lowest skill is what limits you, and the reference figure most often quoted for a candidate is the benchmark all four skills clear. That changes how you should prioritise preparation. Raising an already strong skill adds nothing if the weak one stays where it is, whereas lifting the weakest skill past its next benchmark can move the profile meaningfully. The point increments between benchmarks are not evenly spaced either, so it is worth checking what your specific next step is actually worth before deciding where to spend your remaining study time.
Treat this as a planning tool
The conversion here follows Pearson's published equivalency table for PTE Core. The operative authority is the immigration department's own equivalency chart, and if the two ever diverge, the department's chart governs your application. Check the current official chart before you rely on a benchmark, particularly if you are close to a boundary where a single point decides which level you are credited with. Bear in mind too that language results have a validity period and that programme requirements change independently of the conversion table, so a benchmark calculated some time ago may no longer describe your position. Use this to work out what to target and how far you have to go; use the official chart to confirm what you have actually achieved.
Frequently asked questions
Related pages
- PTE Core Score for Express EntryThe PTE Core scores Express Entry requires, mapped to Canadian Language Benchmark levels per skill and to your CRS language points.
- PTE to IELTS ConverterConvert any PTE Academic score to its IELTS band using Pearson's published concordance. Includes the full conversion table and CEFR levels.
- PTE Core vs PTE AcademicThe difference between PTE Core and PTE Academic, which visas and institutions accept each, and how to choose the right one for your goal.