PTE Core score to CLB chart 2026: scores for CLB 4 to 10, Express Entry and citizenship

The Centre Block of Parliament Hill in Ottawa
Photo: Saffron Blaze, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) does not look at your PTE Core overall score. It turns each of your four skill scores into a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level, and a programme's minimum applies to every skill it names. So your weakest skill decides whether you meet it. Below is the chart, the scores for the CLB levels people most often need, and worked examples. The ranges come from Pearson's PTE Core Score Guide (January 2026) and match the tables on IRCC's Express Entry language test page, both read on 22 October 2026.

The PTE Core to CLB chart

CLB Listening Reading Speaking Writing
10 89–90 88–90 89–90 90
9 82–88 78–87 84–88 88–89
8 71–81 69–77 76–83 79–87
7 60–70 60–68 68–75 69–78
6 50–59 51–59 59–67 60–68
5 39–49 42–50 51–58 51–59
4 28–38 33–41 42–50 41–50
3 18–27 24–32 34–41 32–40

Pearson says the alignment is reviewed and can be updated, and IRCC's page is the one an application uses. Check it before you book if you are close to a boundary.

The minimum score for each level

To reach Listening Reading Speaking Writing
CLB 4 28 33 42 41
CLB 5 39 42 51 51
CLB 7 60 60 68 69
CLB 8 71 69 76 79
CLB 9 82 78 84 88
CLB 10 89 88 89 90

Three things stand out:

  • The same CLB needs different scores in each skill. For CLB 9 you need 78 in Reading but 88 in Writing.
  • Writing is the hardest skill at the top. CLB 9 in Writing is only two points wide (88–89), and CLB 10 needs a perfect 90.
  • Reading is the easiest skill to move up. It reaches CLB 7 at 60 and CLB 9 at 78, the lowest thresholds on the chart.

Worked examples

Candidate Listening Reading Speaking Writing CLB per skill Lowest
A 72 65 70 70 8, 7, 7, 7 CLB 7
B 85 80 86 84 9, 9, 9, 8 CLB 8
C 90 88 90 89 10, 10, 10, 9 CLB 9
D 45 38 55 50 5, 4, 5, 4 CLB 4

Candidate B has CLB 9 in three skills but Writing at 84 holds the result at CLB 8. Four more Writing points would make it CLB 9 in all four. Candidate C misses CLB 10 by one point, in Writing.

What you need for each purpose

  • Canadian citizenship. IRCC asks applicants aged 18 to 54 for CLB 4 or higher in speaking and listening: PTE Core Speaking 42 and Listening 28. Reading and writing are not required.
  • Express Entry and other economic programmes. Each programme sets its own minimum CLB per skill, and higher CLB levels earn more points. IRCC lists the levels on its programme pages; IRCC's Express Entry page says results must be less than two years old when you create your profile and when you apply.
  • Other uses. Any other organisation that accepts PTE Core sets its own requirement.

How to raise your weakest skill

PTE Core tasks often count towards two skills at once, so practising the right tasks moves two scores:

To raise Practise most Why
Writing Write Email, Summarize Written Text, Write from Dictation, Reading and Writing Fill in the Blanks Write from Dictation and Listening Fill in the Blanks are scored for listening and writing; the reading drop-downs count for writing too
Speaking Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Respond to a Situation Pronunciation and fluency are scored on most speaking tasks
Listening Repeat Sentence, Write from Dictation, Highlight Incorrect Words All count for listening as well as another skill
Reading Reading and Writing Fill in the Blanks, Reorder Paragraph Read Aloud also counts for reading

Our guides to PTE Core speaking and PTE Core writing go task by task. Then sit a full PTE Core mock test, which estimates all four skills, and find your lowest one.

How IRCC gets your score

IRCC does not accept a paper or PDF score report. You share it either by giving your Score Report Code on your application, or through "Share results" in your myPTE account. Booking, results timing and rescheduling are on our PTE Core test dates page.

Frequently asked questions

What PTE Core score is CLB 7?

Listening 60, Reading 60, Speaking 68 and Writing 69, at the least. You need the score in every skill the programme asks for.

What PTE Core score is CLB 9?

Listening 82, Reading 78, Speaking 84 and Writing 88.

What PTE Core score do I need for Canadian citizenship?

CLB 4 in speaking and listening: Speaking 42 and Listening 28, for applicants aged 18 to 54.

Does IRCC use the PTE Core overall score?

No. IRCC converts each skill separately into a CLB level. The overall score does not decide a CLB level.

How long is a PTE Core score valid for Express Entry?

Pearson says scores are valid for two years from the test date, and IRCC asks for results less than two years old when you create your Express Entry profile and when you apply.