Without a spouse or common-law partner, the CRS gives 31 points per ability at CLB 9 and 34 at CLB 10 or more; with one, 29 and 32. CLB stands for Canadian Language Benchmarks, CELPIP is the English test that Paragon Testing Enterprises organizes, and the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is the points system that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses to rank Express Entry profiles. Across four abilities that is 124 points at CLB 9 and 136 at CLB 10 or more without a spouse or common-law partner (116 and 128 with one), a gap of 12 points in both cases (IRCC’s CRS criteria page, read on November 4, 2026).
Why does the step from CLB 9 to CLB 10 matter in the CRS?
The CRS gives language points ability by ability, and IRCC’s table has one row for CLB 9 and a separate row for CLB 10 or more. A spouse or common-law partner changes the values in each row, not the size of the step: the gap is 3 points per ability with or without one. Language is one core factor among others: IRCC’s CRS criteria page lists age, level of education, official languages proficiency and a Labour Market Integration factor, which it marks as new from November 3, 2026.
Which CELPIP levels are CLB 9 and CLB 10 or more?
IRCC’s Federal Skilled Worker Program table pairs CLB 9 with CELPIP-General 9 and the level “10 and above” with CELPIP-General 10 and above (IRCC’s language test page), and celpip.ca’s scoring chart shows CELPIP 10, 11 and 12 as CLB 10, 11 and 12 (celpip.ca). The CRS puts CLB 10 and every level above it in one row, CLB 10 or more, so CELPIP 10, 11 and 12 are worth the same in the points table. CELPIP scores and CLB levels explains the full conversion.
How many points is each ability worth at CLB 9 and at CLB 10 or more?
For the first official language, the CRS awards points for each of the four abilities, Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, and IRCC’s table lists the values with a spouse or common-law partner first.
| CLB level (each ability) | Points per ability, with a spouse or common-law partner | Points per ability, without a spouse or common-law partner |
|---|---|---|
| CLB 10 or more | 32 | 34 |
| CLB 9 | 29 | 31 |
| CLB 8 | 22 | 23 |
| CLB 7 | 16 | 17 |
| Gap, CLB 10 or more minus CLB 9 | 3 | 3 |
Source: IRCC, CRS criteria, read November 4, 2026. The gap row is the difference between the CLB 10 or more row and the CLB 9 row.
Across four abilities, the same values add up as 4 × 31 = 124 at CLB 9 and 4 × 34 = 136 at CLB 10 or more without a spouse or common-law partner, and as 4 × 29 = 116 and 4 × 32 = 128 with one. IRCC lists 136 and 128 as the maximum for the first official language.
| Level in all four abilities | With a spouse or common-law partner | Without a spouse or common-law partner |
|---|---|---|
| CLB 10 or more | 128 | 136 |
| CLB 9 | 116 | 124 |
| Gap | 12 | 12 |
Source: IRCC, CRS criteria, read November 4, 2026.
A result does not have to be the same in all four abilities. Each ability that moves from CLB 9 to CLB 10 or more adds 3 points in the table, so two abilities add 6 points and four add 12. The step below it is larger: from CLB 8 to CLB 9 the table adds 7 points per ability with a spouse or common-law partner and 8 without, while the step from CLB 9 to CLB 10 or more adds 3 in both cases.
How can you practise for CLB 10 or more?
As of November 4, 2026, celpip.ca says every CELPIP account includes one set of 2 free practice tests. Express Prep (expressprep.ca), which offers preparation for the CELPIP test, has a test simulator that it created for its students and lists mock tests among the course materials in its terms. The CELPIP Office recommends additional studying before retaking the test (CELPIP’s policies page). Planning the weeks before a test is covered in how long preparation takes, and what to change before a retake covers the weeks between a result and a new test.
Where does the difference stop?
The skill transferability factor has its own language tiers. In the combinations with education and with foreign work experience, IRCC lists up to 25 points for CLB 7 or more on all first official language abilities with one or more under CLB 9, and up to 50 points for CLB 9 or more on all four abilities. The top tier is stated as CLB 9 or more, so the step from CLB 9 to CLB 10 or more does not change that tier as IRCC lists it.
Language counts twice in the CRS: up to 136 core points (128 with a spouse) for your first official language, and again in skill transferability combinations with education or foreign work experience (100 max for all combinations). Unlike age, you can retake the test. Values as of November 4, 2026 (IRCC’s CRS criteria page). The language minimum for each program is separate, and what CELPIP score Express Entry programs ask for lists it.
FAQ
Do CRS language points depend on which approved test I take?
No. The CRS table awards points by CLB level, and IRCC converts each approved test to CLB levels with its own table. IRCC’s language test page lists CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core as approved for Express Entry, so the same CLB level is worth the same points whichever test produced it.
What does the CRS give below CLB 7?
For the first official language, IRCC lists 0 points below CLB 4 and 6 points per ability at CLB 4 or 5. At CLB 6 it lists 8 points per ability with a spouse or common-law partner and 9 without one (IRCC). From CLB 7 up, the values are the ones in the tables above.
Can the CRS language points change?
IRCC can change the CRS, and it did on November 3, 2026: the criteria page says IRCC changed how points are awarded for Canadian work experience and valid job offers. The language rows above are the ones printed on that page when it was read on November 4, 2026, so IRCC’s page is the source to check before relying on a number.
Do Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking all use the same points?
Yes. IRCC’s criteria page prints a single table of points by CLB level per ability, with the same maximum for each of the four abilities: 34 points without a spouse or common-law partner and 32 with one (IRCC). The four-ability totals above, such as 4 × 31 = 124, rest on that single table.
Does a higher level in one ability make up for a lower level in another?
The CRS awards points for each ability and adds them up, while each program sets its own minimum for all four abilities, such as CLB 7 for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (IRCC). The two are separate rules, and the points table does not change a program’s minimum.
The bottom line
- Without a spouse or common-law partner, the CRS gives 31 points per ability at CLB 9 and 34 at CLB 10 or more; with one, 29 and 32 (IRCC, as of November 4, 2026).
- Across four abilities the difference is 12 points in both cases: 124 and 136 without a spouse or common-law partner, 116 and 128 with one (IRCC).
- The step from CLB 8 to CLB 9 adds 7 points per ability with a spouse or common-law partner and 8 without; the step from CLB 9 to CLB 10 or more adds 3 in both cases (IRCC).
- In the skill transferability combinations, IRCC lists the top language tier as CLB 9 or more on all four abilities, so CLB 10 or more is in the same tier (IRCC).
- The CRS points and the program minimums are separate rules, and IRCC’s CRS criteria page is the source to check before relying on any number here.
Express Prep offers preparation for the CELPIP test, including a 7-day trial of its simulator. The trial becomes a paid monthly subscription unless you cancel before day 7; current price and terms: Express Prep trial page.
General information, not immigration advice. For your case, talk to a licensed consultant (RCIC) on the CICC public register, or a lawyer, Quebec notary or licensed paralegal in your province.
Published by Express Prep, which offers preparation for the CELPIP test. Last updated November 4, 2026.