Points per band, skill by skill
First-language points for one skill. Your four skills add up: a single applicant can earn up to 136, an applicant with a spouse up to 128. Each cell shows CLB · single / with spouse.
| Band | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | CLB 10 · 34 / 32 | CLB 10 · 34 / 32 | CLB 10 · 34 / 32 | CLB 10 · 34 / 32 |
| 8.5 | CLB 10 · 34 / 32 | CLB 10 · 34 / 32 | CLB 10 · 34 / 32 | CLB 10 · 34 / 32 |
| 8.0 | CLB 9 · 31 / 29 | CLB 10 · 34 / 32 | CLB 10 · 34 / 32 | CLB 10 · 34 / 32 |
| 7.5 | CLB 8 · 23 / 22 | CLB 9 · 31 / 29 | CLB 10 · 34 / 32 | CLB 10 · 34 / 32 |
| 7.0 | CLB 7 · 17 / 16 | CLB 9 · 31 / 29 | CLB 9 · 31 / 29 | CLB 9 · 31 / 29 |
| 6.5 | CLB 7 · 17 / 16 | CLB 8 · 23 / 22 | CLB 8 · 23 / 22 | CLB 8 · 23 / 22 |
| 6.0 | CLB 7 · 17 / 16 | CLB 7 · 17 / 16 | CLB 7 · 17 / 16 | CLB 7 · 17 / 16 |
| 5.5 | CLB 6 · 9 / 8 | CLB 6 · 9 / 8 | CLB 6 · 9 / 8 | CLB 6 · 9 / 8 |
| 5.0 | CLB 5 · 6 / 6 | CLB 6 · 9 / 8 | CLB 5 · 6 / 6 | CLB 5 · 6 / 6 |
| 4.5 | CLB 4 · 6 / 6 | CLB 5 · 6 / 6 | CLB 4 · 6 / 6 | CLB 4 · 6 / 6 |
| 4.0 | below CLB 4 · 0 | CLB 5 · 6 / 6 | CLB 4 · 6 / 6 | CLB 4 · 6 / 6 |
Not every step is worth the same
For a single applicant, moving one skill up one CLB level adds:
- CLB 6 → CLB 7: +8 points
- CLB 7 → CLB 8: +6 points
- CLB 8 → CLB 9: +8 points
- CLB 9 → CLB 10: +3 points
CLB 9 → 10 adds only 3 per skill. Past CLB 9, extra bands rarely pay for the time they take; below it, every step counts.
The table leaves out the biggest jump
The table above shows language points only. The second source of points, skill transferability, depends on whether all four skills are at CLB 9. Here is the effect for one learner (single, 30, bachelor's degree, three years of foreign work) with Listening 8.0, Reading 7.0 and Speaking 7.0, as Writing improves:
| Writing | Language | Transferability | CRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 | 110 | 38 | 373 |
| 6.5 | 116 | 38 | 379 (+6) |
| 7.0 | 124 | 75 | 424 (+45) |
| 7.5 | 127 | 75 | 427 (+3) |
Writing 6.0 → 6.5 is worth 6 points. The next half band, 6.5 → 7.0, is worth 45, because it completes CLB 9 in all four skills. After that, 7.5 adds only 3.
Your profile changes the numbers
With a spouse, every language figure is a little lower. With a master's degree or two credentials, or with Canadian work experience, transferability pays more and CLB 9 is worth even more. Age and education do not change with study; your IELTS bands do. To see your own numbers, use the CRS calculator: it shows which half band adds the most for your profile.