If you have been searching about English proficiency tests on the web, you certainly have seen the word CLB or Canadian Language Benchmarks.
You are surely familiar with IELTS, CELPIP, and other English language exams available in the market to test your language proficiency. But, on the other hand, CLB is Canada’s standard English language descriptive scale to convert your language proficiency scores to CLB levels.
Most immigration programs in Canada require you to prove your language proficiency in English and French, which are the country’s two official languages. In that case, you need to achieve language proficiency scores that will pass their required CLB levels.
This article will discuss the CLB and its differences between CELPIP, IELTS, and CEFR levels. Read on to learn more about the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB).
What is CLB?
In Canada, they are using the CLB scale to prove your English language proficiency. The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) is the national standard English language proficiency scale used in Canada.
It is a highly reliable, fair, and practical descriptive tool for English language proficiency widely utilized throughout the country and other parts of the world. It helps provide descriptive information about an individual’s English language ability, especially for educational, community, training, and workplace purposes.
The CLB was first published in 1996, and the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB) currently manages it. They are the center of expertise in national English and French language standards for adult immigrants and those seeking work opportunities in Canada.
They have two versions of the CLB:
- the English version (Canadian Language Benchmarks – CLB) and
- the French version (Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadiens – NCLC).
The CLB standard has a 12-point proficiency scale mainly used to assess, describe, and measure one’s proficiency in all English skills such as reading, listening, speaking, and writing. It also reflects one’s abilities and the progression of English language knowledge among the skills.
Common Misconceptions about CLB:
1. The CLB is NOT an Assessment Tool
The CLB only provides a description regarding the individual’s English language abilities and communicative competencies where it reflects on the individual’s performance and tasks in daily activities, in the workplace, and a community setup. And on how one demonstrates the English language accordingly.
The CLB also does not provide an assessment of the individual’s language skills, such as grammar structures, vocabulary knowledge, pronunciation, and other English language elements.
1. The CLB is NOT a Curriculum
The CLB is not a standard curriculum for the English language. However, some usually get confused about the CLB levels, which they think is the standard curriculum for the language.
Take note that the CLB is not, in any case, a curriculum for you to be dependent on. Instead, the CLB only provides a shared professional and theoretical view of an individual’s language ability. It also helps the educational institutions in articulating the English language programs that will benefit ESL learners.
And also, the CLB provides a familiar and standardized framework for measuring the communicative ability of individuals when it comes to the English language. It ensures a common basis in creating English programs, curricula, and assessment tools across the country.
Differences between CLB and CELPIP and IELTS
The CLB’s significant difference between IELTS and CELPIP is that it gives a descriptive language benchmark for English language proficiency.
CELPIP and CLB are the same in that they are both standardized tools officially used in Canada. However, note that CELPIP is an English language proficiency test while CLB is a benchmark for the test scores and provides a comprehensive description of an individual’s English ability.
It is solely based on an individual’s English ability and performances on actual tasks and everyday activities in different settings such as in the community, in the workplace, and in an educational environment.
And also, the CLB does not focus on assessments of an individual’s knowledge about grammar, pronunciation, proper usage of words, and more. On the other hand, the IELTS focuses and assesses these areas of the English language, including proper intonation, use of words in a sentence, pronunciation, and eloquence.
Check out the details below for a comprehensive look at the differences between CLB, IELTS, and CELPIP.
CELPIP, known as the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program, is one of Canada’s approved English language proficiency tests. This test is used for Canadian immigration and is only available in four countries worldwide in Canada, the United States, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates.
The CELPIP scoring for each English skill is given a score ranging from 0 to 12 and an increment of 1 point. And the CLB level ranges from 0 to 12, and every level belongs to the three different CLB stages, which gives a comprehensive description of the English language ability.
Below is a table showing the CELPIP levels and their corresponding CLB levels.
CELPIP Level | CLB Level | CELPIP Level Description |
---|---|---|
12 | 12 | The individual has advanced proficiency in the English language when it comes to workplace and community settings. |
11 | 11 | The individual has advanced proficiency in the English language when it comes to workplace and community settings. |
10 | 10 | One establishes a highly effective proficiency of the English language commonly used in the workplace and community setup. |
9 | 9 | One shows an effective English language proficiency that is used every day in the workplace and community environment. |
8 | 8 | The individual shows a good level of English proficiency fitted in the workplace and community setting. |
7 | 7 | There is an adequate English language proficiency that corresponds to the workplace and community contexts for this level. |
6 | 6 | The individual still has a developing English language proficiency and understanding of the commonly used context in a workplace and community setting. |
5 | 5 | The individual is still acquiring knowledge and skills in English proficiency to understand the contexts used in a workplace and community setup. |
4 | 4 | One has an adequate level of proficiency suited for daily life activities. |
3 | 3 | One shows a little proficiency in some limited contexts. |
M | 0, 1, 2 | One has only minimal proficiency or no proficiency at all. Therefore, information is hard to assess on this level. |
One of the most commonly used English language proficiency tests for Canadian immigration is the IELTS which stands for International English Language Testing System. The IELTS is available and accessible in various countries worldwide. It comprises four tests that focus on each English language skill: writing, listening, reading, and speaking.
Below is the CLB and IELTS Score Comparison.
The IELTS scores in every four skills are given a range of 0 to nine points. On the other hand, the CLB levels range from 0 to 12.
CLB Level | IELTS Listening Score Level | IELTS Reading Score Level | IELTS Writing Score Level | IELTS Speaking Score Level |
---|---|---|---|---|
CLB 12 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
CLB 11 | 9 | 8.5 | 8 | 8 |
CLB 10 | 8.5 | 8 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
CLB 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
CLB 8 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
CLB 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
CLB 6 | 5.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
CLB 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
CLB 4 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4 | 4 |
CLB 3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 |
CLB 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 |
CLB 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Here is the IELTS scoring level description.
It shows the IELTS band scoring corresponding to its appropriate level and the description for each.
IELTS Band Score | Skill Level | Description |
---|---|---|
9 | Expert User | The test taker has fully operational command of the English language. The use of the English language is appropriate, accurate, and fluent and shows complete understanding. |
8 | Very Good User | The test taker has fully operational command of the English language, with occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriate usage. May understand some things in unfamiliar situations. Can handle complex and detailed argumentation well. |
7 | Good User | The test taker has operational command of the English language, with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriate usage, and misunderstanding in some situations. Generally, can handle complex language well and understand detailed reasoning. |
6 | Competent User | With an adequate command of the English language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage, and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations. |
5 | Modest User | Has partial command of the English language and copes with overall meaning in most situations, although they are likely to make many errors. Able to handle basic communication in their field. |
4 | Limited User | The English language competence is only limited to familiar situations. Frequently shows problems in understanding and expression. Are not able to use complex language. |
3 | Extremely Limited User | Conveys and understands the only general meaning in very familiar situations, with frequent breakdowns in communication. |
2 | Intermittent User | Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English. |
1 | Non-user | Has no ability to use the language except very few isolated words. |
0 | Did not attempt the test | Did not answer the test questions. |
Differences between CLB and CEFR
The CEFR or known as the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It is an internationally acknowledged standardized framework for describing the individual’s English language ability.
The CEFR level contains a six-point scale that describes the C2 proficiency level as the highest mastery of the English language and A2 for the beginner level. In contrast, the CLB level uses 0 to 12 levels of English proficiency.
CLB Level | CEFR Level |
---|---|
12 | C2 Proficiency Level |
11 | C2 Proficiency Level |
10 | C2 Proficiency Level |
9 | C1 Advanced Level |
8 | C1 Advanced Level |
7 | B2 Upper – Intermediate Level |
6 | B2 Upper – Intermediate Level |
5 | B1 – Intermediate Level |
4 | A2 – Elementary Level |
3 to 0 | A1 – Beginner Level |
What are CLB levels?
There are 12 levels of ability in the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). It is mainly used in Canada to measure an individual’s knowledge of the four English skills: writing, reading, speaking and listening.
Every skill in the English language will receive a different CLB level when grading, and it will give you a clear understanding of your ability in that specific English skill.
The Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) has three stages.
CLB Stage | Language Ability | Benchmark Points |
---|---|---|
Stage 1 | Basic Language Ability | 1 to 4 |
Stage 2 | Intermediate Language Ability | 5 to 8 |
Stage 3 | Advanced Language Ability | 9 to 12 |
In each CLB stage, there are four levels that assess one’s English language skills.
Stage 1 – Basic | Stage 2 – Intermediate | Stage 3 – Advanced |
---|---|---|
CLB 1 | CLB 5 | CLB 9 |
CLB 2 | CLB 6 | CLB 10 |
CLB 3 | CLB 7 | CLB 11 |
CLB 4 | CLB 8 | CLB 12 |
The four skills, including listening, reading, speaking, and writing, are all measured based on the different 12 levels of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB).
CLB Scale Stage I – Basic Language Ability
Listening Skills | Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 |
Speaking Skills | Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 |
Reading Skills | Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 |
Writing Skills | Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 |
CLB Scale Stage 2 – Intermediate Language Ability
Listening Skills | Level 5 Level 6 Level 7 Level 8 |
Speaking Skills | Level 5 Level 6 Level 7 Level 8 |
Reading Skills | Level 5 Level 6 Level 7 Level 8 |
Writing Skills | Level 5 Level 6 Level 7 Level 8 |
CLB Scale Stage 3 – Advanced Language Ability
Listening Skills | Level 9 Level 10 Level 11 Level 12 |
Speaking Skills | Level 9 Level 10 Level 11 Level 12 |
Reading Skills | Level 9 Level 10 Level 11 Level 12 |
Writing Skills | Level 9 Level 10 Level 11 Level 12 |
CLB Levels and CLB Stages Explained
Here in this section, let’s expand further on each of the levels within each stage of the CLB.
CLB Scale Stage I – Basic Language Ability
CLB Scale Stage 1 — Listening Skills
Level 1 | |
Level 2 | |
Level 3 | |
Level 4 |
CLB Scale Stage 1 — Speaking Skills
Level 1 | |
Level 2 | |
Level 3 | |
Level 4 |
CLB Scale Stage 1 — Reading Skills
Level 1 | |
Level 2 | |
Level 3 | |
Level 4 |
CLB Scale Stage 1 — Writing Skills
Level 1 | |
Level 2 | |
Level 3 | |
Level 4 |
CLB Scale Stage 2 – Intermediate Language Ability
CLB Scale Stage 2 — Listening Skills
Level 5 | |
Level 6 | |
Level 7 | |
Level 8 |
CLB Scale Stage 2 — Speaking Skills
Level 5 | |
Level 6 | |
Level 7 | |
Level 8 |
CLB Scale Stage 2 — Reading Skills
Level 5 | |
Level 6 | |
Level 7 | |
Level 8 |
CLB Scale Stage 2 — Writing Skills
Level 5 | |
Level 6 | |
Level 7 | |
Level 8 |
CLB Scale Stage III – Advanced Language Ability
CLB Scale Stage 3 — Listening Skills
Level 9 | |
Level 10 | |
Level 11 | |
Level 12 |
CLB Scale Stage 3 — Speaking Skills
Level 9 | |
Level 10 | |
Level 11 | |
Level 12 |
CLB Scale Stage 3 — Reading Skills
Level 9 | |
Level 10 | |
Level 11 | |
Level 12 |
CLB Scale Stage 3 — Writing Skills
Level 9 | |
Level 10 | |
Level 11 | |
Level 12 |
Final Thoughts
It’s very common for someone to confuse CLB with an English exam such as IELTS or CELPIP. We hope this article has provided you with some clarity on what CLB is and how it’s different from other tests. If you are applying for Canadian Immigration or seeking higher education in Canada, you will come across CLB.
As long as you write and score well in CELPIP or IELTS, you should be able to proceed. CLB is nothing but a benchmark to compare your test scores against.
Did we miss anything in this guide about the Canadian Language Benchmarks? Let us know in the comments below.