Understanding IELTS magic number 7778 : How it affects your CRS score and boosts your PR chances."
- Dr Robin
- Apr 1
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 1
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is pivotal in Canada's Express Entry immigration process, with language proficiency being a significant component. Your performance on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) directly influences your CRS score through the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) equivalency.
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Understanding CLB Levels and IELTS Scores:
The CLB serves as the national standard for assessing language proficiency in Canada. Each CLB level corresponds to specific IELTS scores across the four language abilities: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Below is a conversion table illustrating this relationship:
CLB Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
10 | 8.5-9.0 | 8.0-9.0 | 7.5-9.0 | 7.5-9.0 |
9 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
8 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
The CRS awards points based on CLB levels as follows:
CLB 7: 68 points (without spouse), 64 points (with spouse)
CLB 8: 92 points (without spouse), 88 points (with spouse)
CLB 9: 124 points (without spouse), 116 points (with spouse)
CLB 10 or more: 136 points (without spouse), 128 points (with spouse)
How Your IELTS Score Can Make or Break Your CRS Points?
If you're aiming for Canadian PR through Express Entry, you already know that every single point counts! But did you know that just half a band in one section of your IELTS test could drop your CRS score by up to 32 points?
Let’s break it down with some real-life scenarios so you can see exactly how your IELTS scores impact your CRS points.
Scenario 1: The Ideal Score for CLB 9
Imagine you take the IELTS and get these scores:
✅ Listening: 8.0 ✅ Reading: 7.0 ✅ Writing: 7.0 ✅ Speaking: 7.0
Boom! 🎉 You’ve hit CLB 9 in all sections—that’s a game-changer for your CRS points.
💡 What this means for you:
With a spouse: 116 CRS points
Without a spouse: 124 CRS points
This is the sweet spot because hitting CLB 9 in all four sections gives you maximum skill transferability points.
Scenario 2: The Costly Mistake (CLB 8)
Now, let’s say you’re feeling confident, but your Writing score drops just a little:
✅ Listening: 8.0
✅ Reading: 7.0
❌ Writing: 6.5 (CLB 8 )
✅ Speaking: 7.0
This means you now fall to CLB 8 overall!
What this means for your CRS:
With a spouse: ⬇ 88 points (down from 116)
Without a spouse: ⬇ 92 points (down from 124)
📉 That’s a loss of 28-32 points! Imagine how painful it would be to miss your invitation because of a tiny drop in Writing!
Don’t let a small mistake cost you your dream! Access a FREE lesson today at https://www.atomicielts.net/ielts