Possibly, but nothing has changed yet. In April 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) proposed merging three Express Entry programs into one Federal High Skilled program, with a single minimum of CLB 6 in all four language skills. In IELTS General Training, CLB 6 means Listening 5.5, Reading 5.0, Writing 5.5 and Speaking 5.5. IRCC's final report on the consultation, published in October 2026, shows mixed feedback, and IRCC hasn't set a date.
Until a change is made, the Express Entry IELTS requirement stays as it is: CLB 7 (6.0 in each skill) for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, and lower levels for some Canadian Experience Class jobs and for skilled trades. This guide explains what IRCC has proposed, what CLB 6 means in IELTS bands, who would gain or lose, and what score to aim for now. It is based on IRCC pages we checked on 6 November 2026.
What is IRCC proposing for Express Entry?
On 23 April 2026, IRCC published a discussion paper on Express Entry reforms. It is exploring "merging the existing three federal programs into a single Federal High Skilled program". The three programs are the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
The proposed minimum entry criteria for the new program are:
- Language: CLB/NCLC 6 in all four abilities (reading, writing, listening and speaking)
- Education: Canadian high school or equivalent
- Work experience: one year of skilled work (TEER 0 to 3), in Canada or abroad
IRCC says CLB 6 "falls within the mid-range" of the current program minimums. Its data shows that Express Entry immigrants at CLB 6 earn 8% more than those at CLB 4 or 5, and that bigger earnings gains come at CLB 7 and above. IRCC is also considering keeping the current CRS points for English and French, and removing the 67-point grid that Federal Skilled Worker applicants must pass today.
Two other ideas in the paper affect language:
- French bonus points may be removed or changed, because IRCC now selects French speakers through category-based draws.
- Some regulated jobs may not need a separate language test, if the candidate already passed a language assessment as part of Canadian licensing.
What did IRCC's October 2026 report say?
IRCC published its final report on the consultation in October 2026 (the page is dated 15 October). The public survey ran from 23 April to 24 May 2026.
On the CLB 6 minimum, feedback was split. Some respondents said CLB 6 was too high, and others said it was too low for a high-skilled program. One immigration professional called it a middle ground between today's CLB 7 for Federal Skilled Workers and the CLB 4 to 5 minimums of the other programs.
The survey also asked which CRS factors should get more points:
| Factor | More points | Fewer points | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong language skills | 64.7% | 10.0% | 5.1% |
| French language skills | 28.6% | 40.0% | 32.0% |
IRCC notes that the survey results don't represent all Canadians or all respondents. Still, there was clear support for rewarding strong English, and much less support for French bonus points.
The report sets no date. IRCC says it will use the feedback in future changes to the regulations and the Ministerial Instructions, and that any proposed changes to the regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, first.
Did the November 2026 changes affect language points?
No. On 16 October 2026, IRCC announced changes that started on 3 November 2026. They add CRS points for at least 12 months of Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation (20, 40 or 70 points) or for a job offer in one (50, 70 or 100 points), but not both. A qualifying job offer no longer needs an LMIA. Invitation rounds are paused for up to two weeks while scores are recalculated.
The language points in the CRS are the same as before. The CLB 6 minimum belongs to the larger reform, which hasn't happened yet.
What IELTS score is CLB 6?
CLB 6 in IELTS General Training is Listening 5.5, Reading 5.0, Writing 5.5 and Speaking 5.5. Here is the full table from IRCC's Express Entry language test page:
| CLB level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 10 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| CLB 9 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| CLB 8 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| CLB 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| CLB 6 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| CLB 5 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| CLB 4 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
Some guides round CLB 6 to "IELTS 5.5 in each skill". That is wrong for Reading, where CLB 6 only needs 5.0. In correct answers, Reading 5.0 in General Training is about 23 to 26 out of 40, and Listening 5.5 is about 18 to 22 out of 40.
Who would gain and who would lose?
The proposal would replace three different minimums with one. Here is how the IELTS General Training scores would change for each program:
| Program | Minimum today | IELTS today (L / R / W / S) | Under CLB 6 (L / R / W / S) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker | CLB 7 | 6.0 / 6.0 / 6.0 / 6.0 | 5.5 / 5.0 / 5.5 / 5.5 | Lower |
| Canadian Experience Class, TEER 0 or 1 | CLB 7 | 6.0 / 6.0 / 6.0 / 6.0 | 5.5 / 5.0 / 5.5 / 5.5 | Lower |
| Canadian Experience Class, TEER 2 or 3 | CLB 5 | 5.0 / 4.0 / 5.0 / 5.0 | 5.5 / 5.0 / 5.5 / 5.5 | Higher |
| Federal Skilled Trades | CLB 5 (speaking, listening), CLB 4 (reading, writing) | 5.0 / 3.5 / 4.0 / 5.0 | 5.5 / 5.0 / 5.5 / 5.5 | Higher |
Skilled trades workers would feel the biggest change. Their Reading would need to rise from 3.5 to 5.0 and their Writing from 4.0 to 5.5. Both are 1.5-band jumps, and Writing is usually the slowest skill to improve.
IRCC hasn't said whether people already in the pool would keep the old minimums. If you are in trades or a TEER 2 or 3 job with CLB 5 scores, it is safer to start working towards CLB 6 now, especially in IELTS Writing.
Will a lower minimum make it easier to get PR?
Not much. The minimum only lets you enter the Express Entry pool. Invitations go to the candidates with the highest CRS scores, and IRCC itself says the vast majority of eligible candidates already have at least CLB 6.
Language is one of the biggest parts of the CRS. These are the points per skill for your first official language, from IRCC's CRS criteria page:
| CLB level (each skill) | Points per skill, single | Points per skill, with spouse |
|---|---|---|
| CLB 4 or 5 | 6 | 6 |
| CLB 6 | 9 | 8 |
| CLB 7 | 17 | 16 |
| CLB 8 | 23 | 22 |
| CLB 9 | 31 | 29 |
| CLB 10 or more | 34 | 32 |
Language also unlocks "skill transferability" points. You only get them with CLB 7 or higher in all four skills, and they double at CLB 9.
Here is an example. Take a single candidate with a master's degree and three years of work experience outside Canada, and no Canadian work experience:
| Level in all four skills | Language points | Transferability points from language | Total from language |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 6 | 36 | 0 | 36 |
| CLB 7 | 68 | 50 | 118 |
| CLB 9 | 124 | 100 | 224 |
Moving from CLB 7 to CLB 9 adds 106 points for this candidate. That is more than the 100 points for the best high-wage job offer. At CLB 6, the same candidate would get 82 fewer points than at CLB 7. So a lower minimum may let more people into the pool, but it won't help them get invited.
What IELTS score should you aim for now?
Plan with today's rules, and treat CLB 6 as a floor, not a target.
- Meet your program's current minimum. For the Federal Skilled Worker Program, that is 6.0 in each skill. Don't wait for a rule that may never come.
- Aim for CLB 9. That is Listening 8.0, Reading 7.0, Writing 7.0 and Speaking 7.0. Listening is often the hardest jump, because 8.0 needs about 35 correct answers out of 40.
- Take the right test. IRCC accepts IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General and PTE Core for English. It doesn't accept IELTS Academic or IELTS One Skill Retake.
- Watch the two-year limit. Your result must be less than 2 years old when you create your profile and again when you submit your PR application.
- Keep an eye on IRCC. Any change to the minimums has to appear in the Canada Gazette, Part I, before it can take effect.
How to prepare for IELTS General Training for Express Entry
Because IRCC looks at each skill on its own, your lowest skill sets your CLB level. Build your plan around it.
- Start with a full timed test. Score each skill, convert it to a CLB level with the table above, and find the skill that holds you back.
- Reading: IELTS Reading in General Training has 40 questions in 60 minutes, and it needs more correct answers than Academic for the same band. For Reading 7.0 (CLB 9), you need about 34 out of 40.
- Writing: Task 1 is a letter of at least 150 words and Task 2 is an essay of at least 250 words, in 60 minutes. Each task is marked on Task Achievement or Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Find your lowest criterion and fix that first.
- Listening: IELTS Listening has four parts and 40 questions, and you hear each recording once. Spelling counts, so practise form and note completion carefully.
- Speaking: IELTS Speaking is an 11 to 14 minute interview in three parts. To reach 7.0, you need to speak at length without long pauses and use some less common words correctly.
PrepAsk's IELTS practice tests include General Training Reading tests scored with the General Training band table, and General Training Writing tests with letters. Writing and Speaking practice gives a band score for each criterion with feedback, so you can see which skill and which criterion is keeping you below your target CLB.
The bottom line
Express Entry's IELTS requirement hasn't changed yet. IRCC has proposed one Federal High Skilled program with a CLB 6 minimum, which is Listening 5.5, Reading 5.0, Writing 5.5 and Speaking 5.5 in IELTS General Training. Its October 2026 report showed mixed views and gave no date. If it goes ahead, the minimum would fall for Federal Skilled Workers and rise for skilled trades and some Canadian Experience Class jobs.
Whatever happens to the minimum, your CRS score decides whether you get an invitation, and language is the part of it you can improve fastest. Aim for CLB 9 in every skill. Start with a free IELTS mock test to find your lowest skill, then focus your practice there.
