PTE Core Score Chart: CLB Conversion
Updated October 30, 2026
PTE Core gives you a score from 10 to 90 in each of Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. IRCC doesn’t use those numbers directly: it converts each one to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level, and every program sets a minimum CLB for each skill. Here is Pearson’s official conversion table, what IRCC asks for, and how to read your own scores.
The PTE Core to CLB table
| CLB | Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 89 to 90 | 88 to 90 | 89 to 90 | 90 |
| 9 | 82 to 88 | 78 to 87 | 84 to 88 | 88 to 89 |
| 8 | 71 to 81 | 69 to 77 | 76 to 83 | 79 to 87 |
| 7 | 60 to 70 | 60 to 68 | 68 to 75 | 69 to 78 |
| 6 | 50 to 59 | 51 to 59 | 59 to 67 | 60 to 68 |
| 5 | 39 to 49 | 42 to 50 | 51 to 58 | 51 to 59 |
| 4 | 28 to 38 | 33 to 41 | 42 to 50 | 41 to 50 |
| 3 | 18 to 27 | 24 to 32 | 34 to 41 | 32 to 40 |
Source: Pearson’s PTE Core to CLB Conversion Table (2024), repeated in the PTE Core Score Guide (January 2026) and on IRCC’s language testing page.
How to read it
- Each skill has its own column. The same number means different things in different skills. A 69 is CLB 8 in Reading but only CLB 7 in Writing, and CLB 6 in Speaking.
- Speaking and Writing need higher numbers. CLB 7 starts at 60 in Listening and Reading, but at 68 in Speaking and 69 in Writing. CLB 9 starts at 82, 78, 84 and 88.
- CLB 10 in Writing needs a perfect 90.
- The overall score doesn’t count for IRCC’s minimums. IRCC checks each skill separately, and Pearson’s overall score is not an average of the four anyway.
- IRCC lists the skills in a different order. Its table shows Speaking, Listening, Reading, Writing, and writes CLB 10 as “89+ / 89+ / 88+ / 90+”. Check the column headings before you compare.
Scores IRCC programs need
| Purpose | Minimum | PTE Core scores |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker | CLB 7 in all four skills | Listening 60, Reading 60, Speaking 68, Writing 69 |
| Canadian Experience Class, TEER 0 or 1 job | CLB 7 in all four skills | Listening 60, Reading 60, Speaking 68, Writing 69 |
| Canadian Experience Class, TEER 2 or 3 job | CLB 5 in all four skills | Listening 39, Reading 42, Speaking 51, Writing 51 |
| Citizenship, ages 18 to 54 | CLB 4 in speaking and listening | Listening 28, Speaking 42 |
Federal Skilled Trades needs CLB 5 in speaking and listening and CLB 4 in reading and writing. Higher CLB levels earn more points in Express Entry, so many people aim above the minimum. Requirements can change; confirm them on canada.ca.
Why there is no raw-score chart
Some tests publish how many correct answers match each level. PTE Core doesn’t. Pearson publishes no table that turns points or correct answers into a 10 to 90 score, for three reasons that come from how the test is built:
- Partial credit. Most items give points per correct blank, word or pair of paragraphs, and speaking answers are scored on several traits at once.
- Minus marking. Multiple-answer and Highlight Incorrect Words items take a point off for each wrong choice, never below zero.
- Shared items. Many items count toward two skills. Repeat Sentence feeds both Listening and Speaking, so one weak area can pull down two scores.
So be wary of any chart that claims “X correct answers equals CLB 7”. It can’t come from Pearson.
How our practice is marked
Our practice questions are original and independent, not official Pearson material. We score them in points the way Pearson’s Score Guide describes, with partial credit and minus marking. Our pass mark for each Reading and Listening item type is about 65% of the available points, which is our own estimate of CLB 7 (Listening 60, Reading 60). Treat it as a guide to where you stand, not a prediction of your PTE Core score.
Test yourself
-
What is the lowest PTE Core Writing score that counts as CLB 7?Answer: CThe Writing column puts CLB 7 at 69 to 78. Sixty is the CLB 7 minimum for Listening and Reading, 68 is the Speaking minimum, and 79 is where Writing CLB 8 begins.
-
A citizenship applicant aged 35 needs CLB 4 in speaking and listening. Which PTE Core scores meet that minimum?Answer: ACLB 4 starts at 28 in Listening and at 42 in Speaking. The other pairs either swap the skills or are the CLB 5 and CLB 7 minimums.
-
An Express Entry applicant has Listening 75, Reading 72, Speaking 66 and Writing 80. Do they meet the Federal Skilled Worker minimum of CLB 7 in all four skills?Answer: DSpeaking CLB 7 starts at 68, so 66 falls in the CLB 6 band. IRCC checks every skill on its own, so the higher scores can't make up for it.
-
Why can no chart reliably say how many correct answers equal a given PTE Core score?Answer: BPoints come from partial credit and trait scores, some items take points off for wrong choices, and many items feed two skills. Pearson publishes no table that converts points into scores.
For the whole format, read the PTE Core test guide, or try the Reading practice and Listening practice.
Get the PTE Core score your PR application needs
- All 132 questions across every PTE Core task type, with real audio
- Every Speaking and Writing task, timed like the real test, with model answers
- Estimated scores for your Speaking and Writing, trait by trait