French question: is CLB5 enough? (2nd language)

[KatiePeters]

Hi everyone,

I want to apply for Express Entry via the Federal Skilled Worker program. My IELTS results are CLB9, my French is almost at a CLB7 (B1 level).

It says on the CIC’s website that your first language (English for me) should be at least at a CLB7 level. And your second language should be at the minimum level of CLB5.

Would I be invited under the French language proficiency category with the B1 in French or not? At B1 level I am only getting 4 additional points for French but since the overall points are lower, I would definitely have enough points to get an invitation. I just don’t understand if B1 level qualifies for that category or not. Hopefully someone here knows.

Thank you in advance for your help,
Kate

 

[Naturgrl]

Hi everyone,

I want to apply for Express Entry via the Federal Skilled Worker program. My IELTS results are CLB9, my French is almost at a CLB7 (B1 level).

It says on the CIC’s website that your first language (English for me) should be at least at a CLB7 level. And your second language should be at the minimum level of CLB5.

Would I be invited under the French language proficiency category with the B1 in French or not? At B1 level I am only getting 4 additional points for French but since the overall points are lower, I would definitely have enough points to get an invitation. I just don’t understand if B1 level qualifies for that category or not. Hopefully someone here knows.

Thank you in advance for your help,
Kate

What is your CRS score with language scores?

 

[KatiePeters]

What is your CRS score with language scores?

415 with CLB5
473 with CLB7

 

[Serendipity...]

You need unequivocally a CLB 7 in all competences to get an invite from the French Category Based Draws, nothing less.

 

[KatiePeters]

You need unequivocally a CLB 7 in all competences to get an invite from the French Category Based Draws, nothing less.

Got it, thank you.

But I also just realized that there is an “upper level” of CLB7 and a “lower level”. I guess a “lower level” is closer to the B1, so you are allowed to make more mistakes and have a vocabulary that’s not as extensive. You will get almost no points for French but it will still be a CLB7, so you’ll get an invitation under the French stream.

 

[scylla]

Got it, thank you.

But I also just realized that there is an “upper level” of CLB7 and a “lower level”. I guess a “lower level” is closer to the B1, so you are allowed to make more mistakes and have a vocabulary that’s not as extensive. You will get almost no points for French but it will still be a CLB7, so you’ll get an invitation under the French stream.

I thought B1 was CLB5. I thought B2 was needed for CLB7.

 

[iSaidGoodDay]

Got it, thank you.

But I also just realized that there is an “upper level” of CLB7 and a “lower level”. I guess a “lower level” is closer to the B1, so you are allowed to make more mistakes and have a vocabulary that’s not as extensive. You will get almost no points for French but it will still be a CLB7, so you’ll get an invitation under the French stream.

You can use the CRS tool to see which one gets you what points. CLB7 lower wasn't enough for me to get more than 11-12 points, I had that score twice. I scored CLB7 higher(B2+) to get additional french points. Your questions are easy to answer if you use the CRS tool. That's what most of us used.

The reduced CLB7 requirement was issued a few months ago for the french draw iirc. You are close enough, get the B2+ score if you can.

 

[KatiePeters]

I thought B1 was CLB5. I thought B2 was needed for CLB7.

Sorry, I meant the CLB6 level, it’s still at B2 so I thought it would be valid but I now realize that if the CLB7 is mentioned specifically it means that CLB6 would not be enough even if it’s B2. Sorry for the confusion.

Here’s the table for CLB6 that I found:

6

181-206 (B2)

271-309 (B2)

217-248 (B2)

271-309 (B2

 

[scylla]

Sorry, I meant the CLB6 level, it’s still at B2 so I thought it would be valid but I now realize that if the CLB7 is mentioned specifically it means that CLB6 would not be enough even if it’s B2. Sorry for the confusion.

Here’s the table for CLB6 that I found:

6

181-206 (B2)

271-309 (B2)

217-248 (B2)

271-309 (B2

As said above, you need CLB7 across the board to be selected through the category draws.

CLB6 wil not get you selected. CLB6 is lower level B2 (not B1) to the best of my knowledge.

So B1 is not going to get you selected. You need upper end B2.

 

[KatiePeters]

You can use the CRS tool to see which one gets you what points. CLB7 lower wasn't enough for me to get more than 11-12 points, I had that score twice. I scored CLB7 higher(B2+) to get additional french points. Your questions are easy to answer if you use the CRS tool. That's what most of us used.

The reduced CLB7 requirement was issued a few months ago for the french draw iirc. You are close enough, get the B2+ score if you can.

Yes, I used it multiple times and yesterday I looked it up again and for some reason got confused about this whole CLB5 / CLB7 thing. My original plan was to take the test when I am at the B2 level but then yesterday I thought that a lower level would suffice. Now I realize that it wouldn’t, so I’ll just keep studying)) thank you for the advice though)

 

[iSaidGoodDay]

Yes, I used it multiple times and yesterday I looked it up again and for some reason got confused about this whole CLB5 / CLB7 thing. My original plan was to take the test when I am at the B2 level but then yesterday I thought that a lower level would suffice. Now I realize that it wouldn’t, so I’ll just keep studying)) thank you for the advice though)

You are so close. I'm sure you'll come through with B2+ very soon.