Language framework equivalencies

The same language level reads differently depending on the framework used. Our correspondence charts — sourced from alignment studies and official documents — let you move from one system to another without losing the nuance.

The European CEFR, Canada's CLB, the North American ACTFL scale and test scores such as IELTS all measure language proficiency — but they were built separately, for different purposes. Correspondences between them do exist, they are documented, and they are more nuanced than the conversion charts usually found online. Every page below cites its sources and states plainly where no official correspondence exists.

Our correspondence charts

CEFR ↔ CLB (NCLC)

The reference chart between Canadian and European levels, based on North & Piccardo (2019): all 12 CLB benchmarks, their documented nuances, Express Entry thresholds, and Quebec's separate scale.

CLB 7 is B1+, not B2

View the chart

Coming to this collection

CEFR ↔ ACTFL — mapping to the North American scale
CEFR ↔ IELTS and TOEFL — reading a test score as a framework level
Test scores ↔ CLB — IELTS, CELPIP, TEF and TCF Canada

These pages are written and checked against primary sources: alignment studies, official agency documents and published frameworks. Where a correspondence has not been officially established, we say so rather than estimate it.