what is clb

The Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) is a 12-point scale of task-based language proficiency descriptors used to guide the teaching and assessment of English as a Second Language (ESL) learners in Canada. It measures the performance of language tests required for Canadas immigration programs and is used to describe, measure, and recognize the English language ability of immigrants and prospective immigrants who plan to live and work in Canada. The CLB measures four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and each skill is measured against 12 levels of proficiency or benchmarks. The CLB has been used to identify the level of curricula, courses, and requirements for entry into post-secondary training in some parts of Canada, and it has also been used increasingly as a scale to help define the language demands that are used in some occupations and professions. You can find your CLB level with your test results for CELPIP, IELTS, or TEF using language test equivalency charts provided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) . Additionally, there is an online self-assessment tool called CLB-OSA, which is used to measure language ability and assign an approximate CLB range in listening and reading.