How to Improve Your CRS Score for Express Entry

 

Canada’s Express Entry immigration system is competitive. Only the candidates with the highest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores receive invitations to apply for permanent resident status.

If you’ve submitted your Express Entry profile and your CRS score is lower than you’d like, you have options for improving your score. On this page, we will give you the best options for improving your CRS score. Whether you need just a couple of points to become competitive, or whether you need a big boost to land your invitation, we’ll help you figure out your next steps.

 

Understanding the Comprehensive Ranking System: How are CRS points calculated?

 

You’ve determined your eligibility for one of the Express Entry-aligned programs, created an Express Entry profile, and been assigned a CRS score… now you just sit back and wait to be invited to apply, right? Well, unless you have been assigned a high CRS score, this is indisputably the wrong approach!

 

By adopting a passive attitude towards your Express Entry profile, you may not be awarded all of the points you may be entitled to, and you may be missing opportunities to improve your rank among the candidates under the Comprehensive Ranking System. You have created a profile, but the CRS is a dynamic system and your score is not “locked in” — you can take steps to improve it.

 

Some improvements may only nudge your CRS score up a few points, but these points could make all the difference. Other improvements can bring as many as 600 additional CRS points, essentially guaranteeing that you would be invited to apply in a subsequent draw from the pool.

 

Faster Options: Short-term ways to increase your CRS score

 

Here is our top recommendation for a fast way to improve your CRS score. This can be completed in a matter of weeks, if you put in the time and effort required to succeed.

 

Retake your language test

If you haven’t maximized your approved language test scores, then this option could be the key to you getting a competitive CRS score.

 

Did you know that language ability is worth up to 260 CRS points in total for a single candidate, or up to 270 points for a couple? Not only is language ability the most valued human capital factor under the Comprehensive Ranking System, but it is also a factor where incremental gains can make a huge difference.

 

Extra points are accumulated for each improvement in test results across the four language abilities (speaking, listening, reading, writing), but the magic threshold is when a candidate achieves a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 9 in each ability. Why? Because in addition to the points gained for improvements to that level, getting a CLB 9 in each ability also triggers a jump in points under the skills transferability factors (the exact jump depends on your levels of education and work experience). One small step in your language ability, one giant leap for your CRS score.

 

Skill transferability factors can result in a maximum of 100 points, so be sure you get as many of these points as you can.

 

To reach CLB 9 on the IELTS General Training exam, you have to achieve the following minimum scores:

• Listening: 8.0
• Speaking 7.0
• Reading: 7.0
• Writing: 7.0

To reach CLB 9 on the CELPIP general exam, you must achieve a minimum score of 9 in each of the four abilities.

Complete another educational program

This is definitely a long-term strategy for improving your CRS score. Regardless, gaining more education can result in a much higher CRS score. Not only do you receive CRS points for your level of education, education is an important component of the skill transferability factors section of the CRS.

You can gain a maximum of 100 points through the skill transferability factors section. In terms of education, to maximize your skill transferability points, you must complete the following level of education:

• Two or more post-secondary credentials, and at least one must have been for a program of three-years or longer.
• Master’s Degree, or professional degree needed to practice in a licensed profession.

If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can complete another one-year program, and this will likely make you eligible for higher points under skill transferability factors. Although it does require completing an educational program, this might be a worthwhile investment if you have your heart set on immigrating to Canada.

At CredVisa We Do have Multiple options to obtain a fast-track degree course. Below are the options available according to the level of study.