IELTS (overall good score but low in Reading section) - CLB equivalent level

[indicansri]

Dear forum,
Kudos for a very helpful and informative forum.

I have an outlier IELTS score :
Listening 6.5 Reading 3.5 Writing 7.0 Speaking 7.5 Overall 6.0

Can someone cite "official" CIC documentation that clearly interprets how many CLB levels the above score translates to?
Since my overall IELTS score is 6.0, I feel it equals CLB 7(giving equivalent points towards FSW permanent resident application) and
that the low Reading section score should not result in total disqualification(giving zero points towards FSW PR application).

Also, would someone know how I can directly contact CIC about this? Since applications re-open on May 4th, I need an unambiguous response for me to decide on the way forward. I would appreciate if any of you could help clarify or contact CIC. Thanks.

 

[namaste]

I can't provide you with the conversion of CLB to IELTS band link. But, people who have spent time learning about the conversion say that a score of at least 6 band in each section of IELTS is required to qualify for FSW. CIC does not consider overall band. It looks at individual category, and if in any of the categories you can not score at least 6, you will not be eligible to apply. Remember that this is a minimum requirement to be eligible to apply, not just for points. So, you simply CANNOT apply with your current score.

In any case, 3.5 for reading is a VERY low score. Even the dependents have to get at least 4 to get adaptability points for their language ability. SO you are better off taking another test.

 

[indicansri]

Thank you for your reply.

How are you SURE that the CIC does NOT consider overall IELTS score? There does not seem to be ANY official link or documentation from CIC clarifying this.

I am a to be published English writer, have a Masters degree from the US and over eight years of experience as an embedded software engineer/entrepreneur. My verbal score in GRE was 99th percentile. Perhaps I overanalyzed the passages in the reading section or just had a bad day, but that low score hardly reflects my English reading skills. Given my overall profile, it seems unfair that the rest of the score is disregarded.

That being said, as there is not much time left, I perhaps would be forced to retake the test.

 

[namaste]

Follow this link to read all about CIC's proposed changes and their statement about IELTS requirement.

http://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2012/2012-08-18/html/reg2-eng.html

Here's an excerpt from the same document, which clearly states that they look at individual scores, not overall.

"Minimum threshold in all abilities

Initially set at CLB/NCLC 7"

Also, the fact that points are awarded separately for individual abilities is further proof that they do not look at overall scores. You can look into their previous point schemes for IELTS to know that it's for individual abilities and not for overall score.

 

[namaste]

Here's a link from guidlines for CEC where CIC gives the equivalent IELTS score for CLB/NCLC scores.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5609ETOC.asp

A relevant excerpt:

The CLB/NCLC levels which correspond to the IELTS are:

CLB Listening Reading Writing Speaking
7 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0

CEC is different from FSW, but there is no reason to believe that the conversion scheme of IELTS to CLB will be different between them.

 

[canxyz]

IELTS TO CLB Conversion


Listening 6.5 - CLB 7


Reading 3.5 --- CLB 4


Writing 7.0 --- CLB 9


Speaking 7.5 --- CLB 10

 

[canxyz]

Hello,

As your Reading score is just 3.5 Bands so you are not eligible to apply for FSW. I would suggest you to appear again. IELTS Band 6.0 in each module is compulsory in order to apply for FSW.

Wish you all the best.

Canxyz

 

[indicansri]

Thank you all .
After receiving a reply to my email to Center for CLB and considering the advice offered at this forum, I have decided to retest on April 6th(paper and pen based in Chennai, India). Wish me luck.
My previous test was on July 30th, 2011. Would someone let me now if there have been significant changes to the IELTS test since then?

PS: The reason for my low score in reading last time round was that I did/could not transfer answers to "the scoring OCR" answer sheet in time. Easily avoidable mistake!! Well..now I know to transfer my answers immediately.

 

[siddharth_pharma84]

Thank you all .
After receiving a reply to my email to Center for CLB and considering the advice offered at this forum, I have decided to retest on April 6th(paper and pen based in Chennai, India). Wish me luck.
My previous test was on July 30th, 2011. Would someone let me now if there have been significant changes to the IELTS test since then?
PS: The reason for my low score in reading last time round was that I did/could not transfer answers to "the scoring OCR" answer sheet in time. Easily avoidable mistake!! Well..now I know to transfer my answers immediately.

All the best mate.nothing much has changed.I had appeared in January .you can easily score much more in listening watch movies,listen English songs.reading portion IELTS Cambridge just not enough.practice with newspaper editorial.practice skimming a topic try to grasp ideas.writing try to finish essay within word limit.present ideas in different paragraphs.IELTS topics in this forum has so much of information.stay calm .I Had to reappear to get desirable score.finally managed L-8,R-6.5, W-7,S-6.5.I HOPE U WOULD SCORE MUCH MUCH BETTER.

 

[indicansri]

. Thanks for all those who posted their support for my retest.
Here are the provisional results:

Candidate Name: SRIRAM CHADALAVADA
Candidate Number: 001365
Test Centre Number: IN855
Test Date: 6/04/2013

Listening Reading Writing Speaking Overall
8.0 7.0 6.5 8.5 7.5 8.5 7.5

Your official Test Report Form will be posted to you 13 days after the test. Please note the preview of your IELTS result cannot be used as official confirmation of your test result.

 

[babymart]

. Thanks for all those who posted their support for my retest.
Here are the provisional results:

Candidate Name: SRIRAM CHADALAVADA
Candidate Number: 001365
Test Centre Number: IN855
Test Date: 6/04/2013

Listening Reading Writing Speaking Overall
8.0 7.0 6.5 8.5 7.5 8.5 7.5

Your official Test Report Form will be posted to you 13 days after the test. Please note the preview of your IELTS result cannot be used as official confirmation of your test result.

Congrats on the success of your IELTS exams.Very impressive.Happy you made it!!
Cheers!!