CRS: Comprehensive Ranking System – Part 3
Welcome to Part 3 of this series of posts about the Express Entry‘s scoring system – Comprehensive Ranking System. This time, let’s dive deep into factors “within our control” where we can get extra points:
- Language Ability
- Education
- Education in Canada
- Work Experience
- Eligible Job Offers
- The Provincial Nominee Program / Territorial Nominee Program
To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.
Anatole France
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
- a points-based system
- used by IRCC to assess and score candidate profiles and rank them in the Express Entry pool
How to Get Extra Points on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for Express Entry
As a points-based system, Express Entry considers different factors in assessing candidates. There are factors easier to score more points with. There are also those considerably more difficult.
Before diving into these factors, I highly recommend that potential candidates calculate their scores first! Using the CRS calculator, it is very easy to get an idea of possible scores. When I was aiming for my ITA, I entered the best possible scenario for me. It gave me an idea of what I should focus on in my preparation. My results let me know that I needed very high IELTS scores to get an ITA, so I focused on getting those.
In the following sections, I share more notes on how to get extra points on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for Express Entry.
Language Ability
The minimum language requirement for Skilled Workers applying through the Express Entry pathway is CLB 7 level on all abilities for English, or NCLC 7 for French. This depends on which language is claimed as the “First Official Language”. Looking at this grid, it’s easy to understand, that the higher the language ability, the higher the points:
This table is from the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Criteria – Express Entry. It shows that the maximum Language Requirement points available for each ability is:
- 32 if applying with a spouse or common-law partner
- 34 if applying without a spouse or common-law partner
It is possible for candidates to not include their spouse in their application. In which situation, their application will be treated like a single applicant’s
Essentially, there is a huge difference in points between a CLB 10 candidate and a candidate with CLB 7, the lowest acceptable level for Express Entry candidates. This is easily the best source for “extra points.”
Imagine aiming for a CLB 10 for all abilities and getting 128 points in total. That is double the score versus settling for a CLB 7 and getting 64 points. This is one of the reasons I personally aimed to score on the higher end of the scale. I highly encourage everyone else to make the most of these easy extra points!
If not a CLB 10, at least try to still score closer to the upper end with CLB 8 or 9, or get a few 10s in there!
This is not hard to do!
The next chart shows the equivalency between IELTS scores and CLB levels. A band 6.5 on IELTS is already a CLB 8 equivalent for Reading, Writing and Speaking. I will be discussing discussing IELTS scoring for Writing and Speaking in another article. But scores for English Reading proficiency are easier to imagine. Candidates only need to get 34 out of 40 questions correct to reach CLB 9 for 29 points on the CRS! (Need help preparing for IELTS? Find me on Instagram and get in touch!)
There is a reason why Listening ability requires a slightly higher score on the IELTS to achieve levels on CLB. Personally, I think this is because the IELTS Listening Test is the easiest to take – It is all muscle memory, training to listen, and just listening while shutting out distractions.
Need more notes about the IELTS for Express Entry? Click here!
Education
Next to high IELTS or Language Ability scores, I also got extra points for the Education factor. However, it is not without a catch. In my opinion, candidates 23 to 28 years old can take advantage of this source of points. I do think this is the case for those who have time to plan for and finish either a post-graduate degree or higher.
Acquiring a second diploma adds an extra 8 points for those applying as if a single applicant. For those applying with a partner, they get 7 points. Obtaining a master’s degree gives an additional 15 or 14 points, and having a doctoral degree gives 30 or 28 extra points.
It is probably not a popular option to do so. However, the point is to try and squeeze out the most points from these relatively easier sources of points to rank higher on the Comprehensive Ranking System or CRS.
Education in Canada
To clarify, I obtained my post-graduate diploma in the Philippines. I was and still am not a huge fan of pursuing studies in Canada to obtain permanent residence. This is because I was on a very tight budget when I applied for PR, and even now, studying in Canada is an expensive option for Express Entry points. It also takes more time, making other options more economical. However, it is still a very viable option! Check out my series “Immigrant Insights” on YouTube to get useful notes from friends who immigrated through the Student Pathway!
After completing their studies in Canada, international students can add this to their CRS scores:
The Federal Skilled Worker stream is one post- study option. Another is applying for a provincial (or regional) nomination. But take note that it is also possible that even with credentials from a Canadian institution, a candidate’s score may not be enough to be eligible for an Invitation to Apply (ITA). In this case, a provincial (or regional) nomination can be very helpful, in addition to having Canadian work experience.
Work Experience
In the early days of my blog, I wrote an overview of the Express Entry system. One of the key terms listed there was NOC. It is basically a code pertaining to occupations in the labour force. For example, my previous occupation as a marketing specialist would be categorized under NOC 1123. This is the code I pegged my work experience to. It was important that I provided proof that as my “primary occupation,” I had the most number of years in this role. I also needed to prove that I performed at least 50% of the main duties listed under NOC 1123. That was the baseline requirement to back up my claim and get maximum points for work experience.
In addition to the number of years at a specific NOC, CRS scoring is also dependent on the location that work experience was gained: outside of Canada or within Canada.
In a nutshell, and in combination with other factors, candidates can be eligible for at most 50 points for their Foreign Work Experience. With a language proficiency of CLB 7 or higher or having Canadian work experience, candidates can get as much points:
More specifically, there are two scales for the Foreign Work Experience and Language Proficiency combination. One is for applicants with CLB 7 + less than CLB 9s per ability. The other is for applicants with CLB 9 or higher per ability.
This is where applicants with more work experience can have an advantage. Even at CLB 7 or higher, candidates with 3 or more years of experience can get 25 points. On the other hand, someone with only 1 to 2 years of experience only gets 13 points. Note that there is extra motivation to at least try for a CLB 9 if only for Listening or Reading abilities. This is because applicants who have worked 3 years or more, with a CLB 9 or higher on their language proficiency, can get 50 points. Twice more than CLB 7 candidates would!
Foreign Work Experience can also be scored when accompanied by work experience within Canada. It is a similar scale as the above, although in this case, it is number of years worked abroad and number of years worked in Canada.
Part- time work in Canada may also be considered if within an eligible NOC and completed in a duration with a full- time equivalent. For example, if a candidate was in Canada, employed part- time in Marketing for two years, and the total number of hours they worked equaled one year of full time work, they may fall under the scale on the left: years of foreign work experience + 1 year of Canadian work experience. This would be worth 25 points on the CRS. And so the more years worked in Canada as well as abroad would mean more points, and 50 points at most.
Eligible Job Offers
Tied to the Work Experience factor, having an Eligible Job Offer is an ace when applying for permanent residence in Canada. It doesn’t just remove the source of funds requirements, it is also worth 200 points for qualifying job offers at NOC 00 or 50 points for offers at NOC A or B.
Also remember that many Provincial Nominee Programs build on candidates having job offers. PEI Express Entry is one such program. Nova Scotia Skilled Worker under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) is another. Another pathway that is unique to Canada’s easternmost provinces is the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIPP) that allows designated employers to nominate employees themselves.
The Northwest Territories Nominee Program and the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) are both mainly employer driven.
While Jade and I were not fortunate to receive job offers to boost our Express Entry profiles, we have come across other newcomers to Nova Scotia who did move here through the AIPP. I will be posting their interviews on my Youtube channel.
The Provincial Nominee Program / Territorial Nominee Program
Last but not least, I cannot simply emphasize and reiterate how helpful provincial nominations are. This is simply illustrated in Jade’s own experience that I partly described in this video and mentioned in the previous post. The extra 600 points from getting a nomination, whether from province or a territory, is definitely the largest bulk of points that can help any candidate. With a nomination, candidates can score beyond the Express Entry cut-off that has typically hovered around the 450 to 470 mark.
Granted that these nominee programs have different criteria, this variety does allow applicants to consider each province. It especially gives more exposure to other provinces outside of popular Ontario and British Columbia, where competition for spots tends to be high and more applicants pile into the pools.
Locally, Nova Scotia has nine streams focusing on its different manpower needs:
- Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities
- Labour Market Priorities for Physicians
- Physician
- Entrepreneur
- International Graduate Entrepreneur
- International Graduates In Demand
- Skilled Worker
- Occupations in Demand
- Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry
Note that where the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration has a stream especially for physicians, the rest of the provinces have their own list of priority occupations to draw international talent. Manitoba and Sasketchawan specifically have streams targeted to farmers or potential farm owners. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program holds Tech draws under its Human Capital Priorities Stream to address labour shortages in the technology sector and so does BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) with BC PNP Tech.
The list of programs can be exhausting to go through. But for 600 points and an invitation to apply on the line, this is definitely a source of extra Express Entry points worth considering.
In Conclusion
There are many ways applicants for Permanent Residence can add extra points to their CRS score. At the end of the day, what worked for us will not be a template that applies to everyone. That is why my recommendation would be to check the free CRS Calculator to gain some insight on any shortfall in points. From there, the list above and the accompanying table snapshots from the IRCC website may be able to help candidates for PR in Canada understand where extra points can come from.