How to Improve Your CRS Score

Canada’s Express Entry system is dynamic, meaning a candidate’s Comprehensive Ranking System score isn’t fixed but may be improved if the applicant is willing to put in the effort.

1) Language: For a Federal Skilled Worker candidate to enter the Express Entry pool, a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7 is required in each language ability — reading, writing, speaking and listening.However, the highest language level for which points are awarded within the CRS is CLB 10.

Language is also valuable because it counts for points in several sections of the CRS:

Within the human capital factors;

Within the skill-transferability “combinations”;

Within the additional factors.

A CLB of 9 or higher is needed in all four language abilities — reading, speaking, writing and listening — in order to obtain the maximum of 50 points.

Having even one ability below CLB 9 could prevent you from getting the full 50 points.

2) Education: An ECA is required in order to obtain CRS points for education obtained outside of Canada.For the Federal Skilled Worker Class candidates educated outside of Canada, only one ECA is required of the principal applicant in order to enter the pool.

3) Work experience: After selecting the right NOC for your work experience, the next step is calculating how much time you spent at each job. Points are awarded for full-time or equivalent part-time work experience.Federal Skilled Worker Class candidates must have at least one year of continuous, skilled work experience in order to enter the pool.

4) Job offer: Candidates with a valid job offer may obtain either 50 or 200 additional points towards their CRS score depending on the position. Candidates with a valid job offer in an occupation at the NOC 0, A or B level may earn 50 additional points towards their CRS score. Candidates with a valid job offers in an occupation under the Major Group 00 Senior Management Occupations classification may be awarded an additional 200 points under the CRS.

5) Provincial Nominee Programs: Express Entry candidates nominated by a Canadian province for permanent residence are awarded an additional 600 points toward their CRS score.Provinces sometimes look for candidates with specific work experience