Lost CRS Points for Arranged Employment? Here's How Language Tests Can Boost Your Score

If you’re applying for Canadian permanent residency through Express Entry, your language test score can be a game changer.

Even without a job offer, you can still boost your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score significantly by improving your English or French language proficiency.

How Language Scores Add to Your CRS

As a single applicant, you can earn up to 310 CRS points just from language proficiency across different sections:

That means your test scores could help you make up for missing points in other areas—like arranged employment.

No Limits on Re-Testing

You can re-take language tests as many times as you like. So, if your score improves, you can update your Express Entry profile and increase your CRS.

This is especially helpful in today's competitive pool where every point matters. Also, achieving high French test scores can make you eligible for French-language category-based draws, which have had some of the lowest CRS cut-offs in 2024 and 2025.

A Real Example: How One Applicant Boosted Her Score

Take Amy, for example.

Amy had a CRS score of 515, which wasn’t high enough for recent Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws with cut-offs at 527, 521, and 547.

She had:

• A Canadian bachelor’s degree
• 3 years of foreign work experience
• 5 years of Canadian work experience
• CLB 8 in English

After studying for a few months, Amy re-took her English language test and achieved CLB 9. Her new CRS score: 559 — well above the draw cut-offs.

Amy’s Score Breakdown

By moving from CLB 8 to CLB 9, Amy gained 44 points—which made all the difference in getting her invitation to apply.

How You Can Improve Your Language Test Score

Improving your score takes effort, but it’s very doable. Here are some tips to help:

1. Study Daily

Make language practice a part of your daily routine. Even short sessions every day can lead to steady improvement.

2. Immerse Yourself

Being in a fully English or French-speaking environment helps you learn faster. Immersion programs or language exchanges can be very effective.

3. Get Real-World Practice

Speaking the language in real-life situations—like at a conversation group or club—can help reinforce your learning more than just studying vocabulary.

4. Take Practice Tests

Practice tests help you become familiar with the exam structure and improve both your language and test-taking skills. They also reduce anxiety on the actual test day.

5. Use Free Resources

There are many free online tools to help you prepare—such as:

• Sample tests
• Study guides
• Instructor-led webinars
• Interactive practice platforms

These can give you the confidence and preparation needed to perform your best on test day.

Final Thoughts

Even if you’ve lost points for arranged employment, you can still compete strongly in the Express Entry pool by maximizing your language test score.

A small increase in your CLB level could be the difference between waiting and receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).