The immigration department, IRCC, has recently held the latest Express Entry draw. It was a general draw, which means IRCC did not consider any specific occupation or human capital attribute. To be more precise, Canada’s Express Entry general draw recently invited 1490 candidates. They needed a minimum CRS score of 535 to be considered in this draw. 

This year, till now, IRCC has held five Express Entry draws. Among those, four draws were general draws, and only one targeted candidates skilled in the French language.

The first draw was held on January 10, and 1,510 candidates received invitations. The CRS score for this draw was 546. The next two draws were also general and occurred on January 23 and 31. In the second Express Entry draw of January, 1,040 candidates who had a minimum CRS score of 543 received ITA. In the third one, 730 candidates needed a minimum CRS score of 541.

This year’s largest draw as of now occurred on February 1 for French proficient candidates. IRCC invited 7000 candidates under the Express Entry Category-based selection draws. For this draw, candidates needed a minimum required CRS score of 365.

Overview of 2024 Express Entry Draw Results

Canada’s General Draw invited 1490 candidates in the recent draw. The table below shows the 2024 all Express Entry draws results, indicating the draw date, draw type, minimum required CRS score, and total invitation issued. 

IRCC Begins Accepting New English Test for Express Entry Programs

On January 30, IRCC announced that it has begun accepting a new English language test for Express Entry Programs, called the Pearson Test of English Core (PTE). Per IRCC, the text is available for all immigration streams, excluding the Student Direct Stream.

So, Express Entry candidates now have an additional option for English language tests when they submit their profile to the IRCC.

To be eligible, candidates must acquire the lowest required Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score. Notably, this minimum CLB score requirement varies per the Express Entry managed program candidates use.

Canadian Language Benchmark or CLB is a point-based scale that IRCC employs to assess the language ability of candidates. It assesses this in four language abilities categories, including speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

For instance, the minimum CLB score requirement for the Federal Skilled Worker Program that a candidate needs to score in all categories is 7.

The minimum CLB score requirement for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Program that a candidate must score if their occupation falls under a NOC TEER category of 0 or 1 is 7. However, if their occupation falls under a NOC TEER category of 2 or 3, a candidate needs a score of CLB 5  

Moreover, the candidates applying under the Federal Skilled Trades Program must have a CLB score of 5 for speaking and listening and at least 4 for reading and writing.

Notably, this new PTE is the third option for Express-Entry candidates to prove their English language abilities. According to the immigration department, it approved PTE last year. 

 In addition to PTE, CELPIP General or IELTS General Training are two other options that candidates can use to get their CLB score in the English language.

Understanding the Canadian Express Entry System

Express Entry is an application system in Canada that governs the three notable economic immigration programs for skilled workers from overseas. These include:

1. The Federal Skilled Worker Program, 
2. The Canadian Experience Class, and 
3. The Federal Skilled Trades Program.

All these immigration programs employ a point-based ranking system called the Comprehensive Ranking System. This evaluates the candidates on the basis of several human capital attributes like language abilities, education, age, field, work experience, and more. Every factor has an allocated score. All the factors are used to calculate the total CRS candidates’ scores.

Once a candidate is assigned a CRS score, they enter the Express Entry Application pool and are ranked against other interested candidates.

Among these candidates, those with the highest scores have a greater chance of acquiring an ITA in the future Express Entry Draw.

Introduction of category-based selection rounds of invitations under the Express Entry System

In May last year, IRCC revealed new category-based selection draws to invite candidates. This was in addition to the above three Express Entry immigration programs.

IRCC specified six categories under these new draws that target specific human capital attributes. Among these, one category is language-based, and the other five are occupational-based. 

These are:

• French language proficiency.
• Healthcare occupations.
• Transport occupations
• Agriculture and agri-food occupations
• Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
• Trades occupations, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors

To be considered in new category-based selection draws, candidates must qualify for an Express Entry program and must have their application in the pool under any one of the three programs.