Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)

Applicants are ranked on a system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which determines who gets selected from the Express Entry Pool first. This system scores you based on four main factors:

• Human Capital Factors;
• Spouse and Common Law Partner
• Skill Transferability and
• Additional Factors

These factors take into account

• Age
• Work experience
• Education qualifications
• Language skills
• Adaptability
• Job offers; and
• Spouse or common-law partner

The higher the applicants’ scores on the CRS, the better their chances of becoming a permanent resident of Canada. The highest you can score on this system is 1,200 points. Below is a breakdown of how you will be scored:

• Core points = 600 points; and
• Additional points = 600 points

Core CRS Points You can earn Core CRS points for the following

1. Skills and experience factors
2. Spouse or common-law partner factors eg. language skills and education; and
3. Skills transferability eg. education and work experience.

Additional CRS Points You can earn additional CRS points for the following:

1. Canadian degrees, diplomas, or certificates
2. A valid job offer
3. A nomination from a province or territory
4. A brother or sister living in Canada (citizen or permanent resident
5. Strong French language skills.

How to Increase your CRS Score?

There are six ways in which you can increase your CRS score. These are as follows:

1. Retake the IELTS:Improving your IELTS score can help boost your CRS score. A good IELTS score, along with post-secondary education and a work experience of at least 3 years can help add 100 points to your score.
2. Work Experience:Candidates from all economic streams apply under the Express Entry system. This is the reason why your work experience will play a big part in how soon you receive your ITA.
3. Spousal Points:Your spouse will have a different profile than you, which means that they can have a better CRS score and supplement your score with their language proficiency. If you have both submitted profiles separately, any selection could pave your way to Canada.
4. Job Offer:As we mentioned, a formal job offer could get you an extra 50 to 200 points. Connect with companies in Canada and try to get a valid job offer before submitting the profile.
5. Provincial Nomination:Receiving a provincial nomination could add 600 points to your CRS score. However, while the PNPs work in alignment to the Express Entry program, application to the PNPs is an entirely different process.
6. Study:A post-secondary degree is worth 120 points and you can add additional 8 points by taking another one-year program.