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By Rebecca Major
Updated on August 30, 2024
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) maintains an up-to-date record of the number of candidates in the Express Entry pool and their respective CRS score. On this page, you will find our in-depth analysis of the current profiles in the pool along with what this may mean for you and your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
Key Takeaways: A Snapshot of Active Profiles in the Pool.
- As of August 27, 2024, there are 205,137 Express Entry profiles in the pool.
- August 2024 was a slower month compared to the record-breaking July, with 10,384 ITAs issued.
- There are over 10,000 fewer profiles in the pool compared to the end of July, suggesting fewer people are entering the pool.
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What is the Express Entry pool?
The Express Entry pool represents all candidates with an active Express Entry profile. The number of profiles in the pool changes daily as draws take place and as new applicants submit their profile with others leaving due to expiry or a change in eligibility.
How Many Express Entry Profiles Are Currently in the Pool?
The last IRCC update on the number of profiles in the pool was August 27, 2024 just before a CEC draw which saw a total of 3,300 profiles selected. At this time, there were 205,137 profiles in the pool.
Key insights from August 2024 CRS score distribution of candidates in the Express Entry pool compared to July
Overall Decrease in Total Numbers:
The total number of profiles at the end of August (205,137) is lower than the total from the end of July (215,735), indicating that 10,598 fewer profiles are active in the pool.
Decrease in the 501-600 Range:
There is a significant decrease in the 501-600 range, dropping from 16,968 in July 9,764 in August. This represents a reduction of 7,204. This is expected given the draws we saw in August all had a CRS cut-off over 500, except for the French language draw which took place on August 15, 2024.
Decrease in the 351-400 Range:
Another noticeable decrease is in the 351-400 range, with numbers falling from 54,597 in July to 52,363 in August, a difference of just over 2,000, which is explained by the French language draw which invited 2,000 profiles with a CRS cut-off of 394. A conclusion we can take from this is that fewer people are entering the pool with a CRS score between 351-400.
Stability in the 451-500 Range:
The number of profiles scoring between 451-500 remains relatively stable, with a slight increase in the number of profiles scoring within this range.
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How Does Your CRS Score Compare?
Determining how your CRS score compares to others in the pool is a necessary component to a successful immigration strategy. If you have a strong CRS score in comparison to others in the pool, your chances of receiving an ITA in an upcoming Express Entry draw are high therefore you may just need to wait for the next draw. On the other hand, you may determine that your CRS is not competitive enough, forcing you to look at ways to increase your score or explore Express Entry alternatives.
There is a current breakdown of the CRS score range and the number of candidates in the pool.
CRS score range Number of candidates
601-1200 127
501-600 9,764
451-500 61133
491-500 10,918
481-490 12,038
471-480 14,722
461-470 12,676
451-460 10,779
401-450 51,863
441-450 10,259
431-440 11,142
421-430 9,814
411-420 10,493
401-410 10,115
351-400 52,363
301-350 24,396
0-300 5,491
Total 205,137
Is Your CRS Score Competitive?
Your competitiveness within the Express Entry pool is based on your CRS score.
Once you have submitted your Express Entry profile, you will receive your CRS score. Bear in mind that this score may change due to factors like age therefore it is important to keep a note of your CRS and competitiveness.
If your projected CRS score is less than 300
You should consider alternative ways to move to Canada. Express Entry might not be for you, because it’s going to be tough — though not impossible — to get enough points to secure an invitation to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry. If you have a CRS score of less than 300, chances are you will need to do many things to boost your chances of receiving an ITA. Follow our ways to increase your CRS score guide for pointers.
If your projected CRS score is between 300 and 400
A CRS score in this range is not very competitive, however, there are ways to boost your points total. To get from the 300’s into the competitive range would probably require you to secure a provincial nomination, get a job offer and/ or show both French and English language ability.
If you qualify for the French Category Based Draws, a CRS score above 360 may be all that is needed. If you do not possess any French language ability, consider taking this up. In a year, you may have enough proficiency to claim French points and an ITA in the French draws.
If your projected CRS score is between 400 and 500
This score may be competitive, depending on the trend in recent draws (the lowest cut-off score ever for an all-program draw was 413 points however recent trends are more around the 540 mark). Candidates in this range can shoot up the rankings with some seemingly minor improvements that can have a big effect, especially when it comes to proving language ability. There may also be additional PNP options for candidates in this range.
If your projected CRS score is between 500 and 550
This is a competitive score, with a decent chance of being sufficient to receive an ITA, especially if you are eligible for a Category-Based Draw. Candidates should still explore any opportunities to increase their scores to make their profile as competitive as possible.
If your projected CRS score is above 550
This is a super competitive CRS score and will likely be sufficient to receive an ITA in an upcoming draw.
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