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First Express Entry Draw of May 2025 Sent 1,000 PR Invitations

May 7, 2025
12:50 am

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Last Updated On 1 May 2025, 3:52 PM EDT (Toronto Time)

On May 1, 2025, IRCC conducted its first Express Entry draw of the month, inviting 1,000 candidates to apply for permanent residency.

This is also the first round of invitations targeting profiles qualifying under the new education category introduced this year.

Candidates with the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 479 or above received the invitations in today’s draw.

Below are the full details of the Express Entry draw today, CRS score distribution in the pool, how Express Entry works, and how to boost your CRS score for the next round of invitations.

Full Details of the Express Entry Draw today

Category: 5 Education occupations
Date and time: May 1, 2025
CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 479
Number of invitations issued: 1,000
Rank needed: 1,000 or above
Tie-breaking rule: August 10, 2024, at 10:35:55 UTC

CRS score range	Number of candidates
601-1200	416
501-600	20,708
451-500	72,523
491-500	12,291
481-490	12,544
471-480	16,411
461-470	16,313
451-460	14,964
401-450	68,267
441-450	14,230
431-440	14,909
421-430	13,385
411-420	13,274
401-410	12,469
351-400	53,640
301-350	22,553
0-300	8,566
Total	246,673

Occupation	2021 NOC code	2021 TEER category
Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants	43100	3
Instructors of persons with disabilities	42203	2
Early childhood educators and assistants	42202	2
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers	41221	1
Secondary school teachers	41220	1

The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) removed CRS points for job offers from the Express Entry system in March, a change that’s left applicants buzzing.

Previously, a valid job offer from a Canadian employer could add 50 to 200 points to a candidate’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, giving a significant edge in the competitive pool.

This decision, likely aimed at levelling the playing field and prioritizing skills over employer ties, means candidates must now lean harder on factors like education, language proficiency, and work experience to boost their scores.

While it’s a setback for those relying on job-offer points, it could potentially expand opportunities for highly skilled applicants who were falling behind due to illegally purchasing job offers to boost their CRS score.

Breaking Down the Express Entry System: How It Works

If you’re new to the Express Entry hype, let’s break it down.

Launched in 2015, this system revolutionized how Canada selects economic immigrants.

It’s fast, efficient, and—dare we say it—pretty darn competitive. Here’s the gist:

Create a Profile: Eligible candidates submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) online, detailing their skills, education, work history, and language abilities (English and/or French).
Get a CRS Score: The system assigns a score out of 1,200 based on core factors (age, education, work experience, language proficiency) and bonus points (e.g., a Canadian job offer, provincial nomination, or French skills).
Enter the Pool: Your profile joins thousands of others in the Express Entry pool, where you’re ranked against fellow hopefuls.
Wait for a Draw: IRCC holds draws roughly every two weeks, setting a CRS cutoff. If your score meets or exceeds it, you get an ITA.
Apply for PR: With an ITA in hand, you’ve got 60 days to submit a full application. IRCC aims to process most applications within six months.

Missed out on May 1? Don’t sweat it—another draw is likely just two weeks away.

The Express Entry pool is a battlefield, and your CRS score is your weapon. Here’s how to sharpen it:

Ace Your Language Tests: Higher scores on IELTS, CELPIP (English), or TEF/TCF (French) can add up to 160 points. Retake if needed—every point counts.
Gain More Work Experience: An extra year of skilled work (in Canada or abroad) can bump your score by 10-50 points, depending on your age.
Level Up Your Education: A master’s or PhD adds 15-30 points over a bachelor’s. Get your credentials assessed via an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if studied abroad.
Learn French: Even basic proficiency can net you 30 bonus points if English is your first language. Fluency? That’s up to 50 points.
Secure a Job Offer: A valid Canadian job offer in a skilled occupation adds 50-200 points, depending on the role.
Chase a Provincial Nomination: A PNP nod is the holy grail—600 extra points, pushing you to the top of the pool.

Pro tip: Use IRCC’s free CRS calculator online to see where you stand. Small tweaks—like improving your IELTS from 7.0 to 8.0—could mean the difference between waiting and winning.