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Understanding CRS Cut-Off, Tie‑Breaks & Pool Distribution
June 26, 2025
As of June 26, 2025, IRCC conducted Draw #353, exclusively targeting the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Here's a breakdown:
1. CRS Cut‑Off: What 521 Really Means
- The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores applicants out of 1,200, factoring in:
- Age, education, official languages, Canadian work history
- Bonus points: provincial nominations, arranged employment, French ability, sibling in Canada.
- In this round, IRCC invited 3,000 CEC candidates with a CRS score of 521 or higher.
- 👉 If your CRS ≥ 521, you likely received an ITA this round.
2. Tie‑Breaker Timestamp: Early Matters
- When many candidates share the CRS 521 cut-off, IRCC applies a tie-break rule based on profile creation date/time:
- Only candidates with CRS = 521 and submitted before Nov 21, 2024, 15:56:13 UTC received ITAs.
- If your profile was created after this time, you’d need to wait for the next round—even with a qualifying score.
3. Pool Distribution: Gauging Your Competition
- As of June 22, 2025, the Express Entry pool included ~256,754 profiles.
- Most profiles fell in the:
- 451–500 CRS bracket (~76,748 candidates)
- 501–600 CRS bracket (~22,947 candidates)
- With a large concentration between 450–600 CRS, even slight changes in invites can bump cut-off scores.
4. Draw #353 Summary (Data Table)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Draw Number | 353 |
| Date | June 26, 2025 |
| Program | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) |
| Invitations Issued | 3,000 |
| CRS Cut-Off | 521 |
| Tie‑Break Timestamp | CRS = 521 submitted before Nov 21, 2024 15:56:13 UTC |
| Pool Size | Approx. 256,754 candidates total |
- ✅ CRS = 522 → ITA issued
- ✅ CRS = 521, created Nov 20, 2024 → ITA issued
- ❌ CRS = 521, created Nov 22, 2024 → No ITA this round
5. Why this Matters to You
- It’s the second CEC-specific draw in June—first one, June 12, had a cut-off of 529. IRC shifts are dynamic and respond to pool changes.
- A CRS cut-off drop from 529 → 521 signals IRCC flexibility and changing demand trends—exactly what you want to monitor in Immime.
Takeaways
- Cut-off CRS = 521 for June 26 CEC draw (#353).
- Tie-break based on timestamp: Nov 21, 2024, 15:56:13 UTC.
- Intense competition in 450–600 CRS range.
- Monitor category-specific rounds plus general CEC–dominant draws.
Start using Immime now, set your alerts, and align your profile before the next Express Entry draw.
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