With every Express Entry round, IRCC publishes not only the number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) and the minimum CRS score, but also a distribution table showing the CRS scores of every profile in the pool. This data receives less attention than cutoff scores, yet it is one of the clearest indicators of where a profile stands relative to other candidates. This article examines the distribution as of September 13, 2026 — the dataset IRCC used for rounds #442, #443 and #444, held from September 14 to 16, 2026.
The Express Entry pool on September 13, 2026
According to IRCC, the pool contained 226,793 profiles as of September 13, 2026, an increase of 120 compared with August 30, 2026 (226,673).
Key observations:
Profiles above 500 points totalled 21,358, up 1,257 in two weeks. The 601+ band consists largely of candidates with a provincial nomination, which adds 600 points to the CRS.
The 451–500 band is the largest, with 72,107 profiles (about 31.8% of the pool). It fell by 1,998, mainly in the 471–480 (−876), 481–490 (−847) and 491–500 (−362) sub-bands. This follows the September 4 Healthcare and Social Services round with a cutoff of 475, although IRCC does not publish data attributing the change to any specific cause.
The 401–450 band held 61,560 profiles, up 1,147.
A closer look at 401–500
IRCC breaks the two most crowded bands into 10-point increments. As of September 13: 491–500: 12,590; 481–490: 12,426; 471–480: 16,105; 461–470: 16,163; 451–460: 14,823; 441–450: 13,657; 431–440: 13,300; 421–430: 12,064; 411–420: 11,506; 401–410: 11,033.
The 461–480 range alone contains more than 32,000 profiles. For candidates in this zone, a difference of a few points can correspond to a ranking gap of thousands of profiles.
The rounds that used this dataset
Round #442 (Sept 14, 2026) — Provincial Nominee Program: 576 ITAs, cutoff 734.
Round #443 (Sept 15, 2026) — Canadian Experience Class: 2,000 ITAs, cutoff 519. Tie-breaking rule: profiles created before 00:16 UTC on March 26, 2026.
Round #444 (Sept 16, 2026) — Senior managers with Canadian work experience: 250 ITAs, cutoff 389.
The distribution covers the entire pool and is not broken down by program or category. It therefore cannot tell us how many profiles in the 501–600 band are CEC-eligible, or how many in the 351–400 band qualify as senior managers. Each round's cutoff depends on the number of invitations IRCC chooses to issue and the number of eligible candidates within the selected group — not on a profile's rank in the overall pool.
Practical use for applicants
Locate your profile. Compare your current CRS with the table to estimate how many profiles rank above yours overall.
Identify relevant categories. Category-based rounds (CEC, PNP, healthcare, French, senior managers, and others) now make up a large share of selections. Cutoffs vary widely — from 198 for physicians on September 3 to 734 for PNP on September 14. Category eligibility is often more decisive than overall rank.
Review improvable factors. Language test results (IELTS/CELPIP, or TEF/TCF for French), Canadian work experience, ECA-assessed education and spousal factors. Note that IRCC removed arranged-employment points from the CRS on March 25, 2025.
Consider a parallel PNP pathway. An Express Entry-aligned provincial nomination adds 600 points. For candidates studying or working in Manitoba, the MPNP is worth assessing alongside Express Entry, depending on individual circumstances.
Keep your profile current. Update new test scores, additional work experience or changes in marital status. Information must be accurate at the time an ITA is received.
Conclusion
As of September 13, 2026, the Express Entry pool was essentially unchanged in size (226,793 profiles), but its internal distribution shifted: the 500+ and 401–450 bands grew, while the 451–500 band shrank by nearly 2,000. These figures are best read alongside IRCC's category-based selection pattern in 2026, rather than through a single cutoff score.
To better understand where your Express Entry profile stands, and whether a Manitoba provincial nomination may fit your specific circumstances, please contact Nonsuch Immigration directly via Zalo 0946 749 585 or WhatsApp 204 963 9288.
Data source: IRCC — Express Entry rounds of invitations (Ministerial Instructions), CRS distribution as of August 30, 2026 and September 13, 2026.
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