When category-based Express Entry draws were newly introduced, a member asked whether the initial cutoff score would start high and come down in later rounds.
What group members discussed (historical/time-bound, as this was around the introduction of category-based draws):- Exact frequency and cutoff score were not clear at the time — one member noted category-based draws were brand new, but it was already apparent they'd happen less frequently than general draws.
- Category-based draws were compared to Ontario's PNP approach, since both target the same specific occupation categories rather than pulling from the whole pool.
Because this discussion happened when the category-based draw system was first introduced, treat the specific expectations here as historical context rather than a reliable predictor of current cutoffs — always check IRCC's latest published rounds for up-to-date cutoff and frequency data.