Score guide · TCF Canada
TCF Canada Scores Explained: Score to NCLC Chart
Your TCF Canada result is not one number. You get four separate scores: reading and listening out of 699, and writing and speaking out of 20. IRCC converts each one to an NCLC level, and your lowest level is the one that counts. This guide gives the full conversion chart, shows how the weakest-skill rule works with examples, and explains what NCLC 7 means for Express Entry.
The basics
What Scores Does the TCF Canada Give You?
The TCF Canada tests four skills, and each one is reported on its own scale:
| Skill | French name | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | Compréhension écrite | Out of 699 |
| Listening | Compréhension orale | Out of 699 |
| Writing | Expression écrite | Out of 20 |
| Speaking | Expression orale | Out of 20 |
The two scales are not comparable. A 14 in speaking is a strong result on a 20-point scale; a 14 in listening would be far below any level IRCC recognises. When you compare yourself with a target, always compare reading and listening with the 699 scale, and writing and speaking with the 20 scale.
For Express Entry, IRCC does not add the four scores together. It looks at each skill separately and turns it into a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level. The French version of the same scale is called NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens), and the numbers are the same. If you see "CLB 7" in English and "NCLC 7" in French, it is one level.
Frenchly's NCLC figures are estimates to help you plan. Only your official TCF Canada certificate and IRCC's current tables decide your level.
Full chart
TCF Canada to NCLC Conversion Chart
This is IRCC's TCF Canada equivalency table, as published on its language-testing page. Find your score in each column, then read the level on the left. A score below the last row is below NCLC 4.
| NCLC | Reading /699 | Listening /699 | Writing /20 | Speaking /20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCLC 10+ | 549–699 | 549–699 | 16–20 | 16–20 |
| NCLC 9 | 524–548 | 523–548 | 14–15 | 14–15 |
| NCLC 8 | 499–523 | 503–522 | 12–13 | 12–13 |
| NCLC 7 | 453–498 | 458–502 | 10–11 | 10–11 |
| NCLC 6 | 406–452 | 398–457 | 7–9 | 7–9 |
| NCLC 5 | 375–405 | 369–397 | 6 | 6 |
| NCLC 4 | 342–374 | 331–368 | 4–5 | 4–5 |
A few things stand out in the chart:
- The starting points differ by skill. NCLC 7 starts at 453 in reading but 458 in listening. Do not assume one number works for both.
- Bands are narrow at the top. NCLC 8 is 499–523 in reading, a range of only 25 points. On the /20 scale, a single point can move you up a level.
- Writing and speaking use the same ranges. A 10 is NCLC 7 in both, and a 12 is NCLC 8 in both.
- NCLC 10 means "10 and above". The top row is open-ended, so a 20/20 and a 16/20 both give NCLC 10+.
Rather than reading the chart by eye, you can enter your scores in the NCLC calculator, which uses the same bands.
The rule that matters
Your Lowest Skill Decides
Express Entry looks at all four skills. For the French-language bonus, you need NCLC 7 or higher in all four. One skill at NCLC 6 means the bonus does not apply, even if the other three are well above 7. This is why a balanced result matters more than one excellent score.
Reading 470 → NCLC 7
Listening 440 → NCLC 6 (NCLC 7 starts at 458)
Writing 11 → NCLC 7
Speaking 10 → NCLC 7
This candidate is 18 listening points short of NCLC 7 in one skill. The three other skills do not make up for it. Listening is where the next round of practice should go.
Reading 453 → NCLC 7
Listening 458 → NCLC 7
Writing 10 → NCLC 7
Speaking 10 → NCLC 7
All four skills reach NCLC 7, so this result meets the French requirement. It also has no margin. One point lower in any skill, and that skill drops a level. If you retake, a result on the line is a sign to keep practising rather than to stop.
Reading 520 → NCLC 8
Listening 505 → NCLC 8
Writing 9 → NCLC 6
Speaking 12 → NCLC 8
Writing 9 is one point below the NCLC 7 minimum of 10. The result reads as NCLC 6 overall for the purposes of the bonus, even though three skills are at NCLC 8.
These are made-up numbers to show the rule, not typical results and not predictions.
Reading the gaps
How Far Apart Are the Levels?
The size of each band tells you how much a few points can matter. Here are the NCLC 6 and NCLC 7 bands from IRCC's table:
| Skill | NCLC 6 | NCLC 7 | Points in the NCLC 7 band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading /699 | 406–452 | 453–498 | 46 |
| Listening /699 | 398–457 | 458–502 | 45 |
| Writing /20 | 7–9 | 10–11 | 2 |
| Speaking /20 | 7–9 | 10–11 | 2 |
On the /20 scale, a single point is a big step. Going from 9 to 10 in writing or speaking moves you from NCLC 6 to NCLC 7. That is also why the examiner's rating of one task can matter, and why practising complete answers under time limits is more useful than polishing a single paragraph. Our guides to TCF writing and TCF speaking show what each task asks for.
On the /699 scale the bands are wider, but they are not equal in size: the NCLC 7 band is about 45 points wide, and NCLC 8 in reading is only 25 points wide. Use reading and listening practice to see where on the ladder from A1 to C2 your answers start to slip.
Why NCLC 7
What NCLC 7 Is Worth in Express Entry
IRCC's Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) gives additional points for French when you reach NCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities:
| Your English | Additional CRS points for French |
|---|---|
| CLB 4 or lower, or no English test | 25 |
| CLB 5 or higher in all four abilities | 50 |
Reaching NCLC 7 does not guarantee an invitation to apply. Your total CRS score, the type of round and the cutoff on the day all decide that. For a current example of how French-language rounds have looked, see our report on draw #450 and the list of all French draws.
Your language result also has a shelf life. IRCC requires it to be less than 2 years old when you complete your profile and when you apply, so read how long TEF and TCF results are valid before you choose a test date.
Avoid these
Mistakes When Reading Your TCF Score
- Mixing up the TEF and TCF tables. The TEF Canada uses other scales (for example, 300 in reading and 450 in writing and speaking) and different cutoffs. Never apply a TEF threshold to a TCF result. If you are choosing between the two tests, read TEF vs TCF.
- Averaging the four scores. IRCC converts each skill alone. A good average does not help if one skill is under NCLC 7.
- Treating a CEFR level as an NCLC level. CEFR (A1 to C2) and NCLC are different scales. Only IRCC's table converts your TCF score, so use the score ranges in the chart above.
- Aiming for exactly the minimum. Practice results vary from day to day, so a margin above the minimum in each skill is a safer plan. A margin is a plan, not a promise.
- Forgetting one skill. Express Entry needs results for all four abilities, so plan to prepare the weakest one first.
- Relying on an old blog table. Tables can be updated. Check IRCC's language-testing page for the version in force on the day you apply.
Your plan
How to Use This Chart to Plan Your Preparation
- 1Take a timed practice test in each skill and write down the four scores or estimates.
- 2Look up each score in the chart, or enter it in the NCLC calculator.
- 3Find your lowest skill. That is the one that decides your result, so it gets the next block of practice time.
- 4Measure the gap to the NCLC 7 minimum in that skill: 453 reading, 458 listening, 10 for writing and speaking.
- 5Re-test and repeat. Check progress after a few weeks, not every day. Scores move in steps, and one test can be higher or lower than the next.
- 6Book the real test when your estimates sit above the minimum in all four skills, and leave time for the result to arrive before your deadline. See how to book the TCF Canada.
A practice score, including one from Frenchly, is an estimate. It shows where you stand against the exam format. It does not predict your official result.
Questions
TCF Canada Scores Explained FAQ
What TCF Canada score do I need for NCLC 7?
On IRCC's table, NCLC 7 starts at 453 in reading, 458 in listening, 10 out of 20 in writing and 10 out of 20 in speaking. You need to reach it in all four skills.
Is there one total score on the TCF Canada?
For Express Entry, no. IRCC converts reading, listening, writing and speaking separately, and each skill gets its own NCLC level.
What if one skill is below NCLC 7?
Then the French additional points do not apply, even if your other three skills are higher. If you retake the test, check your test centre's retake rules first, and spend your practice time on the weakest skill.
Is NCLC the same as CLB?
Yes. NCLC is the French name for the Canadian Language Benchmarks. The levels have the same numbers, so NCLC 7 is CLB 7.
How many CRS points does French add?
As of October 2026, IRCC lists 25 additional points for NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities with English at CLB 4 or lower (or no English test), and 50 points with CLB 5 or higher in all four English abilities.
Can I use my TEF Canada scores with this chart?
No. This chart is for the TCF Canada only. The TEF Canada has its own scales and cutoffs. See the TEF Canada exam guide or the NCLC calculator, which covers both tests.
How long is a TCF Canada score valid for Express Entry?
IRCC requires results to be less than 2 years old when you complete your profile and again when you submit your application for permanent residence.
Next step
Find your weakest skill first.
Frenchly's TCF practice shows an estimated NCLC band for each skill, so you can see which one to work on next. Start with a 14-day free trial.