Score guide · TEF Canada
TEF Canada Scores Explained: Score to NCLC Chart
Your TEF Canada result is not one number. You get four separate scores, one for reading, listening, writing and speaking, and each has its own scale. 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 which score column to use for Express Entry.
The basics
What Scores Does the TEF Canada Give You?
The TEF Canada tests four skills. In IRCC's Express Entry table, each skill is reported on its own scale:
| Skill | French name | Highest score in IRCC's table |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | Compréhension écrite | 300 |
| Listening | Compréhension orale | 360 |
| Writing | Expression écrite | 450 |
| Speaking | Expression orale | 450 |
The scales are different, so you cannot compare skills by looking at the raw numbers. A 250 in reading is excellent (it is NCLC 9), while a 250 in listening is only NCLC 7 and a 250 in speaking is NCLC 5. Always read each score against its own column.
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. "CLB 7" in English and "NCLC 7" in French are one level.
Frenchly's NCLC figures are estimates to help you plan. Only your official TEF Canada certificate and IRCC's current tables decide your level.
Full chart
TEF Canada to NCLC Conversion Chart
This is IRCC's TEF Canada equivalency table for Express Entry, as published on its language-test 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 /300 | Listening /360 | Writing /450 | Speaking /450 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCLC 10+ | 263–300 | 316–360 | 393–450 | 393–450 |
| NCLC 9 | 248–262 | 298–315 | 371–392 | 371–392 |
| NCLC 8 | 233–247 | 280–297 | 349–370 | 349–370 |
| NCLC 7 | 207–232 | 249–279 | 310–348 | 310–348 |
| NCLC 6 | 181–206 | 217–248 | 271–309 | 271–309 |
| NCLC 5 | 151–180 | 181–216 | 226–270 | 226–270 |
| NCLC 4 | 121–150 | 145–180 | 181–225 | 181–225 |
A few things stand out in the chart:
- The starting points differ by skill. NCLC 7 starts at 207 in reading, 249 in listening and 310 in writing and speaking. No single number works for all four.
- Writing and speaking use the same ranges. A 310 is NCLC 7 in both, and a 349 is NCLC 8 in both.
- The top bands are narrow in reading and listening. NCLC 8 is 233–247 in reading, a range of only 15 points.
- NCLC 10 means "10 and above". The top row is open-ended up to the highest score on each scale.
Rather than reading the chart by eye, you can enter your scores in the NCLC calculator, which uses the same bands.
Read your certificate
Which Score Do You Use for Express Entry?
Newer TEF Canada results can show more than one score for a skill. IRCC's language-test page tells candidates to enter only the scores from the column labelled "Équivalence ancien score" (the older-score equivalent) in their Express Entry profile. It says not to use the "Score / 699" column, because those results are not compatible with the Express Entry system at this time.
The chart above is for that older-score column. If you apply the chart to a /699 number, the NCLC level you read will be wrong. If your certificate looks different from what is described here, check the current instructions on IRCC's page and with the test centre before you fill in your profile.
IRCC's page also mentions a short period, for tests taken between December 11, 2023 and May 6, 2024, when different ranges were used. It states that this change was reverted to the grid in use now. If your test falls in that window, read IRCC's note on that page.
The rule that matters
Your Lowest Skill Decides
For the French-language bonus in Express Entry, you need NCLC 7 or higher in all four skills. One skill at NCLC 6 means the bonus does not apply, even if the other three are well above 7. A balanced result matters more than one excellent score.
Reading 230 → NCLC 7
Listening 240 → NCLC 6 (NCLC 7 starts at 249)
Writing 320 → NCLC 7
Speaking 315 → NCLC 7
This candidate is 9 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 207 → NCLC 7
Listening 249 → NCLC 7
Writing 310 → NCLC 7
Speaking 310 → 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.
Reading 255 → NCLC 9
Listening 290 → NCLC 8
Writing 300 → NCLC 6 (NCLC 7 starts at 310)
Speaking 360 → NCLC 8
Writing 300 is 10 points below the NCLC 7 minimum. The lowest skill is NCLC 6, so the French bonus does not apply, even though three skills are at NCLC 8 or 9.
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 /300 | 181–206 | 207–232 | 26 |
| Listening /360 | 217–248 | 249–279 | 31 |
| Writing /450 | 271–309 | 310–348 | 39 |
| Speaking /450 | 271–309 | 310–348 | 39 |
Reading has the smallest bands, so it has the least room for error: one more correct answer can matter. Writing and speaking have wider bands, but each skill is rated by an examiner on a grid, so a stronger answer in one task can still change the final level. Our guides to TEF writing and TEF speaking show what each section asks for, and reading and listening tips cover the two multiple-choice tests.
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 TEF Score
- Using the wrong score column. For Express Entry, IRCC asks for the "Équivalence ancien score" figures, not the "Score / 699" ones.
- Mixing up the TEF and TCF tables. The TCF Canada uses other scales (reading and listening out of 699, writing and speaking out of 20) and different cutoffs. Never apply a TCF threshold to a TEF result. If you are choosing between the two tests, read TEF vs TCF, and for the other table see TCF Canada scores to NCLC.
- 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. Your certificate may also show a CEFR level (A1 to C2). CEFR and NCLC are different scales. 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.
- Relying on an old blog table. Tables can be updated. Check IRCC's language-test 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: 207 reading, 249 listening, 310 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 TEF 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
TEF Canada Scores Explained FAQ
What TEF Canada score do I need for NCLC 7?
On IRCC's table, NCLC 7 starts at 207 in reading, 249 in listening, 310 in writing and 310 in speaking. You need to reach it in all four skills.
Is there one total score on the TEF Canada?
For Express Entry, no. IRCC converts reading, listening, writing and speaking separately, and each skill gets its own NCLC level.
Which score do I enter in my Express Entry profile?
IRCC's language-test page says to enter the scores from the "Équivalence ancien score" column and not the "Score / 699" column. Check that page for the current instructions before you fill in your profile.
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 the 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 TCF Canada scores with this chart?
No. This chart is for the TEF Canada only. The TCF Canada has its own scales and cutoffs. See the TCF Canada scores chart or the NCLC calculator, which covers both tests.
How long is a TEF 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 TEF Canada mock exams show an estimated NCLC band for each skill, so you can see which one to work on next. Then drill that skill one question type at a time. Start with a 14-day free trial.