How TEF Canada and TCF Canada scores convert to NCLC

TEF Canada to NCLC

Use the “Équivalence ancien score” column on your TEF Canada results, not the score out of 699. IRCC says to enter only the equivalence scores in your Express Entry profile.

If you took TEF Canada between December 11, 2023 and May 6, 2024, your NCLC levels may have been shown differently for a while. IRCC says that change has been reversed and that affected people were emailed and must update their profile.

TCF Canada to NCLC

Listening and reading are scored up to 699. Writing and speaking are marked out of 20.

What the levels mean for Express Entry

• Federal Skilled Worker Program: NCLC 7 in all four skills if French is your first official language.
• Canadian Experience Class: NCLC 7 for TEER 0 or 1 jobs, NCLC 5 for TEER 2 or 3 jobs.
• Federal Skilled Trades Program: NCLC 5 in speaking and listening, NCLC 4 in reading and writing.
• Extra CRS points: NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills earns 25 points, or 50 points if you also have CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills.
• French-language proficiency draws: IRCC lists French as a current category, open to people with at least NCLC 7 in all four skills.

What the levels mean for citizenship

If you’re 18 to 54, you need CLB or NCLC 4 in listening and speaking. IRCC accepts TEF Canada at B1 or higher in listening and speaking, and TCF Canada at B1 or higher. Expired results are fine for citizenship.

Each skill counts on its own

IRCC checks each skill against the minimum. A strong listening score can’t make up for a weak writing score. Raw-score charts online that turn “right answers” into a TEF or TCF score aren’t official, so treat them as rough guesses. Your official level is the one IRCC reads from your results.