It depends on where French sits in your profile. If French is your second official language, NCLC 9 adds only 12 CRS over NCLC 7 (10 with a spouse), NCLC 10 adds nothing more, and the +50 bonus already needs only NCLC 7. If French is your first official language, NCLC 9 in all four adds 56 core points and can double your language-based transferability points, often 90+ in total.
Key takeaways
- The +25/+50 French bonus and French draws only need NCLC 7 in all four skills.
- French as second language: NCLC 9 = +12 CRS over NCLC 7 (single). NCLC 10 = no extra.
- French as first language: 17 → 31 points per skill from NCLC 7 to 9 (single).
- NCLC 9 in all four first-language skills doubles language transferability points.
- NCLC 9 is roughly B2+ to C1: plan 150–300 extra study hours beyond B2.
On this page
You hit NCLC 7. The bonus is yours and you qualify for French-language draws. Is another few months of study for NCLC 9 or 10 worth it? For most English-first candidates, not much. For French-first candidates, often a lot. The difference is how IRCC's CRS grid treats a first versus a second official language.
- +12
- NCLC 7 → 9, French as second language (single)
- +56
- NCLC 7 → 9, French as first language, core only (single)
- NCLC 7
- All the +50 bonus and French draws need
If French is your second official language
#IRCC's second-language table moves in big steps: 3 points per skill at NCLC 7 or 8, 6 at NCLC 9 or more. Nothing changes between 9 and 10. And the bonus doesn't grow past NCLC 7.
| French level | Second-language points (single) | With spouse (cap 22) | French bonus (English CLB 5+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCLC 7 | 12 | 12 | +50 |
| NCLC 8 | 12 | 12 | +50 |
| NCLC 9 | 24 | 22 | +50 |
| NCLC 10 | 24 | 22 | +50 |
So NCLC 9 adds 12 points (10 with a spouse), and NCLC 8 adds nothing. If you need more CRS, English is usually the better lever: CLB 9 in English lifts your first-language and transferability points together. The numbers are in French vs IELTS for CRS.
If French is your first official language
#Here every level counts. The first-language table climbs 17 → 23 → 31 → 34 points per skill for a single applicant (16 → 22 → 29 → 32 with a spouse).
| Level in all four | Single | With spouse | Gain over NCLC 7 (single) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCLC 7 | 68 | 64 | — |
| NCLC 8 | 92 | 88 | +24 |
| NCLC 9 | 124 | 116 | +56 |
| NCLC 10+ | 136 | 128 | +68 |
Not sure which order you should use? French as first official language compares both with worked profiles.
How does NCLC 9 change skill transferability?
#Skill transferability combines your first official language with your education and with your foreign work experience. IRCC has two tiers: level 7+ in all four (with at least one skill below 9), and level 9+ in all four. Moving to the second tier roughly doubles the points.
| Combination | NCLC 7+ (one skill under 9) | NCLC 9+ in all four | Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-secondary credential of 1 year or longer | 13 | 25 | +12 |
| Master's, or two credentials with one of 3+ years | 25 | 50 | +25 |
| 1–2 years of foreign work experience | 13 | 25 | +12 |
| 3+ years of foreign work experience | 25 | 50 | +25 |
Transferability is capped at 50 for each group and 100 overall. Canadian work experience combinations don't depend on language. For the Federal Skilled Worker 67-point grid, first-language points also rise from 4 per ability at CLB 7 to 6 at CLB 9.
What scores do you need for NCLC 9 and 10?
#| Test and level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCF Canada NCLC 7 | 458 | 453 | 10 | 10 |
| TCF Canada NCLC 9 | 523 | 524 | 14 | 14 |
| TCF Canada NCLC 10 | 549 | 549 | 16 | 16 |
| TEF Canada NCLC 7 | 249 | 207 | 310 | 310 |
| TEF Canada NCLC 9 | 298 | 248 | 371 | 371 |
| TEF Canada NCLC 10 | 316 | 263 | 393 | 393 |
TEF numbers are the ancien score (which column to read). Full tables: TCF Canada score chart and TEF Canada score chart. Writing and speaking are usually the hard part: on TCF, NCLC 9 means 14/20 instead of 10/20.
How long does it take to get from NCLC 7 to 9?
#Roughly, NCLC 7 is a strong B1, NCLC 8 is B2, and NCLC 9–10 sits around B2+ to C1 (CEFR vs NCLC). One Alliance Française estimate puts B2 at about 550–600 hours of learning from zero and C1 at about 750–850. That suggests about 150–300 more hours to move from a solid B2 to C1, or 4–7 months at 10 hours a week. To see which CEFR level a score maps to, use the score to CEFR converter.
- Listening and reading at NCLC 9 mean following fast, natural speech and dense texts with few gaps. Daily exposure helps most.
- Writing and speaking need precision: varied structures, connectors and arguments. Feedback from a teacher matters more at this level. Build range with flashcards for exam vocabulary.
- These are rough planning numbers. Your own time depends on your starting point and practice. The study hours calculator helps you plan.
Should you go for it?
#Usually stop. NCLC 9 adds 12 points. Submit your profile and watch French draw cut-offs. If you need more, look at English first.
Often worth it. NCLC 9 in all four can add around 90 points with a degree and foreign work. Retake once your weakest skill is reliably at the NCLC 9 score. See retake rules.
Protect what you have. Don't let an NCLC 7 result lapse while chasing NCLC 9. Results are valid 2 years; see result validity.
Check yourself
1 of 3.English is your first language. French goes from NCLC 7 to NCLC 10 in all four. How many CRS do you gain (single)?
2 of 3.Which level does the +50 French bonus need?
3 of 3.French is your first language: NCLC 9, 9, 9, 8. Do you get top-tier transferability?
Questions people ask
As a first official language, 31 points per skill for a single applicant (29 with a spouse). As a second official language, 6 per skill, capped at 24 (22 with a spouse).
Only as a first official language: 34 vs 31 per skill for a single applicant. As a second language, both give 6 per skill.
No. The +25 or +50 bonus needs NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills. Higher levels don't increase it.
Listening 523, reading 524, writing 14 and speaking 14. NCLC 10 is 549, 549, 16 and 16.
Ancien score: listening 298, reading 248, writing 371 and speaking 371. NCLC 10 is 316, 263, 393 and 393.
No. French-language proficiency draws require NCLC 7 or higher in all four skills. Higher French can raise your CRS, which helps if a cut-off is close.
Terms in this guide
- CRS French bonus
- French-language proficiency draw
- CEFR
- CLB
- CRS
- Ancien score
- NCLC 7
- English tests accepted by IRCC
Each one is defined in plain English in the TEF & TCF Canada glossary.
Sources
- IRCC: Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) criteria
- IRCC: Language test equivalency charts
- IRCC: Federal Skilled Worker Program eligibility
- IRCC: 2026 consultation on Express Entry and CRS changes
Rules and fees change. Always confirm with IRCC and your test centre before you pay.
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