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TCF Canada score chart: every NCLC level from 4 to 10

458, 453, 10, 10 is NCLC 7. Here is every other level.

By the French Exam Alert teamUpdated 6 min readHow we fact-check

Short answer

IRCC converts each TCF Canada skill to an NCLC level on its own. NCLC 7 starts at 458 in listening and 453 in reading (out of 699), and at 10 in writing and speaking (out of 20). NCLC 9 starts at 523, 524, 14 and 14, and NCLC 10 at 549, 549, 16 and 16. The full chart for NCLC 4 to 10 is below.

Key takeaways

  • Listening and reading are scored out of 699; writing and speaking out of 20.
  • NCLC 7: 458 / 453 / 10 / 10. NCLC 9: 523 / 524 / 14 / 14.
  • NCLC 10+: 549 / 549 / 16 / 16.
  • Listening and reading have different cut-offs. 523 is NCLC 9 in listening but NCLC 8 in reading.
  • Each skill converts on its own. Your lowest skill decides the French bonus.
On this page
  1. What is the TCF Canada score chart?
  2. Where do your TCF scores land?
  3. What TCF Canada score do I need for each goal?
  4. Worked examples: three real-looking score sheets
  5. How do TCF scores map to CEFR levels?
  6. What are the TEF Canada equivalents?

Here is the full TCF Canada to NCLC chart that IRCC uses, for every level from NCLC 4 to NCLC 10. Unlike TEF Canada, there is no second "ancien" score to hunt for: the numbers on your TCF Canada attestation are the ones IRCC converts.

What is the TCF Canada score chart?

#
TCF Canada → NCLC (IRCC equivalency chart, Oct 2026)
NCLCListening /699Reading /699Writing /20Speaking /20
10 and above549–699549–69916–2016–20
9523–548524–54814–1514–15
8503–522499–52312–1312–13
7458–502453–49810–1110–11
6398–457406–4527–97–9
5369–397375–40566
4331–368342–3744–54–5
TCF Canada → NCLC (IRCC equivalency chart, Oct 2026)

Below the NCLC 4 minimum, a skill counts as below NCLC 4 and earns no CRS points. Try the interactive chart below and switch between exams:

Try it
TCF Canada score to NCLC equivalency (IRCC)
NCLCListeningReadingWritingSpeaking
10549–699549–69916–2016–20
9523–548524–54814–1514–15
8503–522499–52312–1312–13
7bonus line458–502453–49810–1110–11
6398–457406–4527–97–9
5369–397375–40566
4331–368342–3744–54–5

Source: IRCC language test equivalency charts.

Listening and reading are not the same scaleBoth are out of 699, but the cut-offs differ. Reading needs more than listening at NCLC 4, 5, 6 and 9, and less at NCLC 7 and 8. A 523 is NCLC 9 in listening but only NCLC 8 in reading. Always read the right column.

Where do your TCF scores land?

#

Move the sliders to your scores. Each skill converts separately, the way IRCC does it. To check all four at once, use the TCF Canada score converter.

Try itOpen the full CLB & CRS calculator →
Listening/ 699
Reading/ 699
Writing/ 20
Speaking/ 20
Lowest skillNCLC 6
You need NCLC 7 in every skill for the French bonus and category draws.
ListeningCLB 7
ReadingCLB 7
WritingCLB 7
SpeakingCLB 6
Points to CLB 7: Speaking +1
Based on IRCC equivalency tables. Confirm on canada.ca before you apply.
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What TCF Canada score do I need for each goal?

#
Minimum TCF Canada score per goal (each skill must reach it)
GoalLevel neededListeningReadingWritingSpeaking
Citizenship (speaking + listening only)CLB/NCLC 4331Not assessedNot assessed4
French CRS bonus (+25 or +50)NCLC 7 in all four4584531010
Full skill transferability pointsNCLC 9 in all four5235241414
Maximum first-language CRS pointsNCLC 10 in all four5495491616
Minimum TCF Canada score per goal (each skill must reach it)
  • NCLC 7 in all four unlocks the French bonus: +25 CRS, or +50 if you also have CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills. It also makes you eligible for French category draws. See CLB 7 French score.
  • NCLC 9 in all four gives the top skill transferability points tied to language (up to 50 with education, up to 50 with foreign work experience). As a first official language, it is worth 31 points per skill for a single applicant, against 17 at NCLC 7.
  • NCLC 10 is the ceiling for first-language points: 34 per skill for a single applicant (32 with a spouse).
  • Citizenship works differently: only speaking and listening count, and IRCC asks for B1 or higher on TCF Canada. See TEF and TCF Canada for citizenship.

Pick a goal and see the minimum for every skill in one place:

Try itOpen the full target score calculator →
Your exam
What’s your goal?
Target level
CLB and NCLC are the same scale. NCLC 7 in every skill opens the French bonus and French-language draws.
Is a spouse or partner coming with you?
Changes the CRS points only. The minimum scores are the same.
TCF Canada · NCLC 7 in all four skillsNCLC 7in all four skills
68French as 1st languageof 136 CRS
+25–50French bonus+50 with English CLB 5+
12French as 2nd languageof 24 CRS

Every skill has to reach its minimum. IRCC never averages them.

Minimum TCF Canada score per skill
SkillMinimum
ListeningNCLC 7458 / 699
ReadingNCLC 7453 / 699
WritingNCLC 710 / 20
SpeakingNCLC 710 / 20

Minimums from IRCC’s language test equivalency charts; points from IRCC’s CRS criteria. Language points only, not your full CRS score. Confirm on canada.ca before you apply.

Worked examples: three real-looking score sheets

#
Pick a score sheet
Listening 470, reading 460, writing 10, speaking 9
SkillScoreNCLCCRS (single, first language)
Listening470717
Reading460717
Writing10717
Speaking969
Listening 470, reading 460, writing 10, speaking 9

Three skills at NCLC 7, but speaking at 9/20 is NCLC 6. No French bonus and no French category draws, because the bonus needs NCLC 7 in all four. One more point in speaking would be worth 8 core points plus the +25 or +50 bonus. Practise with the TCF Canada speaking tasks guide.

How do TCF scores map to CEFR levels?

#

Your TCF Canada results also show a CEFR level for each skill. France Éducation international's TCF scale uses these bands:

TCF score → CEFR level (FEI's TCF scale)
CEFRListening / reading /699Writing / speaking /20
C2600–69918–20
C1500–59914–17
B2400–49910–13
B1300–3996–9
A2200–2992–5
A1100–1991
TCF score → CEFR level (FEI's TCF scale)

Put the two charts side by side and you can see why CEFR and NCLC do not line up neatly. A 410 in listening is B2 on the TCF scale but only NCLC 6. A 10/20 in writing is both B2 and NCLC 7. IRCC uses only the NCLC chart for Express Entry, so plan with NCLC. Our CEFR vs NCLC vs CLB guide explains the gap.

What are the TEF Canada equivalents?

#

Both exams feed the same NCLC scale, so NCLC 7 on TCF Canada is worth exactly the same as NCLC 7 on TEF Canada. The TEF uses different raw scores (the "Équivalence ancien score"):

TEF Canada → NCLC (minimum ancien score per level)
NCLCListening /360Reading /300Writing /450Speaking /450
10+316263393393
9298248371371
8280233349349
7249207310310
6217181271271
5181151226226
4145121181181
TEF Canada → NCLC (minimum ancien score per level)

The full TEF version, with ranges, is in the TEF Canada score chart. Still choosing? Read TEF vs TCF Canada.

  • Myth

    A high average across four skills gives a higher NCLC.

  • Myth

    9 out of 20 in writing rounds up to NCLC 7.

  • Myth

    Listening and reading use the same cut-offs because both are out of 699.

  • Myth

    B2 on my TCF results means NCLC 7.

Quiz

Check yourself

  1. 1 of 4.TCF Canada reading 500 is which NCLC?

  2. 2 of 4.What is the minimum TCF speaking score for NCLC 7?

  3. 3 of 4.Listening 523 and reading 523. What are the levels?

  4. 4 of 4.Which scores are needed for NCLC 10 in all four?

Before you enter TCF scores in your profile0/4
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Questions people ask

At least 458 in listening, 453 in reading, 10 in writing and 10 in speaking. NCLC 7 in French is treated like CLB 7 in English.

At least 523 in listening, 524 in reading, 14 in writing and 14 in speaking.

699 in listening and reading, and 20 in writing and speaking. IRCC's top band, NCLC 10 and above, starts at 549 and 16.

IRCC asks for B1 or higher on TCF Canada in speaking and listening. Reading and writing are not assessed for citizenship. See our citizenship guide.

6/20 is NCLC 5. That earns 1 CRS point as a second official language and meets the NCLC 5 speaking requirement of the Francophone Mobility work permit, but it is below NCLC 7 for the French bonus.

More score and CLB questions in the FAQ

Terms in this guide

Each one is defined in plain English in the TEF & TCF Canada glossary.

Sources

Rules and fees change. Always confirm with IRCC and your test centre before you pay.

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