TCF Canada Score Chart: CEFR, CLB and NCLC Conversion
The TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada) is the French proficiency exam recognized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence and citizenship applications. It is administered by France Éducation International (FEI). This page shows the complete score conversion between TCF Canada raw scores, CEFR levels (A1 through C2), and the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) / Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 1–12 scale.
Last updated: 2026-04-05. Source tables below are published by IRCC and FEI. HiTCF is an independent third-party practice platform and is not affiliated with IRCC or FEI.
How TCF Canada is scored
TCF Canada has four mandatory sections, each scored independently:
| Section | Format | Questions | Duration | Score range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compréhension Orale (CO) — Listening | Multiple choice | 39 | 35 min | 100–699 |
| Compréhension Écrite (CE) — Reading | Multiple choice | 39 | 60 min | 100–699 |
| Expression Écrite (EE) — Writing | 3 tasks | — | 60 min | 0–20 |
| Expression Orale (EO) — Speaking | 3 tasks | — | 12 min | 0–20 |
There is no overall total. Each skill is reported separately and mapped to its own CEFR level. To qualify for a given CLB level (for Express Entry or PEQ), you must reach the minimum score in every skill.
TCF Canada score → CEFR level
The raw CO/CE score maps to CEFR as follows (published by FEI). The EE/EO mapping uses the 0–20 scale directly.
| CEFR level | CO / CE (points) | EE / EO (points) |
|---|---|---|
| C2 — Mastery | 600–699 | 18–20 |
| C1 — Advanced | 500–599 | 14–17 |
| B2 — Upper intermediate | 400–499 | 10–13 |
| B1 — Intermediate | 300–399 | 6–9 |
| A2 — Elementary | 200–299 | 4–5 |
| A1 — Beginner | 100–199 | 1–3 |
TCF Canada score → CLB / NCLC (official IRCC table)
This is the table IRCC uses for Express Entry and all federal immigration programs. See the official IRCC language testing reference for the authoritative current version.
| CLB / NCLC | CE (Reading) | CO (Listening) | EE (Writing) | EO (Speaking) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 10 | 549+ | 549+ | 16+ | 16+ |
| CLB 9 | 524–548 | 523–548 | 14–15 | 14–15 |
| CLB 8 | 499–523 | 503–522 | 12–13 | 12–13 |
| CLB 7 | 453–498 | 458–502 | 10–11 | 10–11 |
| CLB 6 | 406–452 | 398–457 | 7–9 | 7–9 |
| CLB 5 | 375–405 | 369–397 | 6 | 6 |
| CLB 4 | 342–374 | 331–368 | 4–5 | 4–5 |
Note: CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks) and NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) are the same scale applied to English and French respectively. NCLC 7 = CLB 7. Every CLB threshold above applies to TCF Canada regardless of the term used.
What score do you need for Canadian PR?
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
You need a minimum of CLB 7 in all four skills in either English or French to be eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Claiming French as your first official language and English as your second unlocks up to 50 extra CRS points for bilingual ability — a major advantage for candidates with a French background.
Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) / PEQ
Quebec programs require a minimum of NCLC 7 in oral skills (CO + EO). For some streams, NCLC 5 in written skills (CE + EE) is sufficient. The Programme de l'expérience québécoise (PEQ) also accepts NCLC 7 in oral comprehension and production.
Canadian citizenship
Citizenship requires CLB 4 in speaking and listening (EO and CO). Writing and reading are not tested for citizenship applications, but demonstrated proficiency through education or employment is considered.
How HiTCF helps you hit these benchmarks
HiTCF offers 1,306 test sets and 8,397 questions covering every CEFR level from A1 through C2:
- 42 listening test sets (1,638 CO questions) with sentence-level audio timestamps generated by OpenAI Whisper — every sentence can be replayed independently.
- 42 reading test sets (1,638 CE questions) with click-to-lookup vocabulary and full explanations for every answer.
- 702 speaking topic sets (3,536 EO tasks across Tâche 1, 2, and 3) with AI evaluation powered by Azure Speech pronunciation scoring and Grok language modelling, graded on the 6-dimension TCF rubric.
- 520 writing task sets (1,540 EE tasks) with AI feedback on the official 4-criteria TCF grading rubric.
Every practice question shows an estimated CEFR level and the corresponding CLB/NCLC band, so you can track exactly where you stand against the benchmarks above. New users receive a 7-day Pro trial on registration — no credit card required.
Frequently asked questions
What TCF Canada score do I need for CLB 7?
CLB 7 requires: Compréhension Écrite 453–498 points, Compréhension Orale 458–502 points, Expression Écrite 10–11 points, and Expression Orale 10–11 points. CLB 7 is the minimum French proficiency required for most Express Entry federal skilled worker programs and for full bilingual points on CRS.
Is NCLC the same as CLB?
Yes. NCLC is the French-language equivalent of CLB, using the same 1–12 scale. NCLC 7 = CLB 7. IRCC reports both terms interchangeably depending on whether the test was in French (NCLC) or English (CLB).
How is TCF Canada different from TCF?
TCF Canada is a special version of the Test de Connaissance du Français designed specifically for the Canadian immigration and citizenship context. All four skills (CO, CE, EE, EO) are mandatory, scored with the Canadian scale, and recognized by IRCC. The regular TCF tests vary by version and are used for other purposes (academic admission, visa applications, etc.).
How long are TCF Canada scores valid?
TCF Canada scores are valid for two years from the date of the exam. After two years, you must retake the test to submit a new Express Entry profile or other IRCC application.
Where can I take TCF Canada in Canada?
TCF Canada is offered at accredited Alliance Française centres in Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and several other Canadian cities. Seats are limited and fill quickly — HiTCF provides a real-time seat monitor for Ottawa, Calgary, and Vancouver that refreshes every 15 seconds.
Sources: France Éducation International — TCF Canada, IRCC — Test results and CLB levels. This page is maintained by HiTCF, an independent TCF Canada practice platform. We are not affiliated with IRCC or FEI. Please verify with the official sources for the most up-to-date thresholds before submitting your application.