By Claire AI Editorial — TCF Canada Specialists · Updated 2026-06-12
NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) is Canada's official framework for measuring French language proficiency. When you take TCF Canada, your raw scores are converted to NCLC levels — and these NCLC levels are what IRCC uses to determine your immigration eligibility and calculate your CRS points.
Understanding this conversion is critical because:
TCF Canada uses two completely different scoring scales depending on the skill:
| Skills | Score Range | How It's Scored |
|---|---|---|
| Listening (Compréhension orale) | 100 – 699 | Machine-scored multiple choice (39 questions, ~35 min) |
| Reading (Compréhension écrite) | 100 – 699 | Machine-scored multiple choice (39 questions, 60 min) |
| Speaking (Expression orale) | 0 – 20 | Examiner-scored interview (3 tasks, 12 min) |
| Writing (Expression écrite) | 0 – 20 | Examiner-scored written tasks (3 tasks, 60 min) |
This means a "score of 10" on speaking and a "score of 458" on listening are both NCLC 7 — they just use different scales. Don't compare numbers across skills.
This is the official conversion table used by IRCC. All four skills must be converted independently.
| NCLC | CECR | TCF Score Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A1 non atteint | 100 – 199 |
| 2 | A1 | 200 – 270 |
| 3 | A1+ | 271 – 330 |
| 4 | A2 | 331 – 368 |
| 5 | B1 | 369 – 397 |
| 6 | B1+ | 398 – 457 |
| 7 | B2 | 458 – 502 |
| 8 | B2+ | 503 – 522 |
| 9 | C1 | 523 – 548 |
| 10+ | C1 / C2 | 549 – 699 |
| NCLC | CECR | TCF Score Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A1 non atteint | 100 – 199 |
| 2 | A1 | 200 – 270 |
| 3 | A1+ | 271 – 341 |
| 4 | A2 | 342 – 374 |
| 5 | B1 | 375 – 405 |
| 6 | B1+ | 406 – 452 |
| 7 | B2 | 453 – 498 |
| 8 | B2+ | 499 – 523 |
| 9 | C1 | 524 – 548 |
| 10+ | C1 / C2 | 549 – 699 |
Notice: Listening and Reading have different score ranges for the same NCLC level. For example, NCLC 7 requires 458+ for listening but only 453+ for reading.
| NCLC | CECR | TCF Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A1 non atteint | 0 |
| 2 | A1 | 1 |
| 3 | A2 | 2 – 3 |
| 4 | A2 | 4 – 5 |
| 5 | B1 | 6 |
| 6 | B1+ | 7 – 9 |
| 7 | B2 | 10 – 11 |
| 8 | B2+ | 12 – 13 |
| 9 | C1 | 14 – 15 |
| 10+ | C1 / C2 | 16 – 20 |
| NCLC | CECR | TCF Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A1 non atteint | 0 |
| 2 | A1 | 1 |
| 3 | A2 | 2 – 3 |
| 4 | A2 | 4 – 5 |
| 5 | B1 | 6 |
| 6 | B1+ | 7 – 9 |
| 7 | B2 | 10 – 11 |
| 8 | B2+ | 12 – 13 |
| 9 | C1 | 14 – 15 |
| 10+ | C1 / C2 | 16 – 20 |
Speaking and Writing share the same 0–20 scale and identical NCLC breakpoints.
CECR (Cadre européen commun de référence) is the European language standard. NCLC is the Canadian French standard. Your TCF score report displays CECR levels, but IRCC uses NCLC. Here's how they relate:
| CECR | NCLC | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | 1 – 2 | Beginner — basic greetings, simple phrases |
| A2 | 3 – 4 | Elementary — everyday situations, simple communication |
| B1 | 5 – 6 | Intermediate — travel, work, opinions on familiar topics |
| B2 | 7 – 8 | Upper-intermediate — complex arguments, professional contexts |
| C1 | 9 – 10 | Advanced — nuanced expression, academic/professional fluency |
| C2 | 11 – 12 | Proficient — near-native mastery |
Important: This mapping is approximate, not an exact 1:1. IRCC uses NCLC exclusively — always convert your scores to NCLC before checking program requirements.
After taking TCF Canada, you receive an attestation de résultats (score report). Here's exactly what it shows and what to do with it:
Your score report displays CECR levels, not NCLC levels. You must convert yourself using the tables above. IRCC also uses your raw scores (not the CECR label) when they verify your application.
| Skill | Your TCF Score | CECR (on report) | NCLC (you convert) | FSW Minimum | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 485 | B2 | NCLC 7 | NCLC 7 | ✅ Pass |
| Reading | 460 | B2 | NCLC 7 | NCLC 7 | ✅ Pass |
| Speaking | 12 | B2 | NCLC 8 | NCLC 7 | ✅ Pass |
| Writing | 9 | B1 | NCLC 6 | NCLC 7 | ❌ Fail |
In this example, the candidate passes three skills but fails writing by one NCLC level. They would need to retake the exam and score 10+ on writing to qualify for FSW. See our retake strategy guide for a recovery plan.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum | NCLC 7 in ALL four skills |
| Listening | ≥ 458 |
| Reading | ≥ 453 |
| Speaking | ≥ 10 / 20 |
| Writing | ≥ 10 / 20 |
This is the most common target for immigration candidates. All four skills must independently reach NCLC 7 — a strong reading score cannot compensate for a weak writing score.
| Occupation Type | Minimum NCLC |
|---|---|
| NOC TEER 0 or 1 (Management, Professional) | NCLC 7 |
| NOC TEER 2 or 3 (Technical, Skilled Trades) | NCLC 5 |
| Skill | Minimum NCLC |
|---|---|
| Speaking & Listening | NCLC 5 |
| Reading & Writing | NCLC 4 |
Understanding the CRS impact helps you decide what NCLC level to aim for.
| NCLC Level | CRS Points per Skill | Total (4 Skills) |
|---|---|---|
| NCLC 4–5 | 6 | 24 |
| NCLC 6 | 9 | 36 |
| NCLC 7 | 17 | 68 |
| NCLC 8 | 23 | 92 |
| NCLC 9 | 31 | 124 |
| NCLC 10+ | 34 | 136 |
The NCLC 6 → 7 jump is the biggest in the table: from 36 to 68 total points (+32 points for one level improvement). This is why NCLC 7 is the single most important threshold.
| Your French | Your English | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| NCLC 7+ (all 4 skills) | CLB 5–6 (all 4 skills) | +25 CRS |
| NCLC 7+ (all 4 skills) | CLB 7+ (all 4 skills) | +50 CRS |
If you already have strong English (e.g., IELTS CLB 9), adding French NCLC 7 gives you 50 bonus CRS points on top of all other language points. This is one of the highest-impact CRS strategies available.
IRCC conducts special draws for French-speaking candidates with CRS cutoffs as low as 300–380 (vs. 480–530 for general draws). Eligibility: NCLC 7+ in all four French skills. See our Express Entry guide for details.
| Your Situation | Target NCLC | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship application | NCLC 4 | Minimum requirement — relatively easy to achieve |
| CEC with NOC TEER 2/3 | NCLC 5 | Lower threshold for trades/technical occupations |
| Express Entry (FSW/CEC TEER 0/1) | NCLC 7 | Minimum eligibility + unlocks bilingual bonus + francophone draws |
| Maximize CRS points | NCLC 9 | 124 CRS from language alone — virtually guarantees ITA |
| Starting Level | Target | Estimated Time | Study Hours/Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 (beginner) | NCLC 7 | 6–9 months | 15–20 hours |
| A2 (elementary) | NCLC 7 | 4–6 months | 12–15 hours |
| B1 (intermediate) | NCLC 7 | 2–4 months | 10–12 hours |
| B2 (upper-intermediate) | NCLC 9 | 3–6 months | 10–15 hours |
Does my TCF score report show NCLC levels?
No. The report shows CECR (European) levels like A1, B2, C1. You must convert to NCLC yourself using the tables above or our NCLC Calculator.
Are the conversion tables the same for Listening and Reading?
No. Even though both use the 100–699 scale, the NCLC breakpoints are different. For example, NCLC 7 requires 458+ for listening but 453+ for reading. Always use the correct table for each skill.
What if I reach NCLC 7 in three skills but NCLC 6 in one?
You do not qualify for FSW. All four skills must independently reach NCLC 7. You would need to retake the exam and improve that one skill. See our retake strategy.
Can I mix scores from different TCF attempts?
No. IRCC requires all four scores from a single test session. You cannot combine your best listening from attempt 1 with your best writing from attempt 2.
Is NCLC 7 the same as B2?
Approximately, yes. NCLC 7 corresponds to CECR B2. But the exact score cutoffs are defined by IRCC's conversion table, not by the CECR framework. Always use the specific score thresholds.
How long are TCF scores valid?
2 years from the test date. Scores must be valid both when you submit your Express Entry profile and when you receive your ITA.
What's the difference between NCLC and CLB?
NCLC measures French proficiency. CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks) measures English proficiency. They use the same 1–12 scale, so NCLC 7 and CLB 7 represent equivalent proficiency levels in their respective languages.