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NCLC 7: the TEF Canada and TCF Canada scores you need, and what it unlocks

NCLC 7 (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens, level 7) is the French level Express Entry's French-language category asks for in all four skills. In speaking, it means 10–11/20 on the TCF Canada, or 456–493/699 on the TEF Canada (310–348 on the old-score column you enter in Express Entry). With NCLC 7 in all four French skills you also get 25 or 50 additional CRS points, depending on your English.

The scores for NCLC 7, skill by skill

Sources: CCI Paris Île-de-France (TEF /699), IRCC (TEF old-score column and TCF).

Skill TCF Canada TEF Canada (/699, since Dec 11, 2023) TEF Canada old-score column (enter this in Express Entry)
Speaking 10–11 /20 456–493 310–348
Writing 10–11 /20 456–493 310–348
Listening 458–502 /699 428–471 249–279
Reading 453–498 /699 434–461 207–232

In France Éducation International's TCF speaking table, 10–11/20 is a B2 result. Full charts with every level: TEF Canada score chart and TCF Canada score chart.

What NCLC 7 unlocks

  1. Express Entry's French-language proficiency category. IRCC asks for "a minimum score of 7 in all 4 language abilities" on the NCLC. You must also be eligible for one of the three Express Entry programs. In 2026, as of October 27, IRCC held 12 French-language draws with 60,500 invitations, at cutoffs from 382 to 435; Canadian Experience Class draws in 2026 had cutoffs from 507 to 523. Details: Express Entry French points and draws.
  2. Additional CRS points for French. NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills gives 25 points if your English is CLB 4 or lower (or you have no English test), or 50 points if you have CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills.
  3. Program minimums. IRCC's minimums include NCLC 7 in the first official language for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, and NCLC 7 for TEER 0 and 1 jobs in the Canadian Experience Class (NCLC 5 for TEER 2 and 3).

Not aiming for Express Entry? A Francophone Mobility work permit asks for NCLC 5 in speaking and listening (Francophone Mobility), and citizenship has its own rule: CLB/NCLC 4 or higher in speaking and listening, though IRCC's list of accepted French tests asks for CEFR B1 on those tests (French test for citizenship).

Worked example: one skill at NCLC 6 costs the bonus

An example written by Niveau7 using IRCC's published points. Not a real candidate, and not a full CRS calculation: it only counts the points that French adds.

Profile: single, English is the first official language (CLB 9 in all four skills, so the 50-point condition on English is met). French is the second official language.

Speaking Writing Listening Reading Second-language points French bonus French adds
Before NCLC 6 NCLC 7 NCLC 7 NCLC 7 1 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 10 0 (not 7 in all four) 10
After NCLC 7 NCLC 7 NCLC 7 NCLC 7 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12 50 62

How the numbers work (IRCC's CRS criteria): second official language points are 1 per ability at CLB 5 or 6 and 3 per ability at CLB 7 or 8. The 50 additional points need NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills and CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills. Moving speaking from NCLC 6 to 7 adds 52 points in this example, and it also opens the French-language draws.

On the TCF, the difference between those two rows can be a single point in speaking: 9/20 is NCLC 6 and 10/20 is NCLC 7.

How to get speaking to NCLC 7

Speaking is rated by examiners on what you say and how: for the TCF, France Éducation International lists linguistic, pragmatic and sociolinguistic criteria; for the TEF, CCI Paris Île-de-France's results page lists communication skills, vocabulary, grammar, organisation and fluency, and its 2024 speaking samples add getting information or arguing, syntax and pronunciation. How each test runs: TEF Canada speaking, TCF Canada speaking. Not sure which test suits you: TEF vs TCF.

Practise toward NCLC 7 with Niveau7

Practise the TEF and TCF speaking tasks with Niveau7 Do each task out loud, on the real clock, with an AI examiner who plays the part and never helps. Right after: an estimated NCLC (an estimate, not an official result), a level for each of the six criteria in Niveau7's report, and the three fixes worth most toward NCLC 7, on your own sentences. 7 days free, then a weekly or monthly plan, cancel anytime. Start your free week: TCF Task 3 · or TEF Section B

Frequently asked questions

What is NCLC 7 in French?

NCLC 7 is level 7 on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens, the French counterpart of the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB 7). Express Entry's French category asks for NCLC 7 in all four skills.

What TCF Canada score is NCLC 7?

10–11/20 in speaking and writing, 458–502 in listening and 453–498 in reading.

What TEF Canada score is NCLC 7?

On the /699 scale: 456–493 in speaking and writing, 428–471 in listening, 434–461 in reading. On the old-score column used in Express Entry: 310–348 in speaking and writing, 249–279 in listening, 207–232 in reading.

Do I need NCLC 7 in every skill?

For the French-language category and for the additional French points, yes: NCLC 7 or higher in all four skills. An NCLC 6 in one skill means neither.

How many CRS points does NCLC 7 in French give?

25 additional points with CLB 4 or lower in English (or no English test), or 50 with CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills. If French is your second official language, you also get 3 points per ability at NCLC 7 or 8.

Is NCLC 7 the same as B2?

On the TCF Canada speaking test, France Éducation International's table puts 10–11/20 (NCLC 7) at B2, but 12–13/20 (NCLC 8) is also B2. Use the NCLC table, not the CEFR level alone.

Sources

Last checked: November 1, 2026.

Niveau7 is an independent practice tool. It is not affiliated with France Éducation International (TCF Canada), CCI Paris Île-de-France (TEF Canada) or IRCC.