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A TCF Canada result has four numbers: listening and reading out of 699, speaking and writing out of 20. Express Entry does not use these numbers directly. It first converts each one to a Canadian language level, NCLC (the French equivalent of CLB), and then awards CRS points by level.
So when you prepare, the question is not "what score will I get" but "will each skill clear the next cut-off". This article gives the official conversion table, then works out what French is worth in Express Entry.
TCF Canada raw scores to NCLC
The table below is copied from IRCC's language test equivalency charts. Each skill is converted on its own:
| NCLC | Listening (/699) | Reading (/699) | Speaking, writing (/20) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 and above | 549–699 | 549–699 | 16–20 |
| 9 | 523–548 | 524–548 | 14–15 |
| 8 | 503–522 | 499–523 | 12–13 |
| 7 | 458–502 | 453–498 | 10–11 |
| 6 | 398–457 | 406–452 | 7–9 |
| 5 | 369–397 | 375–405 | 6 |
| 4 | 331–368 | 342–374 | 4–5 |
A few things people miss:
- NCLC 7 and NCLC 9 are the two levels that matter most. NCLC 7 unlocks the French bonus; NCLC 9 maxes out the skill transferability points (details below).
- In speaking and writing, each level is only one or two points wide. Writing 9/20 is NCLC 6 and 10/20 is NCLC 7, so one point can be worth dozens of CRS points.
- Listening NCLC 8 is only 20 points wide (503–522), and reading NCLC 9 only 25 (524–548).
- Results are valid for two years, and the test date in your Express Entry profile must be within that window.
If you took TEF Canada: Express Entry only accepts the "Équivalence ancien score" column on your result sheet. Entering the /699 score gives the wrong level.
Three ways French earns CRS points
1. As your first official language (core factors)
If you choose French as your first official language in your profile, each of the four skills earns points by NCLC:
| NCLC per skill | Single | With accompanying spouse |
|---|---|---|
| 4–5 | 6 | 6 |
| 6 | 9 | 8 |
| 7 | 17 | 16 |
| 8 | 23 | 22 |
| 9 | 31 | 29 |
| 10 and above | 34 | 32 |
NCLC 10 in all four gives a single candidate up to 136 points. Going from NCLC 6 to 7 adds 8 points per skill, and from 8 to 9 another 8.
2. As your second official language (core factors)
If English is your first language and French your second, each French skill earns 1 point at NCLC 5–6, 3 points at NCLC 7–8 and 6 points at NCLC 9 and above. The total is capped at 24 points for a single candidate and 22 with a spouse.
That is not much on its own. The big points come from the bonus below.
3. The French bonus (additional points)
If all four French skills reach NCLC 7, you get additional points:
- All four English skills at CLB 5 or above: 50 points.
- No English test, or any English skill below CLB 5: 25 points.
"All four" is strict. NCLC 9 in three skills and NCLC 6 in one gives no bonus at all.
Also: skill transferability
When French is your first language, it also combines with your education and foreign work experience. With a bachelor's degree, NCLC 7 in all four skills adds 13 points and NCLC 9 adds 25. With two or more credentials, or a master's or PhD, those become 25 and 50. Three or more years of foreign work experience combine the same way. This section is capped at 100 points.
Two worked examples
Both examples assume a single 30-year-old with a bachelor's degree and only count language-related points.
Example 1: English at CLB 9, then adding French (the most common case)
| French result | Second language | French bonus | Points added |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCLC 7 in all four | 12 | 50 | +62 |
| NCLC 9 in all four | 24 | 50 | +74 |
| NCLC 9 in three, writing NCLC 6 | 19 | 0 | +19 |
The last row is "missing one skill": one point short in writing costs 55 CRS points. If you already have English, getting all four French skills to NCLC 7 matters more than pushing any one skill higher.
Example 2: French as first language, no English, 3 years of foreign work experience
| French result | First language | Transferability (education, foreign work) | French bonus | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCLC 7 in all four | 68 | 13 + 25 | 25 | 131 |
| NCLC 9 in all four | 124 | 25 + 50 | 25 | 224 |
Going from NCLC 7 to NCLC 9 adds 93 points. Adding an English test at CLB 5 would also raise the bonus from 25 to 50.
The November 3 CRS changes
IRCC announced CRS changes from November 3, 2026. They mainly affect Canadian work experience and high-wage occupations; according to the announcement, the language points do not change. Until the official instructions are published, check IRCC's website for the exact values.
Putting the numbers to use
- Enter your four practice or real scores in FreeTCF's CRS calculator. It applies the rules above, gives your total and shows which skill is the best one to improve.
- Compare with the minimum scores of recent French-language rounds in the Express Entry draws page to see how far you are.
- Work on your weakest skill: practise listening and reading by level in the question bank, and for writing and speaking draft answers in the writing predictions and speaking bank, then use the AI review to see which level you reach.
Sources
- IRCC: Language test equivalency charts (TCF Canada and TEF Canada to NCLC).
- IRCC: Comprehensive Ranking System criteria (first and second official language, skill transferability, French bonus).
- IRCC: Express Entry changes in 2026.
- # TCF Canada
- # CLB
- # Express Entry
- # CRS