TEF Canada & TCF Canada to CLB (NCLC) Converter
Convert TEF Canada or TCF Canada scores to CLB (NCLC) per skill — official post-2023 IRCC charts, your governing level and the 25–50 pt French CRS bonus.
Your governing level (lowest of the four skills)
NCLC and CLB use the same numbers — NCLC 7 = CLB 7. IRCC reports French results as NCLC.
French CRS bonus — up to 50 extra points
The bonus needs NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills. What you get then depends on your English:
Your English level (CELPIP / IELTS → CLB)
This is the additional points for French bucket only (max 50). If French is your first official language you also earn core language points — see the full breakdown in the CRS calculator.
Calculate your full CRS score →Full IRCC equivalency tables
TEF Canada → NCLC (R /300 · W /450 · L /360 · S /450)
| NCLC / CLB | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10+ | 263–300 | 393–450 | 316–360 | 393–450 |
| 9 | 248–262 | 371–392 | 298–315 | 371–392 |
| 8 | 233–247 | 349–370 | 280–297 | 349–370 |
| 7 | 207–232 | 310–348 | 249–279 | 310–348 |
| 6 | 181–206 | 271–309 | 217–248 | 271–309 |
| 5 | 151–180 | 226–270 | 181–216 | 226–270 |
| 4 | 121–150 | 181–225 | 145–180 | 181–225 |
TCF Canada → NCLC (R /699 · L /699 · W /20 · S /20)
| NCLC / CLB | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10+ | 549–699 | 16–20 | 549–699 | 16–20 |
| 9 | 524–548 | 14–15 | 523–548 | 14–15 |
| 8 | 499–523 | 12–13 | 503–522 | 12–13 |
| 7 | 453–498 | 10–11 | 458–502 | 10–11 |
| 6 | 406–452 | 7–9 | 398–457 | 7–9 |
| 5 | 375–405 | 6 | 369–397 | 6 |
| 4 | 342–374 | 4–5 | 331–368 | 4–5 |
Top band shown as 10+: for Express Entry, NCLC 10 and above earn the same maximum language points, so IRCC groups them together.
🎯 French category-based draws
IRCC runs French-language proficiency category rounds in Express Entry that invite candidates with NCLC 7+ in all four skills. Through 2024–25 these were the single largest category, often with CRS cut-offs well below the general draws — so strong French can secure an ITA at a score that would never make a program-wide round.
🛂 Francophone Mobility & pilots
Mobilité Francophone (LMIA-exempt work permit, exemption C16) lets employers outside Quebec hire French-speaking workers in TEER 0–5 jobs without an LMIA — a fast route to Canadian work experience. French also unlocks the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot and several French-focused PNP streams.
TEF Canada or TCF Canada — which should I take?
IRCC treats both tests equally — only your NCLC result counts, so pick on format comfort and logistics, not prestige.
- TCF Canada scores Reading & Listening as multiple-choice out of 699, and Writing & Speaking out of 20 — a compact, predictable scale many find easier to target.
- TEF Canada uses larger per-section scales (up to 300–450) and has a long track record of prep material and mock tests.
- Both cost roughly CAD 400 and are offered worldwide. Check which has sooner dates and a nearer centre for you, and try a free sample of each — the writing/speaking format is where people feel the difference.
Taking English too? Convert your IELTS, CELPIP or PTE Core scores to CLB to see the English half of your bonus.
Open the English CLB converter →Based on IRCC's official TEF Canada and TCF Canada equivalency charts for tests taken on or after 10 December 2023 (NCLC = CLB). Ranges are for guidance — always confirm against your official test report and canada.ca. NCLC 0 / — means a score below the lowest published band.
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About TEF Canada & TCF Canada to CLB (NCLC) Converter
This converter turns your TEF Canada or TCF Canada section results into Canadian Language Benchmarks — reported as NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) for French. Enter your Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking scores and it maps each one to an NCLC level, then shows your governing level: the lowest of the four, which is the number Express Entry actually uses. Everything runs in your browser, so you can try your real test report without anything being uploaded or stored.
The ranges come from IRCC's official equivalency charts for tests taken on or after 10 December 2023, when the TEF Canada and TCF Canada scoring scales were updated. TEF Canada is scored per section (Reading /300, Writing /450, Listening /360, Speaking /450); TCF Canada scores Reading and Listening out of 699 and Writing and Speaking out of 20. NCLC and CLB use identical numbers — NCLC 7 is the same level as CLB 7 — so a French result slots straight into the same benchmark scale as an English one.
French is the single biggest lever in Express Entry today. Reaching NCLC 7 in all four skills unlocks 25 additional CRS points, rising to 50 if you also hold English CLB 5 or higher in every skill — and it makes you eligible for IRCC's French-language proficiency category draws, which have repeatedly issued invitations at CRS cut-offs far below the general rounds. The tool includes a live bonus calculator, the full TEF and TCF tables, and context on Francophone Mobility work permits so you can see exactly what your score unlocks.
Treat the result as planning guidance rather than an official assessment. Your attestation or attestation de résultats from the test provider is the authoritative document, and IRCC re-derives your NCLC from the raw scores you enter in your profile. If your score sits right on a band boundary, confirm it against your official report before relying on it for an application.
Popular uses
Frequently asked questions
You need NCLC 7 or higher in all four skills — Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Hit that with no English test (or English below CLB 5) and you earn 25 additional CRS points; add English CLB 5 or higher in all four skills and the bonus doubles to 50 points. One skill below NCLC 7 drops the whole bonus to zero, which is why this tool highlights your governing (lowest) level.
They are the same 12-level scale under two names. CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks) is the English label; NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) is the French label IRCC uses when it reports French results. NCLC 7 equals CLB 7, NCLC 9 equals CLB 9, and so on — the numbers are interchangeable across your English and French test results.
IRCC accepts both equally and only your NCLC level counts, so choose on format and logistics. TCF Canada uses a compact scale — Reading and Listening as multiple choice out of 699, Writing and Speaking out of 20 — that many find easier to target. TEF Canada uses larger per-section scales up to 300–450 and has a long history of prep material. Both cost around CAD 400; compare available dates near you and try a sample of each writing and speaking format.
Yes. The scales were updated for tests taken on or after 10 December 2023, and IRCC published new equivalency charts to match. This converter uses those current post-2023 ranges. If you sat an older test, the mapping differs — but for any test relevant to a current application you should be on the new scale, which is what this tool applies.
On TEF Canada (post-2023), NCLC 7 needs Reading 207–232, Writing 310–348, Listening 249–279 and Speaking 310–348. On TCF Canada it needs Reading 453–498, Listening 458–502, and Writing and Speaking each scored 10–11. NCLC 7 in all four skills is the key threshold for the Federal Skilled Worker French minimum and the French CRS bonus.
TEF Canada & TCF Canada to CLB (NCLC) Converter is 100% free — no signup, no watermarks and no usage limits. It’s one of 200+ free tools we build and give away.
No — it’s a free, accurate planning estimate. Always confirm final details with IRCC, the official Canadian authority.
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