TCF Canada · Score chart

TCF Canada Score Chart to NCLC / CLB

Use this IRCC equivalency table to convert each TCF Canada skill score into an NCLC level. Listening and reading use a 0–699 scale; writing and speaking use 0–20. Abilities are evaluated independently — a strong section cannot raise a weak one.

Official information last verified: 2026-09-05

Quick answer

For NCLC 7 (a common Express Entry French threshold), aim for listening 458–502, reading 453–498, and writing/speaking 10–11 on your TCF Canada report. Enter each skill into your IRCC profile separately — never average the four scores.

Full TCF Canada → NCLC conversion table

Bands below match the IRCC language-test equivalency grid for TCF Canada. IRCC uses NCLC for French and CLB for English; corresponding numeric levels are used in its immigration rules.

TCF Canada score to NCLC conversion for listening, reading, writing, and speaking
NCLC / CLB	Listening (/699)	Reading (/699)	Writing (/20)	Speaking (/20)
10	549–699	549–699	16–20	16–20
9	523–548	524–548	14–15	14–15
8	503–522	499–523	12–13	12–13
7 ★	458–502	453–498	10–11	10–11
6	398–457	406–452	7–9	7–9
5	369–397	375–405	6–6	6–6
4	331–368	342–374	4–5	4–5

Convert one skill score

Quick converter

SkillYour score

NCLC 7 (CLB 7) for listening.

Converts one skill at a time. IRCC evaluates each ability independently — do not average the four scores.

What score do I need?

NCLC 7

Listening: 458–502 /699
Reading: 453–498 /699
Writing: 10–11 /20
Speaking: 10–11 /20

NCLC 8

Listening: 503–522 /699
Reading: 499–523 /699
Writing: 12–13 /20
Speaking: 12–13 /20

NCLC 9

Listening: 523–548 /699
Reading: 524–548 /699
Writing: 14–15 /20
Speaking: 14–15 /20

NCLC 10

Listening: 549–699 /699
Reading: 549–699 /699
Writing: 16–20 /20
Speaking: 16–20 /20

NCLC 7 in all four skills is the usual threshold for additional French-language CRS points and for many program minimums. Higher NCLC levels can still increase first-official-language CRS points — NCLC 7 is important, not a claim that every language point has been maximized.

Worked score-report examples

Example A — NCLC 7 across the board. Listening 480, reading 470, writing 11, speaking 10 → NCLC 7 / 7 / 7 / 7. Usable French level for points is constrained by the weakest skill, so this profile clears a four-skill NCLC 7 target.

Example B — one weak skill blocks the target. Listening 530 (NCLC 9), reading 510 (NCLC 8), writing 14 (NCLC 9), speaking 9 (NCLC 6). The profile cannot claim four-skill NCLC 7; speaking caps the usable French level for that requirement.

Example C — do not average. Scores of NCLC 9, 9, 9, and 5 do not become “NCLC 8.” IRCC reads each ability separately.

Why the scales look different

Listening and reading are multiple-choice sections reported on a 0–699 difficulty-based scale. Writing and speaking are examiner-scored production tasks reported on a 0–20 scale. Both map to the same NCLC ladder, but you cannot apply a /699 band to a /20 score (or the reverse).

For a deeper walkthrough of uneven results and study planning after your report, read How TCF Canada scoring works.

Official sources

Last verified 2026-09-05. IRCC can revise charts — re-check the linked sources before filing.

Next steps

NCLC 7 listening target used in examples: 458–502 /699. Reference levels published: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4.