NCLC and CLB conversion tables for TCF Canada and TEF Canada

1NCLC and CLB: one scale, two names

NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) and CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks) are the same 12-level Canadian scale: NCLC is the French name used for French tests, CLB the English one. IRCC’s CRS tables list both side by side, so NCLC 7 in French counts like CLB 7 in English.

IRCC’s charts for TCF Canada and TEF Canada start at NCLC 4 and end with a top row for NCLC 10 and above. Each of the four abilities is converted on its own, so one test gives you four levels.

2TCF Canada to NCLC

Use the scores exactly as they appear on your TCF Canada results: listening and reading out of 699, writing and speaking out of 20.

TCF Canada: IRCC score ranges for each NCLC level
NCLC	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
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
4	331–368	342–374	4–5	4–5

3TEF Canada to NCLC (Équivalence ancien score)

Your TEF Canada certificate shows two numbers per test: a score out of 699 and an “Équivalence ancien score”. IRCC bases your level on the Équivalence ancien score (listening out of 360, reading out of 300, writing and speaking out of 450) and asks you not to enter the Score / 699 in your Express Entry profile.

IRCC applies the chart below to the ancien score whatever the date of your test. It is the chart it first published for tests taken before September 30, 2019.

TEF Canada (Équivalence ancien score): IRCC score ranges for each NCLC level
NCLC	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
10	316–360	263–300	393–450	393–450
9	298–315	248–262	371–392	371–392
8	280–297	233–247	349–370	349–370
7	249–279	207–232	310–348	310–348
6	217–248	181–206	271–309	271–309
5	181–216	151–180	226–270	226–270
4	145–180	121–150	181–225	181–225

4Minimum scores for NCLC 7, 8 and 9

The lowest score that reaches each level, per ability, read from the two charts above. Listening, reading, writing and speaking, in that order.

Level	TCF Canada	TEF Canada (ancien score)
NCLC 7	458 / 453 / 10 / 10	249 / 207 / 310 / 310
NCLC 8	503 / 499 / 12 / 12	280 / 233 / 349 / 349
NCLC 9	523 / 524 / 14 / 14	298 / 248 / 371 / 371

Convert your own scores

5How the levels are used

Programs set a minimum for each ability, so your lowest ability decides whether you qualify. The Federal Skilled Worker Program needs NCLC 7 in all four abilities of your first official language.

The Canadian Experience Class needs NCLC 7 for TEER 0 or 1 jobs and NCLC 5 for TEER 2 or 3 jobs. The Federal Skilled Trades Program needs NCLC 5 in speaking and listening and NCLC 4 in reading and writing.

NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities also unlocks additional CRS points for French and eligibility for French-language proficiency draws.

French and Express Entry points

Questions people ask

What TCF Canada score is NCLC 9?

On IRCC’s chart, NCLC 9 starts at 523 in listening, 524 in reading, and 14 out of 20 in writing and in speaking.

What TEF Canada score is NCLC 9?

Using the Équivalence ancien score, NCLC 9 starts at 298 in listening, 248 in reading, and 371 in writing and in speaking.

Does IRCC average my four scores?

No. Each ability is converted separately, and the level is the band your exact score falls in. In TCF Canada listening, 457 is NCLC 6 and 458 is NCLC 7.

What is the top level on IRCC’s charts?

The top row is NCLC 10 and above: 549 to 699 in TCF Canada listening and reading and 16 to 20 in writing and speaking; for the TEF Canada ancien score, 316 to 360 in listening, 263 to 300 in reading and 393 to 450 in writing and speaking.

Is NCLC 7 the same as CLB 7?

Yes. They are the same level on the same scale. NCLC is the name used for French tests and CLB for English tests.

Official sources

Checked against official sources on September 23, 2026.