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NCLC Ready

TCF Canada · Checked against official sources on September 23, 2026

TCF Canada: format, scoring and NCLC levels

TCF Canada is France Éducation International’s French test for Canadian immigration and citizenship. This guide covers what happens in each section, which scores give which NCLC level, and why that level matters in Express Entry.

At a glance

Total time
2 hours 47 minutes
Scores
Listening and reading: 100–699. Writing and speaking: out of 20.
How it is taken
Paper or computer, depending on the centre. Speaking is always face to face with an examiner.
Results
Within 15 working days of France Éducation International receiving the session, in your TCF-Candidat account.
Retakes
At least 20 days between sittings, with no limit on the number of attempts.
Valid for
2 years from the date the results are issued.

Format and timing

SectionContentTime
Listening39 multiple-choice questions35 min
Reading39 multiple-choice questions60 min
Writing3 tasks60 min
Speaking3 tasks12 min

Listening and reading

Listening and reading are multiple-choice: four options, one correct answer. The questions get harder as you go, starting with everyday notices and messages and ending with long, abstract or specialised texts. There is no penalty section to skip, so answer every question.

Writing tasks

Three tasks share 60 minutes. You decide how to split the time.

  • Task 1 · 60 to 120 words. A message that describes, tells or explains something to one or more people named in the instructions.
  • Task 2 · 120 to 150 words. An article, letter or note for several readers that reports an experience or tells a story, with comments, opinions or arguments tied to a goal.
  • Task 3 · 120 to 180 words. A text that compares two points of view on a social issue, taken from two short documents, and then gives your own opinion on the topic.

Task 3 has the most to read and the longest answer. Keep at least 20 minutes for it, and stay inside each word range.

Speaking tasks

Speaking lasts 12 minutes, including 2 minutes of preparation, face to face with an examiner.

  • Task 1 · 2 minutes, no preparation. A guided interview. The examiner, whom you do not know, asks about you, your background and your plans.
  • Task 2 · 2 minutes to prepare, then 3 minutes 30 of dialogue. An interaction. You ask the examiner questions to get information in an everyday situation; the instructions set both roles.
  • Task 3 · 4 minutes 30, no preparation. You give and defend a point of view on a question the examiner chooses. The examiner may interrupt to ask you to explain your arguments.

France Éducation International’s manual says examiners may interrupt a candidate who seems to be reciting a memorised text, to check real speaking ability. Practise structures you can adapt, not scripts.

How scores convert to NCLC

Listening and reading are scored from 100 to 699. Writing and speaking each get a mark out of 20. IRCC converts every skill separately, so you get four NCLC levels, one per skill.

The rulers below show IRCC’s ranges for NCLC 4 to 10. The top row on IRCC’s chart is “NCLC 10 and above”.

TCF Canada · Listening

score 100–699

  1. NCLC 4331–368
  2. NCLC 5369–397
  3. NCLC 6398–457
  4. NCLC 7458–502
  5. NCLC 8503–522
  6. NCLC 9523–548
  7. NCLC 10549–699
TCF Canada · Reading

score 100–699

  1. NCLC 4342–374
  2. NCLC 5375–405
  3. NCLC 6406–452
  4. NCLC 7453–498
  5. NCLC 8499–523
  6. NCLC 9524–548
  7. NCLC 10549–699
TCF Canada · Writing

score 0–20

  1. NCLC 44–5
  2. NCLC 56
  3. NCLC 67–9
  4. NCLC 710–11
  5. NCLC 812–13
  6. NCLC 914–15
  7. NCLC 1016–20
TCF Canada · Speaking

score 0–20

  1. NCLC 44–5
  2. NCLC 56
  3. NCLC 67–9
  4. NCLC 710–11
  5. NCLC 812–13
  6. NCLC 914–15
  7. NCLC 1016–20

Convert your own scores

What your NCLC level means for Express Entry

IRCC accepts TCF Canada as proof of French in Express Entry. Your four NCLC levels count in three separate ways.

1. Minimum levels to be eligible

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program: NCLC 7 in all four abilities of your first official language.
  • Canadian Experience Class: NCLC 7 for TEER 0 or 1 jobs; NCLC 5 for TEER 2 or 3 jobs.
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program: NCLC 5 in speaking and listening, NCLC 4 in reading and writing.

2. CRS points for each ability

The language you list as your first official language earns these Comprehensive Ranking System points for each of its four abilities.

Level (NCLC or CLB)Without a spouse or partnerWith a spouse or partner
Below 400
4 or 566
698
71716
82322
93129
10 or more3432

Your second official language adds up to 6 points per ability at NCLC or CLB 9 and higher (maximum 24 without a spouse, 22 with one).

3. Additional points for French

  • 25 points: NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities, and CLB 4 or lower in English (or no English test).
  • 50 points: NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities, and CLB 5 or higher in all four English abilities.

French-language proficiency draws

IRCC also invites candidates through category-based rounds for French. To be eligible you need at least NCLC 7 in all four abilities, and you must meet the requirements in that round’s instructions.

When we checked, the most recent French-language round listed by IRCC was on August 19, 2026: 5,000 invitations, with a lowest CRS score of 382. Cut-offs change from round to round, so check IRCC’s rounds page for current numbers.

In every case the lowest of your four levels sets the limit. One skill at NCLC 6 is enough to miss the French bonus and the French category, even if the other three are at NCLC 9.

Booking, results and retakes

  • Book with a centre approved by France Éducation International. The centre sets the dates, the price and whether you sit the test on paper or on computer. Speaking is always face to face.
  • Results arrive within 15 working days of France Éducation International receiving the session, in your TCF-Candidat online account.
  • You must wait at least 20 days between sittings. There is no limit on the number of attempts.
  • Results are valid for 2 years from the date they are issued. IRCC requires them to be less than 2 years old when you create your Express Entry profile and again when you submit your permanent residence application.
  • France Éducation International says re-marking of the writing and speaking sections is suspended for sessions from September 1, 2026, and expects the service to return in autumn 2027.
  • IRCC also accepts TCF Canada as proof of French for citizenship applications.

A study plan

Seven steps, in order. Stretch or compress them to fit the weeks you have before your test date.

  1. Measure where you startTake a timed diagnostic in all four skills and convert each result to NCLC. Your weakest skill is where the plan should put the most hours.
  2. Learn the format until it is automaticKnow the timing of every task, what the instructions look like and how the examiner runs the speaking test, so none of it costs you attention on the day.
  3. Do comprehension every dayTwenty to thirty listening and reading questions a day, then read why each wrong option is wrong. Review the questions you missed and the ones you guessed.
  4. Write three times a week, on the clockOne task per session, timed, within the word range. Compare your text with a model answer, then rewrite the weakest paragraph.
  5. Practise speaking aloudFor task 2, drill question forms (est-ce que, inversion, question words) until they come without thinking. For task 3, use a simple frame: opinion, two reasons with examples, a counter-argument, a conclusion.
  6. Sit two full mocksTwo to three weeks before the test, take complete timed mocks in one sitting and convert the scores. Spend the remaining time on the skill that is furthest below your target.
  7. Keep the last days lightShort review, no new material. Check your ID, the centre address and your arrival time.

Practise with NCLC Ready

The free questions on this site show how NCLC Ready explains every answer choice. Our TCF Canada app, TCF Canada Prep: NCLC Ready, adds timed practice for all four sections, full mock exams and an estimated NCLC range for each skill.

Try 10 free TCF Canada questions Read the TEF Canada guide

TCF Canada Prep: NCLC Ready for iPhone, iPad and Android is not in the stores yet. The free converter and practice questions on this site work now.

Scores in the app are practice estimates, never official results.

Questions people ask

Is TCF Canada accepted for Express Entry?

Yes. IRCC lists TCF Canada and TEF Canada as the approved French tests for Express Entry. TCF Canada is also accepted for citizenship.

What TCF Canada score do I need for NCLC 7?

On IRCC’s chart, NCLC 7 starts at 458 in listening, 453 in reading, and 10 out of 20 in both writing and speaking.

How long are TCF Canada results valid?

France Éducation International gives 2 years from the date results are issued. For Express Entry, IRCC requires results less than 2 years old when you create your profile and when you apply for permanent residence.

How soon can I retake TCF Canada?

You must wait at least 20 days between sittings, according to France Éducation International. There is no limit on attempts.

Is TCF Canada on paper or on computer?

It depends on the centre. The speaking section is always face to face with an examiner.

Should I take TCF Canada or TEF Canada?

IRCC accepts both for Express Entry and converts both to the same NCLC levels. Compare the formats, the centres near you and the next available dates. The TEF Canada guide on this site covers the other test.

Official sources

Checked against official sources on September 23, 2026.