If French is part of your Canada plan, you have met the acronyms: CLB, NCLC, TCF, CRS. Here is the short version. NCLC 7 in all four skills is the number that matters. It unlocks up to 50 extra Express Entry points and a place in French-only draws, and those draws have been inviting thousands of people with scores far below the general cut-offs.
This guide gives you the exact TCF Canada scores for each level, what each level feels like in real life, and what French is worth to your profile in 2026.
CLB vs NCLC: same scale, two names
CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks) measures English. NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) measures French. Both run from 1 to 12 and use the same level descriptions. So when someone says "I need CLB 7 in French", they mean NCLC 7. Both terms are used, and both are understood.
Which tests count?
For Express Entry, IRCC accepts two French tests:
- TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada)
- TEF Canada (Test d'évaluation de français pour le Canada)
Each test scores listening, reading, writing and speaking separately, and IRCC converts each score to an NCLC level using a fixed chart. Your weakest skill decides whether you clear a threshold, because bonuses like the French CRS points need NCLC 7 in all four. Our TCF Canada guide explains how the test works.
DELF and DALF diplomas are respected French qualifications, but IRCC does not accept them for Express Entry points.
TCF Canada scores for every NCLC level
Listening and reading are scored out of 699. Writing and speaking are scored out of 20.
| NCLC | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Approx. CEFR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 331–368 | 342–374 | 4–5 | 4–5 | A2–B1 |
| 5 | 369–397 | 375–405 | 6 | 6 | B1 |
| 6 | 398–457 | 406–452 | 7–9 | 7–9 | B1 |
| 7 | 458–502 | 453–498 | 10–11 | 10–11 | B2 |
| 8 | 503–522 | 499–523 | 12–13 | 12–13 | B2 |
| 9 | 523–548 | 524–548 | 14–15 | 14–15 | C1 |
| 10+ | 549–699 | 549–699 | 16–20 | 16–20 | C1–C2 |
Score ranges follow IRCC's equivalency charts for TCF Canada. CEFR matches are approximate: CLB/NCLC and CEFR are separate frameworks, and official alignment work places CLB 7–8 broadly at B2.
What is NCLC 7 in French, really?
NCLC 7 is roughly B2. In practice you can:
- hold a real conversation on most everyday and work topics without freezing
- follow the main points of a meeting, a podcast or a news story at natural speed
- write a clear email or short report
- argue a point, disagree politely and explain why
You will still make mistakes and lose a word here and there. But you function in French, and that is exactly what the test is measuring. Many learners with good grammar still stall here, because the speaking and listening scores reward real conversational French, not textbook French.
NCLC 5: the level people underestimate
NCLC 5 is roughly B1: you can manage routine situations, talk about familiar topics and follow clear speech. It won't earn the big Express Entry bonus, but it matters more than people think:
- Francophone Mobility work permit. Since June 2023, this LMIA-exempt work permit for jobs outside Quebec needs NCLC 5 in speaking and listening, not NCLC 7. It covers most occupations (TEER 0 to 5, except primary agriculture), and the job itself doesn't have to be in French.
- Second official language points. In Express Entry, French at NCLC 5–6 starts earning core CRS points (1 per skill).
NCLC 9 and above
NCLC 9 is roughly C1: comfortable in professional settings and at natural speed. For Express Entry it earns the maximum second-language points (6 per skill). It isn't required for the French bonus, which stays at NCLC 7, but a higher level makes interviews, work and daily life far easier.
How many CRS points does French add in 2026?
French can earn Express Entry points in two separate places.
1. Additional points for French
- 50 points: NCLC 7+ in all four French skills and CLB 5+ in all four English skills
- 25 points: NCLC 7+ in all four French skills and CLB 4 or lower in English (or no English test)
This is sometimes called the "bilingual bonus". It is one bonus, not two stacked on top of each other.
2. Second official language points
If English is your first official language, French also counts as your second:
- NCLC 4 or lower: 0 points
- NCLC 5–6: 1 point per skill
- NCLC 7–8: 3 points per skill
- NCLC 9+: 6 points per skill
The maximum is 24 points without a spouse or partner, or 22 with one.
3. French-language draws
This is where French really pays off. Canada now runs Express Entry draws only for candidates with NCLC 7 in all four French skills. On 6 August 2026, a French-language draw invited 5,000 candidates with a cut-off of 391. The day before, the Canadian Experience Class draw needed 516.
How long does it take to reach NCLC 7?
From zero, most adults need well over a year of steady practice. Commonly cited estimates put B2 at around 500 to 600 hours of guided learning. The order matters as much as the hours: conversation first, immersion second, exam prep third. Jumping straight into test drills is the most common reason people plateau around NCLC 5 or 6.
We break down realistic timelines in How Long Does It Take to Reach CLB 7 in French?
CLB 7 is the destination. Start the journey here.
Dip your toe in with our free A1 French course: a friendly, low-pressure place to start speaking, with real words, real audio by a native-speaker and no grammar drills. Or take the free test to see where you are.