TCF Canada score to NCLC: conversion table and lookup
Vocalyra teaching team · Last updated:
Canadian immigration programs describe French requirements in NCLC levels, not in TCF points. This independent guide shows the current conversion table published on Canada.ca and lets you look up each skill.
This is an independent educational guide from Vocalyra. It is not official immigration advice, not an official calculator, and Vocalyra is not affiliated with IRCC, France Éducation international or TV5MONDE.
Source: Government of Canada, Language test equivalency charts (Express Entry). Open the official Canada.ca page
NCLC and CEFR are not the same scale
B2 is a level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) is the Canadian scale that immigration programs use. Programs set their own NCLC minimums, sometimes different for each skill, so a general B2 estimate does not translate into one fixed immigration result.
Each of the four TCF Canada skills converts separately. You can reach NCLC 7 in reading and stay at NCLC 6 in speaking, and many programs look at the lowest skill.
Current TCF Canada to NCLC table
| NCLC | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCLC 10 | 549–699 | 16–20 | 549–699 | 16–20 |
| NCLC 9 | 524–548 | 14–15 | 523–548 | 14–15 |
| NCLC 8 | 499–523 | 12–13 | 503–522 | 12–13 |
| NCLC 7 | 453–498 | 10–11 | 458–502 | 10–11 |
| NCLC 6 | 406–452 | 7–9 | 398–457 | 7–9 |
| NCLC 5 | 375–405 | 6 | 369–397 | 6 |
| NCLC 4 | 342–374 | 4–5 | 331–368 | 4–5 |
Look up your NCLC level
Enter any TCF Canada result you have. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
This lookup only reads the table above. It does not check eligibility or calculate CRS points.
Requirements vary by immigration program and can change. Always verify the current requirements for your program on Canada.ca before you plan or apply.
What to do with your result
- Compare each skill with the minimum your program lists, not just your average.
- Put extra practice into the skill furthest from its target, often writing or speaking.
- Book the official test only when timed practice results are consistent.