NCLC 9 on the TCF Canada starts at 523 in listening, 524 in reading and 14 out of 20 in writing and speaking. On the TEF Canada (the "Équivalence ancien score" column used for Express Entry) it starts at 298, 248, 371 and 371.
NCLC 7 opens the French-category draws and the French bonus. NCLC 9 is about points: it maximises second-language points, and if French is your first official language it adds dozens of CRS points through first-language and skill-transferability factors. This guide gives the exact scores for both tests, the CRS maths with worked examples, and a realistic view of the preparation.
NCLC 9 minimums, TCF Canada
- Listening (out of 699)
- 523
- Reading (out of 699)
- 524
- Writing (out of 20)
- 14
- Speaking (out of 20)
- 14
NCLC 9 minimums, TEF Canada (ancien score)
- Listening (out of 360)
- 298
- Reading (out of 300)
- 248
- Writing (out of 450)
- 371
- Speaking (out of 450)
- 371
NCLC 9 TCF Canada score, skill by skill
Here is IRCC's TCF Canada table with NCLC 9 highlighted:
| NCLC | 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 |
| 4 | 331–368 | 342–374 | 4–5 | 4–5 |
TCF Canada: listening and reading out of 699, writing and speaking out of 20. Source: IRCC equivalency table.
Watch two details:
- Listening and reading don't start at the same number. NCLC 9 starts at 523 in listening but 524 in reading. One point is easy to miss when you plan.
- NCLC 9 is a narrow band. It's 26 points wide in listening, 25 in reading, and only two marks (14 and 15) in writing and speaking. Above that is NCLC 10, which scores slightly more in some CRS factors and the same in others.
As always, every skill counts on its own, and all four results must come from the same test session.
NCLC 9 TEF Canada score
For Express Entry, read the "Équivalence ancien score" column of your TEF Canada certificate, never "Score / 699". IRCC warns that entering the wrong column can lead to a refused application.
TEF Canada → NCLC for Express Entry (Équivalence ancien score)
| NCLC | Listeningout of 360 | Readingout of 300 | Writingout of 450 | Speakingout of 450 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
The full TEF breakdown is in our TEF Canada score chart. To convert your own results on either test, use the NCLC score converter.
Is NCLC 9 C1?
On the TCF Canada, yes in practice. France Éducation international's grid puts 500–599 at C1 for listening and reading, and 14–17 out of 20 at C1 for writing and speaking. NCLC 9 (523–548, 524–548, 14–15) falls inside those bands in every skill.
C1 means you understand long, demanding texts and implicit meaning, and you express yourself fluently without searching much for words. In the exam, that looks like handling the last, hardest third of the listening paper, and writing an argued text that's organised, precise and varied in vocabulary.
Why NCLC 9 matters for your CRS score
NCLC 9 changes three separate parts of the Comprehensive Ranking System. How much it's worth depends on whether French is your first or second official language. You choose which is which when you create your profile, and declaring the stronger language as first usually gives more points.
1. Second official language: from 12 to 24 points
If English is your first official language, each French skill earns second-language points:
| French level per skill | Points per skill | Four skills |
|---|---|---|
| NCLC 5 or 6 | 1 | 4 |
| NCLC 7 or 8 | 3 | 12 |
| NCLC 9 or higher | 6 | 24 |
Going from NCLC 7 to NCLC 9 in all four skills adds 12 points (10 if you have an accompanying spouse, because of the cap). NCLC 8 adds nothing over NCLC 7 here: the next step is 9.
2. First official language: the big jump
If French is your first official language, the points per skill are much larger, and NCLC 9 is where they jump:
| French level per skill | Without spouse | With spouse |
|---|---|---|
| NCLC 7 | 17 | 16 |
| NCLC 8 | 23 | 22 |
| NCLC 9 | 31 | 29 |
| NCLC 10 or more | 34 | 32 |
Four skills at NCLC 7 give 68 points without a spouse. At NCLC 9 they give 124: 56 more.
3. Skill transferability: language tier 2
Skill transferability combines your first-language level with your education and with your foreign work experience. The CRS has two tiers: CLB/NCLC 7 or more in all four and CLB/NCLC 9 or more in all four. The second tier roughly doubles these points. For a candidate with a bachelor's degree and three years of foreign work experience, moving from the first tier to the second adds 37 points.
4. The French bonus doesn't change
The 25 or 50 additional points for French need NCLC 7 in all four skills, and they stay the same at NCLC 9 or 10. NCLC 9 pays off through the three factors above, not the bonus. Our French CRS points guide explains the bonus in detail.
Worked examples
Illustrative examples, calculated with the CRS grid published on canada.ca. Both candidates are 29, single, with a bachelor's degree and three years of skilled work outside Canada.
Ravi: English first, French second. English CLB 9 in all four skills.
- French NCLC 7 in all four: 491 points (12 second-language points + 50 bonus).
- French NCLC 9 in all four: 503 points. Second-language points go from 12 to 24.
- NCLC 9 is worth 12 points for Ravi. Useful, but not dramatic.
Amina: French first, English second. English CLB 5 in all four skills.
- French NCLC 7 in all four: 390 points.
- French NCLC 9 in all four: 483 points. First-language points rise from 68 to 124 (+56) and skill transferability from 38 to 75 (+37).
- French NCLC 10 in all four: 495 points.
- NCLC 9 is worth 93 points for Amina. For a French-first candidate, it's one of the largest gains available.
Try your own numbers. Set French to NCLC 9, then to NCLC 7, and compare:
Quick CRS score check
A short version of the CRS calculator. Open the full one for every factor.
Estimated CRS score
433
Core 358 · Spouse 0 · Transferability 25 · Additional 50
The embed assumes no foreign work experience, so the totals differ from the examples above. The full CRS calculator takes everything into account, and the CRS score improver ranks which change, NCLC 9, a higher English score or another year of work, adds the most points for you.
NCLC 9 and French-category draws
French-category draws only need NCLC 7 in all four abilities, so NCLC 9 doesn't change your eligibility. It changes your rank. Within a French-category round, candidates are still ordered by CRS score, so extra points from NCLC 9 put you further above the cut-off, or over it.
Cut-offs move with every round, so compare your score with the history on the French draw tracker rather than one number.
Is NCLC 9 worth it for you?
A quick way to decide:
- French is (or could be) your first official language: almost certainly yes. Moving from NCLC 7 to 9 can be worth around 90 points through first-language and transferability factors, as Amina's example shows.
- English is your first language and you're at NCLC 7 in French: NCLC 9 adds 12 points (10 with a spouse). Compare that with what the same months of study would do for your English: if your English is below CLB 9, raising it may add more. The CRS score improver answers this for your profile.
- You're not at NCLC 7 in all four yet: get there first. NCLC 7 is worth up to 62 points for an English-first candidate and opens French-category draws. See NCLC 7 on the TCF Canada or on the TEF Canada.
How to prepare for NCLC 9
From NCLC 7 to NCLC 9 on the TCF Canada, the gap is 65 points in listening (458 to 523), 71 in reading (453 to 524), and 4 marks out of 20 in writing and speaking (10 to 14). In CEFR terms, that's B2 to C1, a level that usually takes months of steady, focused work rather than weeks.
How long until your target NCLC?
Choose your current level, your target and how many hours a week you can study.
Hours of study to reach about C1 (the TCF Canada band that contains NCLC 9):
250–300 hours
About 32–38 weeks
- B2 → C1: 250–300 h
- Take your first full timed mock test around week 24, then book the exam when it shows your target in all four skills.
Hours per level are Alliance Française de Lyon's course-hour estimates (2026), one school's figures, not an official standard. Self-study usually needs more hours than guided classes. NCLC ≈ CEFR matching is approximate.
The planner uses one language school's published estimate of hours per CEFR level, so treat it as a rough guide. What tends to move scores at this level:
- Listening: the last third of the paper decides NCLC 9. Train on long, fast, abstract audio: debates, interviews, radio documentaries from different francophone regions. Practise catching attitude and implied meaning, not just facts.
- Reading: read opinion pieces, editorials and reports, and ask yourself what the writer suggests, concedes or rejects. Time pressure matters: 39 questions in 60 minutes on the TCF.
- Writing: 14/20 needs more than correct grammar. Graders look for clear structure, precise connectors, varied vocabulary and a well-argued view. Rewrite the same task after feedback until the structure is automatic.
- Speaking: fluency and range. At this level, examiners notice whether you can nuance, concede a point and still defend your view without long pauses.
Our French study plan builder turns your target and weekly hours into a week-by-week plan. For words grouped by theme, try the free TCF and TEF vocabulary list, and see the French grammar cheat sheet for the structures examiners notice at this level.
What to do next
Check where you are
If you haven't taken a French test yet, start with the 10-question French level test. It takes a few minutes.
Take a full timed mock
A free mock test gives a score per skill in the TCF or TEF format. Convert each one with the NCLC score converter and see how far each skill is from NCLC 9.
See what NCLC 9 is worth to you
Put your profile into the CRS score improver. If NCLC 9 is your biggest gain, plan for it. If not, spend the time where the points are.
Train the skill furthest from 9
Writing and speaking usually need the most work at this level. Practise with the TCF Canada practice test or the TEF Canada practice test, and see our plans for scored feedback on every attempt.