The TEF Canada score chart IRCC uses for Express Entry is not the 0–699 scale printed in big numbers on your certificate. It's the "Équivalence ancien score" column: listening out of 360, reading out of 300, and writing and speaking out of 450. For NCLC 7 you need 249 in listening, 207 in reading, 310 in writing and 310 in speaking.
Almost every confusion about TEF Canada scores comes from mixing those two scales. This guide gives you the official chart, explains why your attestation shows two scores per skill, and tells you which table applies to your program. If you want the conversion done for you, use the TEF Canada to NCLC converter.
The TEF Canada score chart for Express Entry
This is IRCC's equivalency table for the TEF Canada, as published on its Express Entry language-test page. The table opens on the Express Entry scale. Switch to "Score /699" to see the other table.
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 |
How to read it:
- Each skill has its own maximum. Listening (compréhension orale) is out of 360, reading (compréhension écrite) out of 300, and writing and speaking (expression écrite and orale) out of 450.
- Writing and speaking share one set of cut-offs. NCLC 7 is 310–348 in both, NCLC 9 is 371–392, and 393 or more is NCLC 10.
- IRCC publishes NCLC 4 to 10 only. Below 145 in listening, 121 in reading or 181 in writing and speaking, you're under NCLC 4, and IRCC's table stops there.
NCLC 7 on the TEF Canada (Express Entry scale)
- Listening, out of 360
- 249
- Reading, out of 300
- 207
- Writing, out of 450
- 310
- Speaking, out of 450
- 310
Why your certificate shows two scores per skill
Since the TEF Canada format changed on 11 December 2023, the attestation de résultats shows your score for each test on a 0–699 scale, your CEFR level (A1 to C2) and an NCLC level. It also has a column called "Équivalence ancien score" (previous score equivalency).
IRCC is explicit about which one to use. Its Express Entry page says the "Score / 699" results "aren't compatible with our system at this time" and that you should not enter them. Your language level is based on the Équivalence ancien score column, and "if you don't enter the correct scores, we may refuse your application." The test owner, Le français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France), gives the same instruction.
Not sure which number applies to your situation? Answer two questions:
Which TEF Canada score do I use?
Your certificate shows more than one number per skill. Tell us what the result is for and we'll point you to the right column.
Choose what the result is for.
Based on IRCC's Express Entry, PGWP and citizenship language pages. Not legal advice: confirm on canada.ca before you submit.
Which table applies to your program
IRCC doesn't use one TEF table everywhere:
| Program | Which TEF score | Table |
|---|---|---|
| Express Entry (FSW, CEC, FST) | Équivalence ancien score | The chart above |
| Post-graduation work permit, Atlantic Immigration Program, Francophone Community Immigration Pilot, Home Care Worker pilots | Score /699 | IRCC's /699 tables, split by test date |
| Canadian citizenship | CEFR level on the certificate | B1 or higher in listening and speaking |
For the /699 tables, the date matters. Tests taken on or after 11 December 2023 use the table in the "Score /699" view above, where each skill has its own cut-offs. For example, NCLC 7 starts at 434 in listening and reading, 428 in writing and 456 in speaking. Speaking is the hardest skill to convert at middle levels on this scale.
Tests taken between 1 October 2019 and 10 December 2023 used an older /699 table with one set of cut-offs for all four skills. Those results are now more than two years old, so they've expired for IRCC immigration purposes (citizenship has its own rule, below).
The December 2023 to May 2024 episode
IRCC notes that for tests taken between 11 December 2023 and 6 May 2024, CCI "temporarily modified the NCLC to reflect raw scores." The change was reverted to the Express Entry scoring grid, and affected candidates received an email from CCI with updated scores to put in their profile.
Because Express Entry needs results less than two years old, tests from that window have now expired for Express Entry. If you still have a profile built on one, you'll need a new test anyway.
The lowest-skill rule
Every Express Entry threshold is checked skill by skill. There's no averaging. "NCLC 7 in all four abilities" means each of your four ancien scores must reach its NCLC 7 cut-off on the same attestation.
Take a candidate with 300 in listening (NCLC 9), 250 in reading (NCLC 9), 360 in writing (NCLC 8) and 305 in speaking. Speaking at 305 is NCLC 6, five points short of 310. That one skill makes the overall level NCLC 6 for every "all four" rule, including the French-language draws and the French bonus points.
What each NCLC level unlocks
The chart only matters because of what each level opens up. Pick your lowest level in speaking and listening, and in reading and writing:
What does your French level unlock?
Pick your lowest level in speaking and listening, and in reading and writing.
You meet 9 of 9 French-language minimums.
- Canadian citizenship language proof (ages 18–54): metNeeds NCLC 4 in speaking and listening
- Mobilité francophone work permit (outside Quebec): metNeeds NCLC 5 in speaking and listening
- Federal Skilled Trades (French as first language): metNeeds NCLC 5 in speaking and listening, 4 in reading and writing
- Canadian Experience Class, TEER 2 or 3 jobs: metNeeds NCLC 5 in all four skills
- FSW: 4 selection points for French as second language: metNeeds NCLC 5 in all four skills
- Federal Skilled Worker (French as first language): metNeeds NCLC 7 in all four skills
- Canadian Experience Class, TEER 0 or 1 jobs: metNeeds NCLC 7 in all four skills
- Express Entry French-language category draws: metNeeds NCLC 7 in all four skills
- French bonus: 25 or 50 additional CRS points: metNeeds NCLC 7 in all four skills
Minimums from canada.ca (Express Entry language requirements, CRS criteria, category-based selection, Francophone mobility, citizenship). Each program has other requirements too.
The headline numbers, all from canada.ca:
- NCLC 4 in speaking and listening: language proof for Canadian citizenship (ages 18 to 54). For the TEF, IRCC words this as B1 or higher in listening and speaking.
- NCLC 5 in speaking and listening: the language level for the Mobilité francophone work permit outside Quebec. Our Mobilité francophone guide covers the rest of the rules.
- NCLC 7 in all four: the Federal Skilled Worker minimum if French is your first official language, eligibility for French-language category draws, and 25 or 50 additional CRS points (50 if you also have CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills).
To see what those points do to your total, run your profile through the CRS calculator. IRCC has consulted on changes to the French points; that is a proposal, not in force, and today's rules are the ones above.
TEF vs TCF charts side by side
Both tests convert to the same NCLC levels, so NCLC 7 on one is worth exactly the same as NCLC 7 on the other. The scales are what differ:
| TEF Canada (Express Entry) | TCF Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 0–360 (NCLC 7 from 249) | 0–699 (NCLC 7 from 458) |
| Reading | 0–300 (NCLC 7 from 207) | 0–699 (NCLC 7 from 453) |
| Writing | 0–450 (NCLC 7 from 310) | 0–20 (NCLC 7 from 10) |
| Speaking | 0–450 (NCLC 7 from 310) | 0–20 (NCLC 7 from 10) |
The full TCF table is in our TCF Canada score chart. If you're still choosing a test, TCF vs TEF: which is easier? compares the formats section by section.
How to use this chart before your exam
Get a baseline
Take a timed mock in the TEF format from our TEF Canada practice test hub. You'll get an estimated NCLC level for every skill.Find the binding skill
Compare each estimate with the NCLC 7 cut-offs above. The lowest skill is the one to train.Check what the level is worth
Use the CRS calculator to see how the French points and French-category eligibility change your position.Book with margin
Aim a little above the cut-off in practice. Exam-day nerves cost points, and the TEF has a 20-day wait between sittings if you need to retake.
Want both formats and the NCLC tables on a single printable page? Download the free TCF and TEF cheat sheet.
Our take
Bookmark the ancien-score column, not the /699 one. For Express Entry, the four numbers that matter are 249, 207, 310 and 310, and every one of them has to be met on the same attestation. Once you have real results, convert them with the NCLC score converter and double-check the column before you type anything into your profile.