Free TEF tool
TEF to CLB Calculator
TEF Canada measures your French, and its results map to NCLC levels, the French twin of the CLB on the same 1 to 12 scale. TEF uses a different score range per section (Speaking and Writing up to 450, Listening up to 360, Reading up to 300), so enter your four section scores below to see your NCLC/CLB level in each ability plus the exact Express Entry CRS language points they earn.
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Your TEF Canada scores
Enter your four raw scores
Type the raw score you got in each section. Your NCLC level (the French CLB) and Express Entry language points update instantly.
TEF Canada uses a different scale per section (Speaking and Writing to 450, Listening to 360, Reading to 300). Each raw score maps to an NCLC level using the official IRCC chart. Your overall level is your lowest of the four.
Your result
Overall (lowest) CLB level
7
Most programs use your lowest section
Listening
CLB 7
Reading
CLB 7
Writing
CLB 7
Speaking
CLB 7
Express Entry CRS language points
These are language points only, the part of your CRS score your test results control. Your total CRS score also depends on age, education, work experience and other factors.
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How TEF Canada scores convert to NCLC and CLB
TEF Canada reports a raw score in each of the four abilities, and each ability uses its own range: Speaking and Writing go up to 450, Listening up to 360, and Reading up to 300. IRCC does not work in those raw numbers directly. Instead it maps each score to an NCLC level, the same way IELTS and CELPIP map to the CLB.
NCLC and CLB share one scale, so an NCLC level plugs straight into the CRS language-point tables: an NCLC 9 in an ability earns the same points as a CLB 9 in that ability. The table below shows the minimum raw score you need to reach each NCLC level in each ability.
| NCLC level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCLC 10 | 393 | 316 | 263 | 393 |
| NCLC 9 | 371 | 298 | 248 | 371 |
| NCLC 8 | 349 | 280 | 233 | 349 |
| NCLC 7 | 310 | 249 | 207 | 310 |
| NCLC 6 | 271 | 217 | 181 | 271 |
| NCLC 5 | 226 | 181 | 151 | 226 |
| NCLC 4 | 181 | 145 | 121 | 181 |
Each figure is the minimum raw score for that NCLC level in that ability. NCLC 7 across all four abilities is the usual French minimum for Express Entry. Because NCLC and CLB share the same scale, your NCLC level plugs straight into the CRS language-point tables that CELPIP and IELTS applicants use.
FAQ
TEF, NCLC and CRS questions
What TEF Canada score is NCLC 7?
NCLC 7 needs a minimum raw score of 310 in Speaking, 249 in Listening, 207 in Reading, and 310 in Writing. NCLC 7 across all four abilities is the level Express Entry usually treats as the French benchmark, so it is the number most French-track applicants aim for first.
Is NCLC the same as CLB?
Yes. NCLC (Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens) is the French equivalent of the CLB. Both use the same 1 to 12 scale and describe the same levels of ability, one for French and one for English. IRCC treats an NCLC level and its matching CLB level as interchangeable, so your NCLC number plugs straight into the CRS language tables.
How many CRS points does TEF give me?
TEF itself does not carry points. Your raw scores map to an NCLC level in each ability, and those NCLC levels earn CRS points from the same language table used for the CLB. So an NCLC 9 in an ability is worth the same CRS points as a CLB 9 in that ability, whether it counts as your first or second official language.
Can I get the French bonus?
Yes. If you score NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities, Express Entry adds bonus CRS points on top of your language points: +25 if your English is CLB 4 or lower (or you have no English), and +50 if your English is CLB 5 or higher across all four skills. The French test still has to be within the last two years.
Does Express Entry accept TCF Canada too?
Yes. TCF Canada is the other French test IRCC accepts, alongside TEF Canada. It uses its own score ranges but converts to the same NCLC levels, so either test gets you to the same place for CRS points and the French bonus. Pick whichever test you are more comfortable with.
Conversion figures are based on the official IRCC TEF Canada to NCLC equivalency and the Comprehensive Ranking System criteria (current as of the 2025 IRCC update). This is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with IRCC or the CCI Paris Ile-de-France (the TEF administrator). Always confirm current requirements on canada.ca before making immigration decisions. Last reviewed June 2026.