How does TCF Canada convert to NCLC?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada publishes a minimum TCF Canada score for each NCLC level in each of the four abilities. Your NCLC is assessed per ability, not as an average — listening, reading, writing, and speaking are each converted separately, and the CRS awards points on each one individually.

What TCF Canada score do I need for NCLC 9?

Listening 523, Reading 524, Writing 14, Speaking 14. Holding NCLC 9 across all four abilities is worth 124 CRS points as a first official language with no accompanying spouse.

Is a higher TCF Canada score always worth more CRS points?

Only up to NCLC 10. Points stop increasing above NCLC 10, which caps the first official language at 136 points without an accompanying spouse. Scoring beyond that threshold adds nothing to your CRS total.

Does a NCLC below 4 earn any points?

No. The CRS language grid starts at NCLC 4, and results below that level earn zero points for that ability.

French language test

TCF Canada to NCLC conversion chart

TCF Canada is scored per ability (reading and listening out of 699; writing and speaking out of 20). Express Entry converts each ability to a NCLC level, then awards CRS points on each one separately. Here is the full chart, with the points attached.

Reading and listening out of 699; writing and speaking out of 20

Listening—

Reading—

Writing—

Speaking—

I have an accompanying spouse or common-law partner

As first official language

CRS points

As second official language

CRS points

Select your TCF Canada scores to see your NCLC levels and CRS points.

TCF Canada scores required for each NCLC level

NCLC	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking	CRS points
NCLC 10	549	549	16	16	136
NCLC 9	523	524	14	14	124
NCLC 8	503	499	12	12	92
NCLC 7	458	453	10	10	68
NCLC 6	398	406	7	7	36
NCLC 5	369	375	6	6	24
NCLC 4	331	342	4	4	24

Each cell is the minimum TCF Canada score that reaches that NCLC level in that ability. CRS points assume the same level in all four abilities as a first official language, with no accompanying spouse.

How the conversion is applied

Your abilities are converted one at a time. A candidate with TCF Canada results that land at NCLC 9 in listening and NCLC 7 in writing is scored at each of those levels separately — there is no averaging, and the weakest ability does not drag the others down.

That matters for planning. Because points per ability rise unevenly between levels, the cheapest CRS gain is usually the one ability sitting just under a threshold, not a broad retake. A single ability moving from NCLC 7 to NCLC 8 is worth 6 points on its own.

Second official language

A second official language is scored on the same NCLC scale but on a much smaller grid, and the total is capped. At NCLC 9 across all four abilities, a second language adds 24 points with no accompanying spouse.

Level-by-level breakdowns

TCF Canada for NCLC 10 TCF Canada for NCLC 9 TCF Canada for NCLC 8 TCF Canada for NCLC 7 TCF Canada for NCLC 6 TCF Canada for NCLC 5 TCF Canada for NCLC 4

Other tests

IELTS → CLB CELPIP → CLB PTE Core → CLB TEF Canada → NCLC

Frequently asked questions

How does TCF Canada convert to NCLC?: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada publishes a minimum TCF Canada score for each NCLC level in each of the four abilities. Your NCLC is assessed per ability, not as an average — listening, reading, writing, and speaking are each converted separately, and the CRS awards points on each one individually.
What TCF Canada score do I need for NCLC 9?: Listening 523, Reading 524, Writing 14, Speaking 14. Holding NCLC 9 across all four abilities is worth 124 CRS points as a first official language with no accompanying spouse.
Is a higher TCF Canada score always worth more CRS points?: Only up to NCLC 10. Points stop increasing above NCLC 10, which caps the first official language at 136 points without an accompanying spouse. Scoring beyond that threshold adds nothing to your CRS total.
Does a NCLC below 4 earn any points?: No. The CRS language grid starts at NCLC 4, and results below that level earn zero points for that ability.

See what your TCF Canada results are worth in full

Language is one factor of many. PR Buddy runs the complete CRS formula on your whole profile and ranks every way to gain points — quick wins first.

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