How does TEF Canada convert to NCLC?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada publishes a minimum TEF 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 TEF Canada score do I need for NCLC 9?

Listening 298, Reading 248, Writing 371, Speaking 371. Holding NCLC 9 across all four abilities is worth 124 CRS points as a first official language with no accompanying spouse.

Is a higher TEF 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

TEF Canada to NCLC conversion chart

TEF Canada is scored per ability (reading out of 300, listening out of 360, writing and speaking out of 450). 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 out of 300, listening out of 360, writing and speaking out of 450

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 TEF Canada scores to see your NCLC levels and CRS points.

TEF Canada scores required for each NCLC level

NCLC	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking	CRS points
NCLC 10	316	263	393	393	136
NCLC 9	298	248	371	371	124
NCLC 8	280	233	349	349	92
NCLC 7	249	207	310	310	68
NCLC 6	217	181	271	271	36
NCLC 5	181	151	226	226	24
NCLC 4	145	121	181	181	24

Each cell is the minimum TEF 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.

IRCC reads the “Équivalence ancien score” column of your TEF Canada statement of results, not the Score /699 column. Using the /699 figures will give you a level that does not match your file.

How the conversion is applied

Your abilities are converted one at a time. A candidate with TEF 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

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

Other tests

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

Frequently asked questions

How does TEF Canada convert to NCLC?: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada publishes a minimum TEF 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 TEF Canada score do I need for NCLC 9?: Listening 298, Reading 248, Writing 371, Speaking 371. Holding NCLC 9 across all four abilities is worth 124 CRS points as a first official language with no accompanying spouse.
Is a higher TEF 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 TEF 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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