TEF Canada guide
TEF Canada, scored the way IRCC reads it.
Four skills, four separate thresholds, and one level that comes from the weakest of them.
What is on the TEF Canada exam?
TEF Canada tests four skills separately: reading, listening, writing and speaking. Each is scored on the 0–699 scale for tests taken after 10 December 2023, and each score is converted to its own NCLC level. The four are never averaged into one result.
Compréhension écrite
Reading. Notices, articles, correspondence, and comprehension under a clock.
Compréhension orale
Listening. Announcements, interviews and discussions at native tempo.
Expression écrite
Writing. Section A completes a news item, Section B argues a position.
Expression orale
Speaking. Section A obtains information, Section B persuades.
What score do I need on TEF Canada for NCLC 7?
NCLC 7 begins at 434 in compréhension écrite, 434 in compréhension orale, 428 in expression écrite and 456 in expression orale. Speaking has the highest entry point, so a score that clears NCLC 7 in reading can still fall short in speaking.
| NCLC | Compréhension écrite | Expression écrite | Compréhension orale | Expression orale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 546–699 | 558–699 | 546–699 | 556–699 |
| 9 | 503–545 | 512–557 | 503–545 | 518–555 |
| 8 | 462–502 | 472–511 | 462–502 | 494–517 |
| 7 | 434–461 | 428–471 | 434–461 | 456–493 |
| 6 | 393–433 | 379–427 | 393–433 | 422–455 |
| 5 | 352–392 | 330–378 | 352–392 | 387–421 |
| 4 | 306–351 | 268–329 | 306–351 | 328–386 |
Score bands for TEF Canada tests taken after 10 December 2023, on the 0–699 scale. For Express Entry, follow the current instructions in your own IRCC account.
IRCC currently directs Express Entry candidates to the previous score equivalency column, so the /699 figures printed on your attestation are not typed straight into the profile.
Last reviewed: September 2026
TEF Canada → NCLC
One weak skill caps your whole profile.
IRCC reads the NCLC level, not the raw number — and the thresholds are different for every skill. A 440 is NCLC 7 in reading. The same 440 in speaking isn't. Try your practice scores.
Score bands for TEF Canada tests taken after 10 December 2023, on the 0–699 scale. For Express Entry, follow the current instructions in your own IRCC account.
Thresholds for NCLC 7: 434 compréhension écrite, 434 compréhension orale, 428 expression écrite, 456 expression orale. Overall level is the minimum of 4 skills, never an average.
Questions people ask
What score do I need on TEF Canada for NCLC 7?
NCLC 7 starts at 434 in compréhension écrite, 434 in compréhension orale, 428 in expression écrite and 456 in expression orale, on the 0–699 scale used after 10 December 2023. The thresholds differ by skill, so a single number cannot be applied to all four.
Is NCLC 7 the same as B2?
No. NCLC 7 and CEFR B2 overlap, but they are separate scales. Immigration applications use the NCLC level from the official TEF Canada equivalency, not a CEFR label, so read your attestation rather than a course description.
Do I need NCLC 7 in all four skills?
For most French-language points, the level that counts is your weakest of the four skills. One skill below the threshold caps what is read from your file, which is why raising an already-strong skill first changes nothing.
How long does it take to go from zero French to B2?
It depends on study hours per week, prior languages and how early exam technique starts. We do not publish a timeline as a promise. A placement call gives you a per-skill starting point and a realistic sequence of levels from there.
TEF Canada or TCF Canada — which should I take?
Both are accepted for economic immigration. TEF Canada reports on the 0–699 scale with per-skill equivalencies; TCF Canada uses its own scoring. Choose on test availability, format preference and how your practice results look, then prepare for that one format.
How long are TEF Canada results valid?
Language test results have a validity window for immigration purposes, and expired results are not accepted. Check the date printed on your attestation and the current requirement in your own IRCC account before you submit.
Why do different websites show different TEF Canada scores?
The scale changed for tests taken after 10 December 2023. Older pages still show the previous ranges. Confirm which scale a table refers to before using it, and rely on the equivalency shown on your own attestation.
Last reviewed: September 2026
Why TEF Canada is worth the effort
French proficiency carries points on Canadian permanent residency applications, and for many applicants it is the fastest remaining lever on a profile. TEF Canada is the test most of our students choose to prove it.
Find out where your French actually sits.
A short call, a spoken assessment, and an honest per-skill starting point. No obligation to enrol.
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