TEF Canada
French proficiency test accepted for Express Entry and many PNPs.
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Who it's for
Francophone applicants or those adding French as a second official language.
IRCC reminder
TEF Canada (not TEF tout public) is the version used for Canadian immigration.
Official booking & info
How this test is scored
- TEF Canada uses separate scoring scales for oral expression, written expression, listening, and reading.
- IRCC converts those scores to NCLC levels 4–10. For CRS and most federal grids, NCLC uses the same numeric scale as CLB.
- TEF Canada (compréhension orale/écrite, expression orale/écrite modules used for immigration) is not the same as TEF tout public for general French certification.
CRS & Express Entry
- Strong French can add CRS points through second-language factors or bilingual bonus rules — confirm which language you declare as first vs second on your profile.
- Book modules that match IRCC’s accepted TEF Canada format and keep results within the two-year validity window.
NCLC conversion — TEF Canada
Each ability converts separately. IRCC equivalency charts · CRS calculator uses the same tables.
| NCLC | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 393 – 450 | 316 – 360 | 263 – 300 | 393 – 450 |
| 9 | 371 – 392 | 298 – 315 | 248 – 262 | 371 – 392 |
| 8 | 349 – 370 | 280 – 297 | 233 – 247 | 349 – 370 |
| 7 | 310 – 348 | 249 – 279 | 207 – 232 | 310 – 348 |
| 6 | 271 – 309 | 217 – 248 | 181 – 206 | 271 – 309 |
| 5 | 226 – 270 | 181 – 216 | 151 – 180 | 226 – 270 |
| 4 | 181 – 225 | 145 – 180 | 121 – 150 | 181 – 225 |
Compare tests — NCLC 7 vs NCLC 9
Side-by-side raw scores for common Express Entry targets (not a single overall test score).
NCLC 7 — raw scores by test
| Test | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEF Canada(this page) | 310 – 348 | 249 – 279 | 207 – 232 | 310 – 348 |
| TCF Canada | 10 – 11 | 458 – 502 | 453 – 498 | 10 – 11 |
NCLC 9 — raw scores by test
| Test | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEF Canada(this page) | 371 – 392 | 298 – 315 | 248 – 262 | 371 – 392 |
| TCF Canada | 14 – 15 | 523 – 548 | 524 – 548 | 14 – 15 |
Other tests IRCC accepts
Want to try a different approved test? Compare formats and book when ready.
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