TEF Canada Score Chart and NCLC Calculator
Your TEF Canada results show more than one score per skill. Here is which number counts for Express Entry, the full official conversion tables, and what score you need for NCLC 7.
In this guide
- The key rule: use the « Équivalence ancien score » column
- The Express Entry table (« Équivalence ancien score »)
- The « Score / 699 » table (tests after 10 December 2023)
- What NCLC 7 means in practice
- How to read your results, step by step
- Where candidates lose points
- Frequently asked questions
- Official sources
Exam formats, score tables and immigration requirements can change. This article was last reviewed on 4 October 2026. Always verify current requirements with IRCC and the official test provider before booking or submitting an application.
Many TEF Canada candidates open their results, see several numbers per skill and wonder which one matters. The answer is important, because IRCC converts your scores into NCLC levels, and those levels decide your eligibility and your points. This guide shows the official conversion tables and explains the one detail that catches people out.
The key rule: use the « Équivalence ancien score » column
Your TEF Canada attestation de résultats shows a « Score / 699 » for each skill and an « Équivalence ancien score » (previous score equivalency). IRCC states that applications received through Express Entry are assessed on the « Équivalence ancien score », and that applicants should enter only those figures in their Express Entry profile, whatever the test date. Entering the « Score / 699 » figures may produce an incorrect NCLC level.
For Express Entry, copy the numbers from the « Équivalence ancien score » column, not the « Score / 699 » column.
The Express Entry table (« Équivalence ancien score »)
These scales run from 0 to 360 for listening, 0 to 300 for reading, and 0 to 450 for writing and speaking.
| NCLC | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10+ | 316–360 | 263–300 | 393–450 | 393–450 |
| 9 | 298–315 | 248–262 | 371–392 | 371–392 |
| 8 | 280–297 | 233–247 | 349–370 | 349–370 |
| 7 | 249–279 | 207–232 | 310–348 | 310–348 |
| 6 | 217–248 | 181–206 | 271–309 | 271–309 |
| 5 | 181–216 | 151–180 | 226–270 | 226–270 |
| 4 | 145–180 | 121–150 | 181–225 | 181–225 |
The « Score / 699 » table (tests after 10 December 2023)
For reference, IRCC also publishes the equivalencies for the « Score / 699 » column. For tests taken after 10 December 2023:
| NCLC | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10+ | 546–699 | 546–699 | 558–699 | 556–699 |
| 9 | 503–545 | 503–545 | 512–557 | 518–555 |
| 8 | 462–502 | 462–502 | 472–511 | 494–517 |
| 7 | 434–461 | 434–461 | 428–471 | 456–493 |
| 6 | 393–433 | 393–433 | 379–427 | 422–455 |
| 5 | 352–392 | 352–392 | 330–378 | 387–421 |
| 4 | 306–351 | 306–351 | 268–329 | 328–386 |
Tests taken between 1 October 2019 and 10 December 2023 use a different « Score / 699 » table, in which NCLC 7 is 450–499 for every skill. Whatever your test date, the « Équivalence ancien score » table above is the one that applies to Express Entry.
What NCLC 7 means in practice
NCLC 7 is the most common target, because it is a threshold for several economic programs and for many French-language advantages in Express Entry. At this level you can:
- take part in conversations on familiar and some abstract topics with reasonable fluency;
- develop an opinion with reasons and examples, not just state it;
- understand the main points and many details of clear, standard speech;
- write organised texts with connectors and a fair range of vocabulary.
The requirements for each program, and the points awarded, are set by IRCC and can change. Always confirm your target on canada.ca before you book your test.
How to read your results, step by step
- Find the « Équivalence ancien score » figure for each of the four skills.
- Look up each figure in the Express Entry table above.
- Note the NCLC level for each skill separately: you can have NCLC 8 in listening and NCLC 7 in speaking.
- Your lowest skill often decides your eligibility, so identify it and focus your next preparation there.
Listening 285 → NCLC 8 · Reading 215 → NCLC 7 · Writing 330 → NCLC 7 · Speaking 352 → NCLC 8. This candidate is at NCLC 7 or above in all four skills.
Where candidates lose points
Listening and reading reward exam technique and regular exposure. Most candidates lose the decisive points in the productive skills: speaking and writing. Short, undeveloped answers, weak connectors and tense errors keep many learners just below the NCLC 7 threshold. Our guides to Section A and Section B of the speaking test show how to build longer, structured answers.
Frequently asked questions
Which TEF Canada score do I enter in Express Entry?
IRCC instructs Express Entry applicants to enter the scores from the « Équivalence ancien score » column of the results, regardless of the test date. Entering the « Score / 699 » figures can produce an incorrect NCLC level.
What TEF Canada score is NCLC 7 in speaking?
In the « Équivalence ancien score » column, NCLC 7 in speaking is 310 to 348 out of 450. For tests taken after 10 December 2023, the corresponding « Score / 699 » range is 456 to 493.
Is NCLC 7 the same in all four skills?
The NCLC level is the same idea in every skill, but each skill has its own score range, so you need to check each one separately in the table.
How long are TEF Canada results valid?
For immigration applications, IRCC requires results that are less than two years old when you apply.