Guide
NCLC 7 in French: the scores you need
The score that gives NCLC 7 (CLB 7) in each skill on TCF Canada and TEF Canada, what the level means in CEFR terms, and what it is worth for Express Entry.
Updated
Quick answer
NCLC 7 is the French name of CLB 7 and sits at about B2 on the European scale. It is given skill by skill, so you need the right score in listening, reading, writing and speaking separately. With NCLC 7 in all four, French starts earning additional Express Entry points.
What NCLC 7 means
NCLC stands for Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens. It is the Canadian scale for French, and it is the same scale as the CLB used for English: NCLC 7 and CLB 7 are one level under two names. Immigration programs never read your raw test score; they read the NCLC level it converts to.
In European terms, NCLC 7 is roughly the start of B2: you follow the main points of a discussion or a news report, read articles on current issues, write a clear, structured text and defend an opinion out loud without searching for every word.
The score for NCLC 7 in each skill
Each exam reports each skill on its own scale, so the number to reach depends on both. The table gives the range that converts to NCLC 7; one point below the range is NCLC 6.
| Skill | TCF Canada | TEF Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 458–502 / 699 | 434–461 / 699 |
| Reading | 453–498 / 699 | 434–461 / 699 |
| Writing | 10–11 / 20 | 428–471 / 699 |
| Speaking | 10–11 / 20 | 456–493 / 699 |
Why NCLC 7 is the level to reach
In Express Entry, three things change at NCLC 7. First, each skill is worth more: with French as your first official language and no spouse, a skill at NCLC 7 earns 17 points against 9 at NCLC 6. Second, NCLC 7 or higher in all four skills unlocks the additional points for French: 25, or 50 if you also have CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills.
Third, the category-based rounds of invitations for French speakers have asked for NCLC 7 in all four skills. The rules of each round are set by IRCC and can change, so check the current instructions before you plan around them.
Moving from NCLC 6 to NCLC 7
Between the two levels, the difference is rarely vocabulary alone. In listening and reading, it is speed: the questions that separate the levels come late in the paper, and you need time left to answer them. In writing and speaking, it is structure: an NCLC 7 answer is organised, linked and argued, where an NCLC 6 answer is a list of correct sentences.
- Find your weakest skill first with a timed mock; that skill sets your level.
- For listening and reading, practise full papers on the clock, not question by question.
- For writing and speaking, learn a plan for each task and have your answers corrected on the official criteria.
- Retest under exam conditions before booking: a level reached once at home is not yet a level you can count on.
Frequently asked questions
Is NCLC 7 B1 or B2?
NCLC 7 corresponds to about B2. NCLC 5 and 6 are about B1. The two scales are not officially equivalent, but this correspondence is the one used to plan a preparation.
Is NCLC 7 the same as CLB 7?
Yes. NCLC is the French name of the Canadian Language Benchmarks. A French test result is expressed in NCLC and an English one in CLB, on the same scale.
Do I need NCLC 7 in all four skills?
For the additional French points in Express Entry, yes: listening, reading, writing and speaking must each be at NCLC 7 or higher. One skill below it and the additional points are not awarded.
Which exams can prove my NCLC level?
For Express Entry, IRCC accepts TCF Canada and TEF Canada for French. Results must be less than two years old on the day you submit your application.
How do I know if I am at NCLC 7 today?
Take a timed mock in the official format and convert each section score. French in Pocket does the conversion for you after every mock and shows which skill is holding your level down.