--- title: "TCF and TEF Canada glossary: NCLC, CLB, CRS and more" description: "Plain-English definitions of the terms around TCF Canada, TEF Canada and Express Entry French: NCLC, CLB, CO, CE, EE, EO, CRS bonus points, validity." canonical: https://francaisprep.com/glossary last-updated: 2026-10-14 --- Glossary # TCF Canada and TEF Canada glossary 31 terms candidates meet when preparing a French test for Canadian immigration, each defined in a sentence or two and linked to the page that covers it in depth. By [Adèle Sason](/about), Français Prep · Updated 14 October 2026 In short The two exams IRCC accepts for French are the TCF Canada and the TEF Canada. Each of their four sections, listening (CO), reading (CE), writing (EE) and speaking (EO), converts to an NCLC level, the French name of the scale English speakers call CLB. Most Express Entry French profiles aim for NCLC 7 in all four. ## Levels and scales [NCLC](#nclc)Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) is the French-language name of Canada's twelve-level language benchmark scale. Each TCF Canada or TEF Canada section result converts to an NCLC level, and immigration programmes set their French requirements in NCLC. The conversion is a published table, not a judgement. The same section score always lands on the same level, which is why a score chart can answer the question exactly. Read more: [NCLC 7 on the TCF Canada: 458 listening, 453 reading, 10/20](/nclc-7) · [TEF and TCF Canada score converter: NCLC and CLB](/tools/score-converter) · [Official source](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-test.html) [CLB](#clb)Canadian Language Benchmarks CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks) is the English-language name of the same twelve-level scale as NCLC. A French result of NCLC 7 is the level English speakers write as CLB 7; IRCC reports French results in NCLC and English results in CLB. Read more: [NCLC 7 on the TCF Canada: 458 listening, 453 reading, 10/20](/nclc-7) · [English test for Canada: IRCC accepts exactly 3](/english-test-for-canada) · [Official source](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-test.html) [NCLC 7](#nclc-7) NCLC 7 is the level most Express Entry French profiles aim for in each of the four abilities. On the TCF Canada it starts at 453 in reading, 458 in listening and 10 out of 20 in writing and speaking. It is a strong B1 (B1+) on the CEFR in the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks' 2018 alignment study; IRCC publishes no official CEFR mapping. On the TEF Canada, read on the Équivalence ancien score column, it starts at 207 in reading, 249 in listening and 310 in writing and speaking. Read more: [NCLC 7 on the TCF Canada: 458 listening, 453 reading, 10/20](/nclc-7) · [TCF Canada score chart: NCLC 7 = 453 reading, 458 listening](/tcf-canada/score-chart) · [TEF Canada score chart: NCLC 7 = 207 reading, 249 listening](/tef-canada/score-chart) · [Official source](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-test.html) [CEFR (CECRL)](#cefr)Common European Framework of Reference for Languages The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, CECRL in French) describes language ability in six levels, from A1 to C2. TCF and TEF attestations print a CEFR level, but IRCC reads the NCLC level, not the CEFR one. As a rough guide, the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks' 2018 alignment study puts NCLC 7 at B1+ (a strong B1) and B2 around NCLC 8 to 9; the letter printed on a TCF or TEF attestation follows the exam's own scale and can differ. IRCC publishes no official CEFR mapping. Only the NCLC conversion tables decide what an immigration file can claim. Read more: [NCLC 7 on the TCF Canada: 458 listening, 453 reading, 10/20](/nclc-7) [Échelle québécoise](#echelle-quebecoise)Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français The Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français is Quebec's own twelve-level French scale. The Quebec ministry reads TCF Québec and TEFAQ results on it, and an NCLC number does not carry across by simply reusing the same digit. Read more: [TCF Québec: read on the échelle québécoise, not the NCLC](/tcf-quebec) · [TEFAQ: the TEF for Quebec, usually just the 2 oral tests](/tefaq) ## The exams and who runs them [TCF Canada](#tcf-canada) TCF Canada is the version of the Test de connaissance du français, produced by France Éducation International, that IRCC accepts for Canadian immigration. It has four tests, listening, reading, writing and speaking, taking 2 h 47 in total. Each of the four results converts to its own NCLC level. There is no overall pass mark: what matters is the level each section reaches. Read more: [TCF Canada: NCLC 7 needs 453 reading and 458 listening](/tcf-canada) · [How to pass the TCF Canada: there is no pass mark](/how-to-pass-tcf-canada) · [Official source](https://www.france-education-international.fr/test/tcf-canada) [TEF Canada](#tef-canada) TEF Canada is the version of the Test d'évaluation de français, produced by CCI Paris Île-de-France, that IRCC accepts for immigration and citizenship. Permanent residence needs all four tests; citizenship needs two. Each result converts to an NCLC level. Read more: [TEF Canada: 4 tests for PR, 2 for citizenship](/tef-canada) · [TEF vs TCF Canada: both convert to the same NCLC scale](/tef-vs-tcf) · [Official source](https://www.lefrancaisdesaffaires.fr/candidat/test-evaluation-francais/tef-canada/presentation/) [TCF Québec](#tcf-quebec) TCF Québec is the TCF version used for Quebec's own immigration programmes. Its results are read by the Quebec ministry on the échelle québécoise, not by IRCC on the NCLC scale, so it does not stand in for TCF Canada in Express Entry. Read more: [TCF Québec: read on the échelle québécoise, not the NCLC](/tcf-quebec) [TEFAQ](#tefaq)Test d'évaluation de français adapté au Québec The TEFAQ (Test d'évaluation de français adapté au Québec) is the TEF adapted for Quebec immigration. It is most often sat as the two oral tests, compréhension orale and expression orale, and is read by Quebec rather than IRCC. Read more: [TEFAQ: the TEF for Quebec, usually just the 2 oral tests](/tefaq) · [TCF Québec: read on the échelle québécoise, not the NCLC](/tcf-quebec) [France Éducation International](#france-education-international) France Éducation International is the French public agency that produces the TCF family of tests, including TCF Canada and TCF Québec, and publishes the list of centres approved to run them. TCF and TCF Canada are its trademarks. Français Prep is an independent preparation service and is not affiliated with it. Registration, marking and official results all come from the exam owner and its approved centres. Read more: [TCF Canada: NCLC 7 needs 453 reading and 458 listening](/tcf-canada) · [TCF and TEF Canada exam centres: how to check one is real](/exam-centres/how-to-check) · [Official source](https://www.france-education-international.fr/test/tcf-canada) [CCI Paris Île-de-France](#cci-paris-ile-de-france)Le français des affaires CCI Paris Île-de-France is the Paris regional chamber of commerce and industry. Through its Le français des affaires department it produces the TEF family, including TEF Canada and the TEFAQ, and publishes the TEF centre finder. TEF and TEF Canada are its trademarks. Français Prep is an independent preparation service and is not affiliated with it. Read more: [TEF Canada: 4 tests for PR, 2 for citizenship](/tef-canada) · [TCF and TEF Canada exam centres: how to check one is real](/exam-centres/how-to-check) · [Official source](https://www.lefrancaisdesaffaires.fr/candidat/test-evaluation-francais/tef-canada/presentation/) [Approved test centre](#approved-test-centre) An approved test centre is an institution the exam owner has authorised to run its exam. You can only sit the TCF Canada or TEF Canada at one, and the current list lives on the exam owner's own site, not on a school's. Check that the centre is approved for the Canada version specifically, and check on the day you book, because approvals change. Read more: [TCF and TEF Canada exam centres: how to check one is real](/exam-centres/how-to-check) · [TCF and TEF Canada exam booking: dates and registration](/how-to-book-tcf-tef-canada) [Test blanc](#test-blanc)Mock exam A test blanc is a full practice exam taken under real timing, used to estimate which NCLC level you would reach before paying for a real sitting. Its result is an estimate for your own planning, never an official score. Read more: [TCF and TEF Canada mock test: 158 questions, free, timed](/tcf-tef-practice-test) · [TCF and TEF Canada sample test: 158 questions, 8 series](/tcf-tef-sample-test) ## Sections, scores and results [Compréhension orale (CO)](#comprehension-orale)Listening Compréhension orale (CO) is the listening test. On the TCF Canada it is 39 multiple-choice questions in 35 minutes, reported out of 699; on the TEF Canada it is 40 questions in 40 minutes, read on the ancien score scale out of 360. Read more: [TCF Canada listening: 39 questions, 35 min, NCLC 7 at 458](/tcf-canada/comprehension-orale) · [TEF Canada listening: NCLC 7 = 249 on the ancien score](/tef-canada/comprehension-orale) [Compréhension écrite (CE)](#comprehension-ecrite)Reading Compréhension écrite (CE) is the reading test. On the TCF Canada it is 39 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, reported out of 699; on the TEF Canada it is 40 questions in 60 minutes, read on the ancien score scale out of 300. Read more: [TCF Canada reading: 39 questions, 60 min, NCLC 7 at 453](/tcf-canada/comprehension-ecrite) · [TEF Canada: 4 tests for PR, 2 for citizenship](/tef-canada) [Expression écrite (EE)](#expression-ecrite)Writing Expression écrite (EE) is the writing test. On the TCF Canada it is three tasks in 60 minutes, of 60 to 120, 120 to 150 and 120 to 180 words, marked out of 20. The TEF Canada has two writing sections. Read more: [TCF Canada expression écrite: 60-120, 120-150, 120-180 words](/tcf-canada/expression-ecrite) · [TEF Canada expression écrite: 80 and 200 words, no maximum](/tef-canada/expression-ecrite) [Expression orale (EO)](#expression-orale)Speaking Expression orale (EO) is the speaking test, taken with an examiner. On the TCF Canada it is three tasks in twelve minutes, marked out of 20, where 10 or 11 is NCLC 7. The TEF Canada has two speaking sections. Read more: [TCF Canada expression orale: 12 minutes, NCLC 7 at 10/20](/tcf-canada/expression-orale) · [TEF Canada expression orale: 2 sections in 15 minutes](/tef-canada/expression-orale) [Épreuves de production](#production-tests)Production tests The épreuves de production are the writing and speaking tests, where you produce French rather than choose answers. Examiners mark them against published criteria, unlike the multiple-choice reading and listening tests, which have one correct answer per question. Read more: [TCF Canada expression écrite: 60-120, 120-150, 120-180 words](/tcf-canada/expression-ecrite) · [TCF Canada expression orale: 12 minutes, NCLC 7 at 10/20](/tcf-canada/expression-orale) [Weakest-ability rule](#weakest-ability) IRCC records an NCLC level for each of the four abilities separately rather than an average. A requirement such as NCLC 7 has to be met in every ability, so your weakest section decides what you can claim. Read more: [NCLC 7 on the TCF Canada: 458 listening, 453 reading, 10/20](/nclc-7) · [French Express Entry points: turn a TCF/TEF score into CRS](/french-express-entry-points) · [Official source](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-test.html) [Raw score](#raw-score) A raw score is the number a section result is reported as before conversion, such as a TCF Canada listening mark out of 699. It only means something once a score chart turns it into an NCLC level, and raw scores never compare across exams. Read more: [TEF and TCF Canada score converter: NCLC and CLB](/tools/score-converter) · [TCF Canada score chart: NCLC 7 = 453 reading, 458 listening](/tcf-canada/score-chart) [Équivalence ancien score](#ancien-score) Équivalence ancien score is the TEF Canada attestation column Express Entry reads. Results are printed twice, as a score out of 699 and on this older scale, where NCLC 7 starts at 207 in reading and 249 in listening. On the ancien score scale listening runs to 360, reading to 300, and writing and speaking to 450 each. NCLC 7 in writing starts at 310, and in speaking at 310. A number larger than those maximums means you are reading the other column. Read more: [TEF Canada score chart: NCLC 7 = 207 reading, 249 listening](/tef-canada/score-chart) · [Official source](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-test.html) [Score chart (grille de notation)](#score-chart) A score chart, or grille de notation, is the published table that converts each section result into an NCLC level. TCF Canada and TEF Canada have different charts because their scales differ, and IRCC publishes the official equivalencies. Read more: [TCF Canada score chart: NCLC 7 = 453 reading, 458 listening](/tcf-canada/score-chart) · [TEF Canada score chart: NCLC 7 = 207 reading, 249 listening](/tef-canada/score-chart) · [Official source](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-test.html) [Attestation de résultats](#attestation)Results certificate The attestation de résultats is the official results document issued after your sitting. It reports a result for each section you sat, and those results, converted to NCLC levels, are what an immigration application relies on. Read more: [TEF Canada score chart: NCLC 7 = 207 reading, 249 listening](/tef-canada/score-chart) · [TCF and TEF Canada exam booking: dates and registration](/how-to-book-tcf-tef-canada) ## Express Entry and IRCC [IRCC](#ircc)Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) is the federal department that runs Express Entry and decides permanent residence and citizenship applications. For economic immigration it accepts TCF Canada and TEF Canada as proof of French. Read more: [French Express Entry points: turn a TCF/TEF score into CRS](/french-express-entry-points) · [TEF vs TCF Canada: both convert to the same NCLC scale](/tef-vs-tcf) · [Official source](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-test.html) [Express Entry](#express-entry) Express Entry is IRCC's online system for Canada's main federal economic immigration programmes. Candidates create a profile, receive a CRS score, and those selected in a draw are invited to apply for permanent residence. Read more: [French Express Entry points: turn a TCF/TEF score into CRS](/french-express-entry-points) [CRS points](#crs)Comprehensive Ranking System The CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) is the points score IRCC uses to rank Express Entry candidates against each other. Language ability is a major factor, and strong French can add points on top of the rest of your profile. Read more: [French Express Entry points: turn a TCF/TEF score into CRS](/french-express-entry-points) · [French CRS points calculator: NCLC 7 is worth 25 or 50](/tools/french-crs-points) [French-language bonus points](#french-bonus-points) French-language bonus points are additional CRS points for strong French: 25 with NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities, rising to 50 when you also have CLB 5 or higher in all four English abilities. These are additional points for French only, not a full CRS score, and IRCC reviews the rules. Confirm current values on the official IRCC pages before planning around them. Read more: [French CRS points calculator: NCLC 7 is worth 25 or 50](/tools/french-crs-points) · [French Express Entry points: turn a TCF/TEF score into CRS](/french-express-entry-points) [French-language proficiency draws](#french-category-draws)Category-based selection French-language proficiency draws are category-based Express Entry rounds that invite candidates with strong French, often at lower CRS scores than general draws. They ask for NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities. Read more: [French Express Entry points: turn a TCF/TEF score into CRS](/french-express-entry-points) · [NCLC 7 on the TCF Canada: 458 listening, 453 reading, 10/20](/nclc-7) [Invitation to Apply (ITA)](#ita) An Invitation to Apply (ITA) is what IRCC issues to Express Entry candidates selected in a draw. It opens a fixed window to submit the full permanent residence application, and your language results must still be valid when you do. Read more: [French Express Entry points: turn a TCF/TEF score into CRS](/french-express-entry-points) [Result validity (two years)](#result-validity) For Canadian immigration, a TCF Canada or TEF Canada result must be less than two years old when you complete your Express Entry profile and again when you submit your permanent residence application. Sitting too early can cost you a result. Read more: [TCF and TEF Canada exam booking: dates and registration](/how-to-book-tcf-tef-canada) · [TCF Canada: NCLC 7 needs 453 reading and 458 listening](/tcf-canada) · [Official source](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-test.html) [MIFI](#mifi)Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration MIFI (Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration) is Quebec's immigration ministry. It selects Quebec's economic immigrants through its own programmes, outside Express Entry, and reads French results on the échelle québécoise rather than on NCLC. Read more: [TCF Québec: read on the échelle québécoise, not the NCLC](/tcf-quebec) · [TEFAQ: the TEF for Quebec, usually just the 2 oral tests](/tefaq) Score thresholds on this page come from the same published tables as the score charts on this site. Exam owners and IRCC revise their rules, so confirm anything your application depends on against the official source linked beside each term. Keep reading ## Where these terms are covered in depth - [NCLC 7 on the TCF Canada: 458 listening, 453 reading, 10/20CLB 7 in French is NCLC 7: TCF Canada 453 reading, 458 listening, 10/20 in production; TEF Canada 207, 249, 310, 310 in the Équivalence ancien score column.](/nclc-7) - [TCF Canada score chart: NCLC 7 = 453 reading, 458 listeningNCLC 7 is 453 to 498 reading, 458 to 502 listening and 10 to 11 out of 20 in writing and speaking. Full conversion table from NCLC 4 to NCLC 10.](/tcf-canada/score-chart) - [TEF Canada score chart: NCLC 7 = 207 reading, 249 listeningNCLC 7 is 207 reading, 249 listening, 310 writing and 310 speaking on the Équivalence ancien score column Express Entry reads. Full table, all levels.](/tef-canada/score-chart) - [French Express Entry points: turn a TCF/TEF score into CRSHow a TCF or TEF Canada result becomes CRS points: the NCLC 7 thresholds per exam, the 25 versus 50 French bonus, and worked examples.](/french-express-entry-points) - [TEF vs TCF Canada: both convert to the same NCLC scaleNeither is officially easier: both convert to the same NCLC levels and IRCC treats them as equal. What differs is format, timing and section counts.](/tef-vs-tcf) --- For agents: site index https://francaisprep.com/llms.txt, developer access https://francaisprep.com/developers, and TCF or TEF to NCLC conversion over a plain GET at https://api.francaisprep.com/v1/score/convert?exam=tcf_canada&listening=512&reading=470&writing=12&speaking=11 (exam is tcf_canada or tef_canada).