What TCF Canada score is B1, B2 or C1?
Checked November 1, 2026
In FEI’s grid, B2 is 400 to 499 in listening and reading and 10 to 13 out of 20 in writing and speaking. B1 is 300 to 399 and 6 to 9. C1 is 500 to 599 and 14 to 17. A B2 in writing or speaking is always at least NCLC 7, but a B2 in listening or reading can still be NCLC 6, or even NCLC 5 in reading.
FEI’s grid for every TCF
| CEFR level | Listening and reading (out of 699) | Writing and speaking (out of 20) |
|---|---|---|
| A2 | 200–299 | 2–5 |
| B1 | 300–399 | 6–9 |
| B2 | 400–499 | 10–13 |
| C1 | 500–599 | 14–17 |
| C2 | 600–699 | 18–20 |
Below 200, or at 1 out of 20, the level is A1 or “A1 non atteint”.
Why B2 is not the same as NCLC 7
IRCC converts the scores, not the letters. In listening, NCLC 7 starts at 458, so a B2 from 400 to 457 is only NCLC 6. In reading, NCLC 7 starts at 453, so 406 to 452 is NCLC 6 and 400 to 405 is only NCLC 5. In writing and speaking the two line up better. 10 out of 20 is both B2 and NCLC 7. A C1 (14 to 17 out of 20) is NCLC 9 or 10, while a C1 in listening (500 and up) can be anything from NCLC 7 to 10.
| Your result | CEFR | NCLC |
|---|---|---|
| Listening 430 | B2 | 6 |
| Reading 460 | B2 | 7 |
| Writing 9 out of 20 | B1 | 6 |
| Speaking 12 out of 20 | B2 | 8 |
| Writing 15 out of 20 | C1 | 9 |
| Listening 520 | C1 | 8 |
If someone tells you “you need B2”, ask which body and which skill. For Express Entry, look at the NCLC, skill by skill. In writing, the B1 to B2 step is one mark, from 9 to 10 out of 20. Write a task here to see which side of it you are on. All the NCLC levels are in the NCLC conversion table.