What TCF Canada score do I need for NCLC 6?
Checked November 3, 2026
NCLC 6 starts at 398 in listening, 406 in reading and 7 out of 20 in writing and in speaking. It is worth 9 CRS points per skill (8 with a spouse). It works wherever NCLC 5 is enough, but not for Federal Skilled Workers or French-language rounds, which need NCLC 7.
| Skill | NCLC 5 | NCLC 6 | NCLC 7 from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 369–397 | 398–457 | 458 |
| Reading | 375–405 | 406–452 | 453 |
| Writing | 6 | 7–9 | 10 |
| Speaking | 6 | 7–9 | 10 |
This is the widest band in the table. It covers 60 points in listening, 47 in reading, and three marks out of 20 in writing and speaking. In FEI’s handbook, 7–9 out of 20 is B1. So a 9 and a 7 out of 20 give the same NCLC 6.
On TEF Canada
For TEF Canada (« Équivalence ancien score » column), NCLC 6 is 271–309 in speaking, 217–248 in listening, 181–206 in reading and 271–309 in writing.
Where NCLC 6 is enough, and where it isn’t
| Route | Minimum | Enough? |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class, TEER 2 or 3 job | NCLC 5 in all skills | Yes |
| Canadian Experience Class, TEER 0 or 1 job | NCLC 7 in all skills | No |
| Federal Skilled Workers | NCLC 7 in all skills | No |
| French-language rounds | NCLC 7 in all skills | No |
| Citizenship (ages 18 to 54) | NCLC 4 in listening and speaking | Yes |
What it is worth in CRS points
As your first official language, NCLC 6 gives 9 points per skill (8 with a spouse), against 6 for NCLC 4 or 5 and 17 for NCLC 7. The step from NCLC 6 to NCLC 7 adds 32 points across the four skills, 8 per skill, before the French bonus and the transferability points for education and foreign work experience, which start at NCLC 7.
The common case, NCLC 6 in writing only
Many candidates have NCLC 7 in listening and reading and stall at 9 out of 20 in writing. One skill at NCLC 6 is enough to close French-language rounds and the 25 or 50-point bonus. See stuck at 9 out of 20 for what gets you to 10.
To find out whether your writing is a 9 or a 10, get one task marked. Every level is in the NCLC conversion table.