What TCF Canada score do I need for NCLC 7?
Checked November 1, 2026
NCLC 7 starts at 458 in listening, 453 in reading, and 10 out of 20 in both writing and speaking. Express Entry's French-language draws ask for NCLC 7 in all four skills, so your lowest skill decides.
The full chart
Listening and reading are scored from 100 to 699. Writing and speaking are marked out of 20.
| NCLC | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 and above | 549–699 | 549–699 | 16–20 | 16–20 |
| 9 | 523–548 | 524–548 | 14–15 | 14–15 |
| 8 | 503–522 | 499–523 | 12–13 | 12–13 |
| 7 | 458–502 | 453–498 | 10–11 | 10–11 |
| 6 | 398–457 | 406–452 | 7–9 | 7–9 |
| 5 | 369–397 | 375–405 | 6 | 6 |
| 4 | 331–368 | 342–374 | 4–5 | 4–5 |
What it means for Express Entry
- French-language draws: at least NCLC 7 in all four skills. Each round’s instructions can add requirements, so read them before you apply.
- Federal Skilled Worker, first official language: NCLC 7 in all four.
- Canadian Experience Class: NCLC 7 for TEER 0 or 1 jobs, NCLC 5 for TEER 2 or 3.
In the candidate handbook, 10–11 out of 20 in writing or speaking is level B2.
One point decides
In writing and speaking, 10 out of 20 is NCLC 7 and 9 out of 20 is NCLC 6. If writing is your weak skill, practise each of the 3 tasks at full length and check where your mistakes cost you.