What TEF Canada score do I need?
Posted by Josh on 6th Oct 2026 in the blog in the tef category
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The TEF Canada exam is not like other exams. There is no simple pass or fail mark. Instead, the exact mark depends on your goal, and the purpose for which you are taking the exam.
Different entry schemes and immigration programs have different thresholds. For instance, for Express Entry you are expected to receive an NCLC score of at least 7 in all four categories: Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. For other programs, proof of French proficiency may not be required, but achieving a high score can add points to your application.
How is TEF Canada scored?
| NCLC | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 393–450 | 316–360 | 263–300 | 393–450 |
| 9 | 371–392 | 298–315 | 248–262 | 371–392 |
| 8 | 349–370 | 280–297 | 233–247 | 349–370 |
| 7 | 310–348 | 249–279 | 207–232 | 310–348 |
| 6 | 271–309 | 217–248 | 181–206 | 271–309 |
| 5 | 226–270 | 181–216 | 151–180 | 226–270 |
| 4 | 181–225 | 145–180 | 121–150 | 181–225 |
The TEF Canada exam is scored using the NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) scale. There are ten NCLC levels.
For a rough comparison of how NCLC scores map onto CEFR levels, check out our blog on how to understand TEF Canada scores.
What NCLC score do I need for different programs?
| Purpose | Minimum French level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express Entry – French-language category | NCLC 7 in all 4 | 310 | 249 | 207 | 310 |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program – French as 1st official language | NCLC 7 in all 4 | 310 | 249 | 207 | 310 |
| Canadian Experience Class – TEER 0/1 | NCLC 7 in all 4 | 310 | 249 | 207 | 310 |
| Canadian Experience Class – TEER 2/3 | NCLC 5 in all 4 | 226 | 181 | 151 | 226 |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program – French | NCLC 5 speaking/listening; NCLC 4 reading/writing | 226 | 181 | 121 | 181 |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program – French as 2nd official language | NCLC 5 in all 4 | 226 | 181 | 151 | 226 |
The TEF Canada Preparation Course
The best way to prepare for the TEF Canada exam is to follow a structured course. Alexa’s fully updated TEF Canada Preparation Course contains everything you need to score top marks in the TEF Canada exam, including hundreds of TEF exam practice exercises, videos and support guides, as well as access to exclusive monthly live lessons with Alexa on YouTube. In addition, the course includes two hours of TEF French speaking practice with one of our TEF experts, as well as two TEF writing submissions with feedback from one of our TEF experts, with the option to purchase more.
While the course is recommended for learners who are at B1 level of French or higher, you can also purchase it in a bundle with our Complete French Course (A1 - C2) for a discounted price.
You can determine your CEFR level by taking our placement test.
Check out some of our other blog posts!
How to understand TEF Canada scores
Posted on by Josh in the tef categoryLearn how many points you need to score for each NCLC and CEFR level, as well as for different entry schemes to Canada
Read the blog
What is a good TEF score?
Posted on by Josh in the tef categoryFind out how to calculate how many points you need
Read the blogHave fun learning French Today
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