Reference
TEF score chart
Every conversion table a TEF candidate needs: TEF to NCLC by skill for Canadian immigration, TEF to CEFR, the TEF IRN certification rules for France, and how Quebec differs.
TEF Canada to NCLC, by skill
This is the table Canadian immigration actually uses. It applies to TEF Canada tests taken after 10 December 2023. Note that the four skills do not share bands - speaking always demands the highest score for the same NCLC level.
| NCLC | Reading | Listening | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10+ | 546–699 | 546–699 | 558–699 | 556–699 |
| 9 | 503–545 | 503–545 | 512–557 | 518–555 |
| 8 | 462–502 | 462–502 | 472–511 | 494–517 |
| 7 | 434–461 | 434–461 | 428–471 | 456–493 |
| 6 | 393–433 | 393–433 | 379–427 | 422–455 |
| 5 | 352–392 | 352–392 | 330–378 | 387–421 |
| 4 | 306–351 | 306–351 | 268–329 | 328–386 |
NCLC 7 is highlighted because it is the threshold for the Express Entry French-language category and most skilled-worker streams. Scores below the NCLC 4 floor are not converted by IRCC.
TEF score to CEFR level
CCI's own mapping of the calibrated 0–699 score. Unlike the NCLC table, it is identical for every skill. Useful for French universities and employers - but not for Canadian immigration.
| Score | CEFR | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 600–699 | C2 | Mastery |
| 500–599 | C1 | Advanced |
| 400–499 | B2 | Upper-intermediate |
| 300–399 | B1 | Threshold |
| 200–299 | A2 | Elementary |
| 100–199 | A1 | Breakthrough |
| 0–99 | < A1 | Below A1 |
TEF IRN certification rules
TEF IRN does not simply apply the generic CEFR floors to all four components. It certifies a level using its own rule, which allows one weaker test.
| Level | Rule |
|---|---|
| B2 | At least 400 in three tests and 367 in the lowest |
| B1 | At least 300 in three tests and 267 in the lowest |
| A2 | At least 200 in three tests and 167 in the lowest |
| A1 | At least 100 in each of the four tests |
From 1 January 2026, France requires roughly A2 for a first multi-year residence permit, B1 for the ten-year resident card, and B2 for naturalization. Guides still saying B1 is enough for naturalization predate that change. More on TEF IRN.
Quebec is a separate scale
Quebec assesses against the Échelle québécoise, not the NCLC. Do not translate “level 5” into a TEF score by analogy with NCLC 5 - the two systems serve different administrations and MIFI publishes its own correspondence tables.
PSTQ Stream 1 - highly qualified skills
Oral French level 7+, written French level 5+
PSTQ Stream 2 - intermediate and manual skills
Spoken French level 5+
PSTQ Stream 3 - regulated professions
FEER 0-2: oral 7+ and written 5+. FEER 3-5: spoken 5+
Accompanying spouse
Generally spoken level 4+ where the program specifies it
TEF CANADA PREPARATION
Practise for TEF Canada with AI feedback
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