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Is There a Minimum TEF Score Required for Express Entry?
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If you’re planning to apply for Express Entry, you may be wondering: Is there a minimum TEF score required? The Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF Canada) is one of the two official French exams accepted for immigration, and your results can play a big role in your application.
TEF scores are converted into Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC), which align with the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) used for English.
These levels determine both your eligibility and the number of points you receive in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). In other words, your TEF performance directly affects whether you qualify and how competitive your profile is.
Let’s break down this topic and see if there’s a minimum TEF score required for Express Entry.
Is There a Minimum TEF Score for Express Entry?
There is no single “universal minimum” TEF score. Instead, requirements vary depending on:
- Which Express Entry program do you apply under (FSWP, FSTP, or CEC)
- Whether French is your first official language (FOL) or second official language (SOL)
That said, the most common threshold for TEF score is NCLC 7 (CLB 7), which is the minimum required for the Federal Skilled Worker Program when French is your first official language.
Requirements For Each Program
Based on different programs (FSWP, FSTP, CEC), you’ll need different scores on the TEF exam.
Program | French as First Official Language (FOL) | French as Second Official Language (SOL) |
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | NCLC 7 in all 4 abilities | NCLC 5 in all 4 abilities |
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) | NCLC 5 in speaking & listening; NCLC 4 in reading & writing | Same as FOL |
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | NCLC 7 (for NOC TEER 0 or 1 jobs); NCLC 5 (for NOC TEER 2 or 3 jobs) | NCLC 5 in all 4 abilities (bonus points only) |
CRS Bonus Points for French | NCLC 7+ in all 4 abilities (up to 25 points) OR NCLC 5+ in all 4 + NCLC 7+ in 3 abilities (up to 50 points if English CLB 5+) | Same as FOL |
📌Eligibility Note: For the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), you must score at least 67 points on the selection grid. Language ability can give you up to 28 of those points, 24 if French is your first official language (FOL), and 4 if it’s your second official language (SOL). Reaching NCLC level 7 in French as your FOL usually covers this requirement.
If you don’t know how NCLC works, here’s a breakdown:
TEF Score Equivalents to NCLC Levels
TEF Canada scores range from 0 to 699 per ability. Below are the minimum scores needed to achieve key NCLC levels.
NCLC Level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
NCLC 4 (FSTP minimum for reading/writing) | 121–150 | 121–150 | 145–180 | 145–180 |
NCLC 5 (FSTP speaking/listening; FSWP SOL) | 151–180 | 151–180 | 181–216 | 181–216 |
NCLC 7 (FSWP/CEC FOL; common minimum) | 207–232 | 207–232 | 249–279 | 249–279 |
Example: For FSWP with French as FOL, aim for at least 207 in reading, 207 in writing, 249 in listening, and 249 in speaking to hit NCLC 7 across the board.
If you get higher scores (NCLC 9–10), you earn more CRS points. You can get up to 136 points for French as your first official language (FOL), plus up to 50 extra points if French is your second official language (SOL) along with English. Here's a summary of the minimum TEF Canada score for Express Entry:
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Final Thoughts
In conclusion, to qualify for Express Entry, the minimum TEF Canada score is NCLC 7 (CLB 7) if French is your first official language under the Federal Skilled Worker Program. That translates to 207+ in reading and writing, 249+ in listening and speaking.
But don’t just aim for the minimum. Getting NCLC 9 or higher gives you the highest CRS points and greatly improves your chances of success.
