What are TCF Canada and TEF Canada?

Both are French tests accepted by IRCC for Express Entry, permanent residence and citizenship. The Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada) and the Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada (TEF Canada) each cover listening, reading, writing and speaking. Start with the free TCF Canada practice test or the free TEF Canada practice test.

Should I take the TCF Canada or the TEF Canada?

IRCC accepts both for the same purposes. The format, scoring and test centres differ, so pick the one that suits you and is available near you. See TCF or TEF: which test?

How are scores converted to NCLC levels?

Each skill score maps to an NCLC level using IRCC’s equivalency tables. On the TCF Canada, NCLC 7 needs 458 in listening, 453 in reading and 10/20 in writing and speaking. TEF Canada uses its own scale. Convert your TCF or TEF score to NCLC.

What NCLC level do I need for Express Entry?

NCLC 7 in all four skills earns the French bonus (25 CRS points, or 50 with CLB 5+ in English) and qualifies you for French-language category draws. Check your total with the CRS calculator. Program minimums vary, so always confirm on canada.ca.

What level do I need for Canadian citizenship?

Applicants aged 18 to 54 need CLB/NCLC 4 or higher in speaking and listening. See French for citizenship for what IRCC accepts from each test.

How accurate is the AI scoring?

The AI scores your writing and speaking against the published criteria and gives an estimate with specific feedback. It’s a practice tool, not an official result.

Is the practice test really free?

Yes. Your first full practice test is free, needs no account or credit card, and gives you an estimated NCLC level in each skill.

Bonjour ! Free TCF Canada & TEF Canada practice

Reach NCLC 7 in French and get up to 50 more Express Entry points

NCLC 7 also opens French-language draws, which often invite candidates with far lower CRS scores. Applying for citizenship? NCLC 4 is enough. See your NCLC level in a few minutes, then practise with timed tests in the real exam format.

Check my NCLC level, free I already know my test

Free
No sign-up
TCF & TEF Canada
Facts checked against canada.ca

Try it now: a 10-second voicemail

The kind of message you might get in Montréal. Press play, then answer.

Pourquoi la personne appelle-t-elle ?

Where is your French today?

Canada measures French on one scale, called NCLC. Your TCF or TEF score converts to it, skill by skill. Tap a level to see what it opens up for you.

NCLC 7

What it sounds like

You follow work meetings and the news on familiar topics, and you can defend a point of view clearly.

Scores you’d need for NCLC 7

TCF Canada

Listening: 458/699
Reading: 453/699
Writing & speaking: 10/20

TEF Canada

Listening: 249/360
Reading: 207/300
Writing & speaking: 310/450

What it opens up

Canadian citizenshipOpen
Listening and speaking at NCLC 4 or higher. On the TCF, speaking needs 6/20 (NCLC 5).
+50 Express Entry pointsOpen
NCLC 7 in all four skills, plus CLB 5 in English. Without that English level, it’s +25.
French-language drawsOpen
NCLC 7 in all four skills makes you eligible. The latest one invited scores from 435.

Not sure which one is you? That’s what the free test is for.Find my level

Why NCLC 7 is worth the effort

Reaching NCLC 7 in French can make a real difference to your Express Entry chances.

+50

CRS points for French

With NCLC 7 in all four French skills and CLB 5 or higher in English. Without English at CLB 5, it’s +25.

French draws invite lower scores

Recent cut-offs from IRCC’s official list of Express Entry rounds:

French-language draw, Oct 16, 2026: 435
Canadian Experience Class draw, Oct 15, 2026: 519

That’s 84 points lower than the latest Canadian Experience Class draw.

Source: canada.ca, checked Oct 20, 2026

Run your own numbers:CRS score calculator NCLC score converter French-language Express Entry draws

Your first step takes about 7 minutes

No account, no pressure. The questions adapt to you: get one right and the next is a little harder, so you never waste time on what’s too easy.

ExampleLevelB1

Message entre collègues

Que propose l’homme à sa collègue ?

D’aller chez le médecin
De la remplacer jeudi
De changer de bureau

Correct! The next one is a little harder.

Start the free test

Three small steps to NCLC 7

We’ll guide you through each one, and the first two are free.

About 7 minutes
Free
1. Find your level
Listening, reading and a little speaking. You’ll see where you stand for citizenship and Express Entry.
Find my level
TCF 2 h 47, TEF 2 h 55
Free
2. Take a full practice test
Try the real exam format and see how you do in listening, reading, writing and speaking.
Take the TCF test Take the TEF test
At your own pace
Free to start
3. Practise what holds you back
We’ll point you to the skill holding you back and help you practise it, with feedback on your writing and speaking.
See the plans

Feedback that tells you exactly what to fix

After each writing and speaking task you get clear, kind notes on your answer, the way a patient teacher would mark it.

A score for each criterion the examiners use
What you did well, so you keep doing it
The one thing to fix first, with an example

Start with the free test

Message : décrire, raconter, expliquer

Sample feedback

Your answer

Salut Marc ! Je ~~veux~~ voudrais t’inviter à mon anniversaire ~~le samedi~~ samedi prochain. Il y aura ~~beaucoup des~~ beaucoup d’amis de mon travail.

Task completion: 4/5
Coherence: 4/5
Vocabulary: 3/5
Grammar: 3/5

Strength: A clear invitation: who, what and when are all there.

To improve: After beaucoup, write de, never des. Then add the time and place to complete the task.

Next step: Practise polite requests with the conditional: je voudrais, pourriez-vous…

An illustration of the format. Your feedback is written for your own answer, and it’s an estimate to guide your practice, not an official result.

Already know your test?

Jump straight to its guide and free practice test. We’ll remember your choice.

Not sure? TCF or TEF: which test?

Start free. Go further with Premium.

Free

The 7-minute level test
A full TCF or TEF practice test
Your NCLC estimate in every skill
The NCLC converter, CRS calculator and draw tracker

Check my NCLC level, free

Premium

from 24 USD a month

Unlimited practice tests
Detailed feedback on writing and speaking
A study plan built on your weakest skill

Compare plans

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Your French is closer than you think

About 7 minutes, no account. Every level is a good place to start.

Find my French level

Free. About 7 minutes. No account needed.