How to Read Your TEF Canada Results Attestation

You open your TEF Canada results and see four numbers out of 699. Now what? If you are building an Express Entry profile, reading your TEF Canada results correctly matters more than most candidates realize. IRCC warns that the "Score / 699" column on your attestation can lead to the wrong NCLC level if you type it into your profile without checking the conversion. A wrong level can mean fewer French points, or an invitation you did not expect to miss. This guide walks you through how to read your TEF Canada results attestation, which column to use, how scores map to NCLC levels, and what to do if you land just below NCLC 7. Everything here is based on the official IRCC equivalency chart and the TEF Canada administrator's website. Where the official sources are silent, we say so instead of guessing.

What your TEF Canada results show

Four skills, each scored out of 699

According to the official TEF Canada website, the exam has four mandatory tests: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written expression and oral expression. Each is scored on a scale of 699. Results are sent in about two weeks as an attestation, per the administrator's website. You will not get one global grade: Express Entry looks at each skill separately, so your weakest skill decides your level for that skill, and a strong listening score cannot make up for a weak speaking score.

The column IRCC tells you to use

IRCC's guidance for Express Entry is that you should use the "Équivalence ancien score" column of the attestation, whatever your test date, rather than the "Score / 699" column. IRCC also notes that the attestation shows scores in a "Score / 699" column and that entering those directly into an Express Entry profile may produce an incorrect NCLC equivalency. In practice, look at your attestation, find the old-score equivalence for each skill, and then match it to the IRCC chart below. If anything looks unclear, ask your test centre before you submit your profile.

TEF Canada scores to NCLC: the official chart

Tests taken after December 10, 2023

The table below reproduces the IRCC equivalency for TEF Canada tests taken after December 10, 2023. Check IRCC's page for the older date ranges if you took your test earlier.

NCLC level	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking
10	546-699	558-699	546-699	556-699
9	503-545	512-557	503-545	518-555
8	462-502	472-511	462-502	494-517
7	434-461	428-471	434-461	456-493
6	393-433	379-427	393-433	422-455
5	352-392	330-378	352-392	387-421
4	306-351	268-329	306-351	328-386

A worked example

Imagine a candidate in Toronto whose attestation, once converted, gives: reading 440, listening 450, writing 430 and speaking 470. Reading 440 falls in the NCLC 7 band (434-461), listening 450 is NCLC 7, writing 430 is NCLC 7 (428-471), and speaking 470 is NCLC 7 (456-493). This candidate has NCLC 7 in all four skills. Now change only the speaking score to 450: that falls in the NCLC 6 band (422-455), so the candidate drops to NCLC 6 in speaking, and the French bonus conditions are no longer met. This is an illustration, not a real case, but it shows how a few points in one skill can change everything.

From TEF Canada results to Express Entry points

How French is rewarded in the CRS

Under the Comprehensive Ranking System, French as a second language earns 3 points per skill at NCLC 7 or 8 and 6 points per skill at NCLC 9 or higher, up to a maximum of 24 points (22 with a spouse). On top of that, additional points are granted for French: 50 points if you reach NCLC 7 or higher in all four skills in French and CLB 5 or higher in English, and 25 points if your English is CLB 4 or lower. Those bonus points are what make the NCLC 7 threshold so valuable.

Your French result	Points for French as second language (per skill)	Additional French bonus
NCLC 7 or 8 in a skill	3 points	NCLC 7+ in all four skills: 50 points with CLB 5+ in English, 25 points with CLB 4 or lower
NCLC 9 or higher in a skill	6 points	Same bonus rules apply
NCLC 6 or lower in any skill	No bonus threshold met for that skill	Bonus not available

Note that the maximum for French as a second language is 24 points (22 with a spouse), so reaching NCLC 9 in all four skills is worth more than NCLC 7, but the biggest jump usually comes from crossing NCLC 7 everywhere. You can estimate your own total with our free NCLC and CRS calculator.

Mistakes to avoid when entering your scores

First, do not copy the "Score / 699" numbers without checking the conversion described by IRCC. Second, enter each skill separately and double-check the level next to the score before you submit. Third, keep your original attestation, since you may need to provide it if you are invited to apply. Fourth, remember that the date ranges matter: IRCC lists different charts for tests taken before and after December 10, 2023, so use the chart that matches your exam date.

What to do if your TEF Canada results fall short of NCLC 7

Find the skill that holds you back

Compare each converted result with the NCLC 7 minimums: 434 in reading, 428 in writing, 434 in listening and 456 in speaking. Often only one skill is below the line, and that is where your study time should go. Speaking and writing are usually the hardest to improve alone, because you need feedback on pronunciation, structure and linking words.

Plan your retake with a clear target

Before you register again, set a target score for the weak skill, work on it with realistic practice, and only then book a new session. Remember that registrations are final once confirmed, so rushing a retake without preparation can cost you time and money. Results arrive in roughly two weeks, so plan the retake early enough to fit your Express Entry timeline.

Keep your timeline realistic

Waiting for results can feel endless when your Express Entry profile is ready and every week feels lost. The administrator's website says to expect your attestation in about two weeks, so build that window into your plan. Once you have it, take ten calm minutes to convert each skill with the IRCC chart, write down the level next to each score, and only then update your profile. If you have a spouse or partner, check whether their own language results could also add points to your application, since the rules differ when a spouse is included. Slow, careful steps now protect you from avoidable errors later, and they let you decide with confidence whether to submit your profile or invest a few more weeks in preparation first.

How Talk French Canada can help you reach NCLC 7

If your TEF Canada results are a few points away from NCLC 7, targeted coaching can make the difference. At Talk French Canada, you work in live 1-on-1 sessions with certified instructors who focus on your weakest skill. If a single skill is the gap, our Light plan at $299 CAD is built for focused support, and you can compare all options on our website. Review your attestation, identify the gap, and let us help you close it before your next session.

Official sources:
IRCC – Language test equivalency charts
Le français des affaires – TEF Canada