French for Canadian Immigration
French proficiency is the single biggest scoring lever available to most Express Entry candidates. We prepare you specifically for the TEF Canada and TCF Canada — the two French tests IRCC accepts — and aim you at the exact NCLC level your application needs.
Additional CRS points for French, on top of your core language score — when all four French skills reach NCLC 7 and English reaches CLB 5 or higher.
All four skills must reach the threshold — a strong speaking score alone does not qualify. We build your plan around the weakest skill.
What French Actually Adds to Your Application
These are the additional points IRCC awards on top of your core language score — separate from the points your English result already earns you.
+25 points
French at NCLC 7 or higher in all four skills, with your English result at CLB 4 or lower — or no English test at all.
+50 points
French at NCLC 7 or higher in all four skills, with English at CLB 5 or higher. This is the maximum French bonus available.
Lower cut-offs
IRCC runs category-based Express Entry draws specifically for French-language proficiency. Cut-offs in these draws have run well below general draws.
Streams outside Quebec
Francophone immigration streams in provinces like Ontario and New Brunswick actively target French speakers, with far less competition than general programmes.
What NCLC 7 Looks Like on Each Test
You need NCLC 7 in all four skills to claim the French bonus. Here is the score range that corresponds to NCLC 7.
| Skill | TEF Canada | TCF Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 434 – 461 | 458 – 502 |
| Reading | 434 – 461 | 453 – 498 |
| Writing | 428 – 471 | 10 – 11 |
| Speaking | 456 – 493 | 10 – 11 |
Thresholds are taken from IRCC's published NCLC equivalency charts for TEF Canada and TCF Canada. IRCC periodically updates scoring scales and programme rules — always confirm the current requirements on canada.ca before you apply. This page is educational and is not immigration advice.
TEF Canada or TCF Canada?
IRCC accepts both. They test the same four skills but score them differently — and the right choice depends on where your strongest skills sit.
| TEF Canada | TCF Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Who accepts it | IRCC — for Canadian immigration and citizenship | IRCC — for Canadian immigration and citizenship |
| Skills tested | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking |
| Format | Computer-based, at an approved test centre | Computer-based, at an approved test centre |
| Score scale | Points per skill (e.g. speaking 0–699) | Levels of 0–20 per skill |
| Result validity | 2 years | 2 years |
| Best for you if | You want maximum flexibility across skill scoring and you're targeting a high speaking band | You prefer a single scale per skill and want a straightforward NCLC mapping |
Not sure which suits you? We assess your level in both formats during your first session and recommend the test that gets you to your target NCLC fastest.
From Assessment to Exam Day
A focused route to the NCLC level your application needs — no filler, no generic lessons.
Book your $2 assessment
A 20–30 minute session to establish your current level in all four skills and confirm which test fits you best.
Get your NCLC target mapped
We identify the exact score you need per skill, then work out which of the four is holding you back — that's where the plan starts.
Train on the weakest skills first
Live 1-on-1 coaching built around the skills standing between you and NCLC 7, not general French lessons.
Practise under exam conditions
Timed mock tasks and speaking simulations, with feedback against the same criteria the examiners use.
Sit the exam with a clear target
You walk in knowing your expected band per skill, and what you'd need to do differently to move up a level.
Real Candidates, Real Scores
From CLB 5 to C1 in speaking — in 2 months.
I came to Peter aiming for a CLB 5. In two months, my Expression Orale reached C1 — NCLC 9. My reading, listening, and writing all moved up to B1.
CLB 5 in three skills, CLB 6 in reading — in 1 month.
Peter took me from unsure to confident in just one month. I got exactly what I needed for my application. The sessions were focused and always aimed at my goal.
A much stronger speaking score — in 1 month.
He knows exactly what the examiners are looking for, and he drills it until you can do it under pressure.
Simple, Transparent Pricing
Every package is aimed at the same thing: the NCLC level your application needs.
French Readiness Assessment
- 20–30 min level check
- All four skills assessed
- Test recommendation
- Study plan outline
Immigration Accelerator
- Live 1-on-1 coaching
- Targeted at your weakest skills
- Exam strategy & timing
- Feedback after every session
Premium Package
- 16 live lessons
- All four skills covered
- Personal study plan
- WhatsApp support between sessions
French & Canadian Immigration
Straight answers on points, tests and timelines.
How many CRS points does French actually give me?
IRCC awards an additional 25 points if you reach NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills while your English result is CLB 4 or lower — or 50 points if your English is CLB 5 or higher. These sit on top of the points your core language results already earn. All four French skills must reach the threshold; one strong skill is not enough.
Do I need English as well as French?
It depends on which bonus you're targeting. If your English is CLB 5 or higher you qualify for the larger 50-point French bonus. If you have no English test or a result at CLB 4 or below, you can still claim 25 points for French. Either way, French is scored separately from English.
Should I take the TEF Canada or the TCF Canada?
Both are accepted by IRCC and both are valid for two years. They test the same four skills but score them on different scales — the TEF reports points per skill, the TCF reports a level out of 20. We assess your level in both formats during your first session and recommend whichever gets you to NCLC 7 fastest.
How long does it take to reach NCLC 7?
It varies enormously with your starting level and how many hours you can commit. Some candidates need a few weeks of focused work on one weak skill; others need several months to build from A2. That's exactly what the $2 assessment is for — you'll leave it with a realistic timeline rather than a guess.
Are you a licensed immigration consultant?
No. DFrenchHive is a language education provider, not an immigration consultancy, and nothing on this page is immigration advice. We prepare you for the French language test; for advice on your actual application, work with a regulated immigration consultant or lawyer, and always verify requirements directly with IRCC.
I'm outside Canada. Can I still prepare with you?
Yes — the vast majority of our immigration candidates prepare from outside Canada. Sessions run online over Zoom, Google Meet or WhatsApp, and we schedule across time zones including Canada, Nigeria, India and the UK.
Find Out Exactly Where You Stand
A $2 assessment tells you your current NCLC level in all four skills, which test suits you, and how far you are from the score your application needs.