Understanding TEF Canada Results
Your report gives four numbers on four different scales, and the level you can actually claim is decided by the weakest one. Here is a real result, read the way IRCC reads it.
Nine points of writing would not change this candidate's French. It would change their eligibility.
Find your own level
| NCLC / CLB | Listening (/360) | Reading (/300) | Writing (/450) | Speaking (/450) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10+ | 316–360 | 263–300 | 393–450 | 393–450 |
| 9 | 298–315 | 248–262 | 371–392 | 371–392 |
| 8 | 280–297 | 233–247 | 349–370 | 349–370 |
| 7 | 249–279 | 207–232 | 310–348 | 310–348 |
| 6 | 217–248 | 181–206 | 271–309 | 271–309 |
| 5 | 181–216 | 151–180 | 226–270 | 226–270 |
| 4 | 145–180 | 121–150 | 181–225 | 181–225 |
Read each score down its own column. The lowest level you land on is the one you can claim — IRCC does not average the four.
Which column to enter
Newer certificates print a second score out of 699 beside the original. IRCC reads the "Équivalence ancien score" column, not the /699 column.
If it is lower than you needed
There is no pass or fail. You get a level, and it either clears the bar for your programme or it does not.
You cannot resit one module — a retake means all four again. So find the single skill sitting below your target row and check the gap. As the example above shows, it is often a handful of points.
Common questions
What is a good TEF Canada score?
It depends on what you need it for rather than on the number itself. For most federal economic immigration programmes the threshold that matters is NCLC 7, which means at least 249 in listening, 207 in reading, 310 in writing and 310 in speaking. Additional Express Entry points for French start at NCLC 7 across all four skills.
Why does my TEF report show two different scores for the same skill?
Newer certificates print a harmonised score out of 699 alongside the original scale. IRCC reads the Équivalence ancien score column, not the /699 one. They are different numbers for the same test.
Are TEF Canada scores averaged across the four skills?
No. IRCC reads each skill separately and your lowest one sets the level you can claim. Scoring 350 in three skills and 240 in listening does not average out to a pass — the 240 is below the NCLC 7 listening threshold, so the whole profile is below NCLC 7.
How long is a TEF Canada result valid?
Two years from the test date. The result must still be valid on the day you submit the application, not just on the day you create the profile.
Can I retake only one TEF Canada module?
No. TEF Canada is taken as a complete set of four modules, so a retake means sitting all four again.
Be ready for TEF Canada — not just informed.
Months of preparation come down to a few hours in one room. Practise on TEF Canada B1-C1 tasks until nothing on the paper can surprise you.
- 140+ writing tasksBuilt by our content team to the official TEF Canada format and marking criteria.
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Or see how SavoirX prepares you for TEF Canada