What does CLB 7 in French mean?
CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks) and NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) are the same 12-level scale: CLB is the English name, NCLC the French one. IRCC converts each French test result, skill by skill, into an NCLC level. "CLB 7 in French" therefore means NCLC 7 on the TCF Canada or the TEF Canada.
Your profile is worth your weakest skill, never the average: NCLC 9 in listening does not make up for NCLC 6 in writing.
TCF Canada score chart by CLB level
| CLB / NCLC | Listening | Reading | Writing and speaking (/20) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10+ | 549 – 699 | 549 – 699 | 16 – 20 |
| 9 | 523 – 548 | 524 – 548 | 14 – 15 |
| 8 | 503 – 522 | 499 – 523 | 12 – 13 |
| 7 | 458 – 502 | 453 – 498 | 10 – 11 |
| 6 | 398 – 457 | 406 – 452 | 7 – 9 |
| 5 | 369 – 397 | 375 – 405 | 6 |
| 4 | 331 – 368 | 342 – 374 | 4 – 5 |
Source: IRCC language test equivalency tables. Listening and reading use different bands: CLB 7 starts at 458 in listening but at 453 in reading. Full chart: TCF Canada score chart.
CLB 5 and CLB 7 in French on the TEF Canada
For Express Entry, IRCC asks for the TEF scores in the « Équivalence ancien score » column of the certificate, not the score out of 699:
| Level | Listening | Reading | Writing and speaking |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 7 | 249 – 279 | 207 – 232 | 310 – 348 |
| CLB 5 | 181 – 216 | 151 – 180 | 226 – 270 |
More on the TEF: our TEF Canada guide (in French) and TCF vs TEF Canada.
Where you need CLB 5 or CLB 7 in French
| Program | French level |
|---|---|
| Express Entry, French-language proficiency category | CLB 7 in all four skills |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | CLB 7 in your first official language |
| Canadian Experience Class | CLB 7 (TEER 0 or 1 jobs) or CLB 5 (TEER 2 or 3 jobs) |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | CLB 5 speaking and listening, CLB 4 reading and writing |
| Francophone Community Immigration Pilot | CLB 5 in French in all four skills |
| Canadian citizenship | CLB 4 in speaking and listening |
Source: IRCC program pages and category-based selection. Requirements change: check IRCC before you apply.
Is CLB 7 equal to B2?
In practice, yes. On the TCF, B2 covers 400 to 499 points in listening and reading and 10 to 13 out of 20 in writing and speaking, and the CLB 7 bands fall inside it. But a low B2 is not enough: 400 to 457 in listening, or 400 to 452 in reading, is only CLB 6.
CRS points for CLB 7 in French
| CLB per skill | Without a spouse | With a spouse |
|---|---|---|
| CLB 7 | 17 | 16 |
| CLB 8 | 23 | 22 |
| CLB 9 | 31 | 29 |
| CLB 10+ | 34 | 32 |
Those are core points per skill for your first official language. On top, CLB 7 or more in all four French skills adds 25 points, or 50 points if your English is also at CLB 5 or more. Source: IRCC CRS criteria. Draws and cut-offs: French for Express Entry.
Check your level in the real format with our free TCF mock exam, then plan your preparation with the TCF Canada course.
