Scores and levels
CLB 7 and NCLC 7: the score to reach on each test
CLB 7 in English and NCLC 7 in French are the same benchmark. Pick a test below to see the score it takes in each skill, then what the level unlocks.
Lowest scores for CLB / NCLC 7
| Test | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEF Canada (from Dec. 11, 2023) | 434–461 | 428–471 | 434–461 | 456–493 |
| TCF Canada | 453–498 | 10–11 | 458–502 | 10–11 |
| CELPIP-General | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| IELTS General Training | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0–7.0 | 6.0 |
| PTE Core | 60–68 | 69–78 | 60–70 | 68–75 |
Ranges from the IRCC equivalency charts. A score at the bottom of a range is enough: no rounding is applied.
CLB 7 (NCLC 7 in French) is the level that opens the most doors in Express Entry. On the TEF Canada sat since 11 December 2023 it starts at 434 in reading, 428 in writing, 434 in listening and 456 in speaking. On the TCF Canada it starts at 453 in reading, 458 in listening and 10 out of 20 in both expression tests. In English it is level 7 on CELPIP-General, band 6.0 in every IELTS General Training skill, and 60 to 69 on PTE Core depending on the skill. Reaching it in all four skills meets the Federal Skilled Worker minimum, the Canadian Experience Class minimum for TEER 0 and 1 jobs and, in French, the French-language category and the French bonus of 25 or 50 points. It also lifts first-language points from 9 to 17 per skill for a single candidate, one of the two steepest steps on the scale, and opens transferability points.
What one more level is worth
Points gained (single)
+32
| Federal Skilled Worker minimum | yes |
| French bonus possible (if French) | yes |
Charts, converters and questions by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How charts and questions are built
The CLB 7 score on each accepted test
Lowest score that gives CLB or NCLC 7, per skill, from the IRCC equivalency charts and, for the TEF Canada, the CCI correspondence table:
| Test | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEF Canada (since 11 Dec. 2023, 0–699) | 434 | 428 | 434 | 456 |
| TEF Canada, old-score column | 207 | 310 | 249 | 310 |
| TCF Canada (699 / 20) | 453 | 10 | 458 | 10 |
| CELPIP-General | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| IELTS General Training | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| PTE Core | 60 | 69 | 60 | 68 |
On the TEF Canada, writing is the cheapest skill for NCLC 7 (428) and speaking the most demanding (456). On PTE Core it is the other way round in a sense: writing asks 69, the highest of the four. The tool above lets you change the level and compare the same tests at CLB 8 or 9.
Why CLB 7 is the line that matters
Several rules on IRCC's Express Entry language page meet at this level:
Federal Skilled Worker program. CLB 7 in all four skills is the entry ticket. Below it, the program is closed whatever your other points.
Canadian Experience Class. A TEER 0 or 1 job needs CLB 7; TEER 2 or 3 needs CLB 5.
French-language category. Category-based rounds for French speakers, one of 10 categories IRCC lists on its category-based selection page, require NCLC 7 in all four French skills.
French bonus. NCLC 7 in all four French skills adds 25 points, or 50 with English at CLB 5 or more. Details on the French bonus page.
What the step from 6 to 7 is worth
In the Comprehensive Ranking System, first-language points per skill go 6, 9, 17, 23, 31 from CLB 5 to CLB 9 for a single candidate. The step from 6 to 7 adds 8 points per skill, as much as the step from 8 to 9 and far more than the 3 added between 5 and 6. CLB 7 in all four skills also starts the transferability points: with a post-secondary credential of at least one year, for example, 13 points while one skill is under CLB 9, 25 once all four reach CLB 9. The mini-tool beside this text shows the gain between any two levels.
Getting there from a lower level
Look at the gap skill by skill, not on average. A TEF Canada candidate at 422 in speaking (NCLC 6) needs 34 more points to reach the NCLC 7 floor of 456; the same candidate may already be above NCLC 7 in writing. Spend your preparation on the skill that is below the line. The level by program page confirms which programs need CLB 7, and the score pages for the TEF Canada and the TCF Canada show every band.