CLB vs NCLC: how French levels are measured in Canada

If you’ve looked into French for work or immigration in Canada, you’ve probably seen two sets of letters: CLB and NCLC. They’re the same scale in two languages.

The short version

• CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks) measures English.
• NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) measures French.
• Both run from level 1 to level 12, and both score four skills separately: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

How you get an NCLC score

For immigration purposes, IRCC accepts results from approved French tests, TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Your test result is converted into an NCLC level for each of the four skills.

What the levels feel like

Very roughly: levels 1 to 4 cover everyday basics, levels 5 to 6 let you handle most daily and workplace conversations, and levels 7 and up mean you can work comfortably in French. Every skill is scored on its own, so you can be stronger in reading than speaking, for example.

Where to start

You don’t need any French to begin. In a consultation, we’ll talk about your goal and suggest a route, either a program at a partner DLI college or classes at our academy.

Source: Government of Canada, language testing for Express Entry. Always check IRCC for the latest rules.