Strategies for improving your French language skills: Getting from an NCLC 5 to NCLC 7
Reaching a Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) level 7 in French, will greatly increase your chances of getting Canadian permanent residency (PR) through the Express Entry system.
Obtaining an NCLC level 7 in your secondary official language increases your chances of receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) by gaining you up to 62 points towards your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, and qualifying you for French-language proficiency draws.
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This article will cover
How French language skills can contribute to obtaining Canadian PR;
Tips and tricks for reaching “Adequate Intermediate” French proficiency; and
The capabilities of a French learner at an NCLC level 7 and what they can expect on a French language test.
Benefits of French for Canadian immigration
Getting to an NCLC level 7 in all four language abilities can significantly boost your CRS score, helping you become a more competitive Express Entry candidate.
By getting to an NCLC level 7, you qualify for category-based selection, which increases your likelihood of getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for PR. To date this year, Canada has held seven French-language proficiency draws, with much lower cut-off scores than other draws:
Draw typeCRS cut-off score rangeNumber of draws held
French-language proficiency379 – 4817
Canadian Experience Class518 – 54711
Healthcare and social services470 – 5105
Education462 – 4792
Trades5051
Under the “Additional factors” section of the CRS, you can claim up to 50 additional points if you meet an NCLC level 7—provided you have reached a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5 across all four English language abilities.
You can also gain up to 12 points at an NCLC level 7 under “Core human capital” for second language proficiency (without a spouse).
An NCLC level 7 also further increases your chances of immigrating to Canada through certain Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams which prioritize francophone applicants.
Opportunities for French-proficient foreign nationals seeking Canadian permanent residence are expected to grow, as the federal government aims to increase French-speaking permanent resident (PR) admissions outside Quebec from 8.5% in 2025 to:
9% in 2026;
9.5% in 2027; and
10.5% in 2028.
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Tips and tricks to get from NCLC 5 to NCLC 7
Engage in rigorous daily study: Advancement in French proficiency depends heavily on consistent, deliberate practice. Setting aside a fixed period each day for focused learning—ideally at least one to two hours—will help you advance to a higher NCLC level.
A balanced approach that includes reading, listening, writing, and speaking practice ensures development across all four abilities. If, however, you struggle with a particular language ability, dedicate additional time to mastering it.
Strive to divide study sessions between formal instruction and practical use. For example, reviewing language exercises followed by short conversations or writing tasks.
Attend an immersion retreat or program: For many learners, progressing from an NCLC level 5 to level 7 means overcoming the “intermediate plateau” where communication is possible but lacks ease and precision. Immersion retreats or programs directly target this gap by providing sustained, prolonged (weeks to months), and real-time interaction in French, which develops automaticity and responsiveness.
Work or volunteer in a French environment: Professional and volunteer settings challenge learners to adapt their French to different contexts, from formal communication to informal collaboration—all with practical objectives. From explaining information and coordinating tasks to resolving real-world problems and attending meetings, active participation bridges the gap between structured learning and spontaneous communication.
This strategy promotes rapid vocabulary and grammar expansion, and deeper understanding of the nuances within the French language and how to apply them to everyday life and varying scenarios.
Work with a certified French tutor or language coach: A certified language coach offers structured accountability and expert assessment, two factors that can significantly speed progress from NCLC 5 to 7. Unlike general study, one-on-one instruction provides immediate feedback on elements such as pronunciation, grammar, syntax, and phrasing beyond the basics, allowing for targeted correction—helping learners get closer to advanced proficiency.
Further, a certified tutor can work with you to design sessions for particular language abilities you may have difficulty with and use mock assessments or task-based exercises that mirror real evaluation conditions.
Study with French immigration tests in mind: In addition to general French study, learners can make faster progress and feel more equipped for test day by using TEF or TCF Canada materials to structure their practice. Seeking out sample exams or preparation guides allows learners to get an idea of what they can expect to encounter during their test.
Familiarizing oneself with question formats, such as timed listening segments or written opinion pieces helps identify weaknesses (such as spontaneous responses in speaking or connectors in writing) and focus study more effectively. Practicing regularly under exam-like condition can improve your improves speed, accuracy, and confidence. Such an approach ensures that learning efforts directly correspond to the language competencies recognized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Engage with francophone media: Engaging regularly with French news outlets, listening to French-only radio stations (e.g., Radio Canada ICI Première) or following current affairs in francophone regions exposes learners to the language as it is actually used in professional and public life.
This exposure builds familiarity with natural sentence structure, rhythm, and transitions that may be absent from study books. By analyzing how ideas are presented and supported in French, learners strengthen comprehension and develop a clearer sense of how to organize and express complex thoughts.
Practice reverse translation: This technique involves translating a short French text into English, then translating that English version back into French without referencing the original. Comparing the two French versions helps identify where vocabulary, structure, or nuance was lost in translation and helps train attention to syntax and idiomatic phrasing.
Because it requires reconstructing the message rather than copying, it pushes you to think in French rather than translate word-for-word. Over time, doing so reinforces correct language patterns and promotes stronger test performance.
Find an au pair program: Au pair programs, in which participants live with and assist a host family (in this case, in a francophone region), offer one of the most sustained forms of language exposure available. This role requires constant verbal interaction and involves tasks like organizing schedules, attending activities, and handling daily conversations with children and adults.
This repeated, natural exposure builds skills like listening precision and spontaneous speech, and invariably fosters durable, functional language abilities based in real-world experience rather than structured instruction.
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What does an NCLC level 7 entail?
There are three language proficiency stages:
Stage 1: Basic Language Ability.
Stage 2: Intermediate Language Ability.
Stage 3: Advanced Language Ability.
An NCLC level 7 falls within Stage 2 and means you have “adequate” French language skills within this stage.
The table below provides a high-level understanding of what an NCLC level 7 means for each of the four language abilities, and features the language test structures (for each ability) for the two IRCC-approved French tests currently recognized:
TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français.
TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français.
Language skillAbilitiesLanguage test structure
Reading-Can identify the purpose, main ideas, key details, and certain implied meanings in a text.
-Understands factual, descriptive, and argumentative writings.
-Comprehends a range of vocabulary, from concrete and abstract to some specialized terms and idiomatic expressions.
-At times still uses a unilingual dictionary to clarify unfamiliar words.
TCF Canada: 39 questions, multiple choice (1 hour)
TEF Canada: 40 questions, multiple choice (1 hour)
Test content: Read and comprehend texts that may include concrete of abstract texts.
Both tests for reading are computer-based.
Writing-Can produce moderately long, well-organized passages made up of clear and connected paragraphs.
-Expresses main ideas and supporting details effectively, using a varied range of vocabulary.
-May still rely on sentence patterns from their native language.
TCF Canada: 3 exercises (1 hour)
TEF Canada: 2 sections (1 hour)
Section A: 25 minutes
Section B: 35 minutes
Test content: Explain or convey information, continue an article, or justify a point of view.
Both tests for writing are computer-based.
Speaking-Communicates with growing confidence across social, educational, and workplace contexts, adjusting tone and formality as necessary.
-Can discuss a widening range of familiar topics, conveying both concrete details and some abstract ideas with clarity.
-Uses an increasingly varied vocabulary that blends practical, idiomatic, and culturally specific language.
TCF Canada: 3 exercises (12 minutes)
TEF Canada: 2 sections (15 minutes)
Section A: 5 minutes
Section B: 10 minutes
Test content: Expected to obtain information, express a point of view, and speak to an unknown individual (the examiner).
Both tests for speaking are completed one-on-one with an examiner.
Listening-Can follow and engage in conversations of moderate complexity in everyday and professional contexts.
-Demonstrates understanding of abstract themes and ideas drawn from general knowledge and real-life experiences.
-Identifies and interprets different tones, styles, expressions, and implied meanings.
-May still have difficulty keeping up with phone discussions or group conversations when speech is rapid.
TCF Canada: 39 questions, multiple choice (35 minutes)
TEF Canada: 40 questions, multiple choice (40 minutes)
Test: Audio documents will be provided to analyze, containing common phrases and expressions, everyday information, and fact-based knowledge.
Both tests for listening are computer-based.
In contrast, French language speakers at an NCLC 5 or 6 will still likely
Have a more limited understanding of common French phrases, expressions, and complex sentence structure;
Require visual aids and/or a bilingual dictionary to grasp the meaning of certain words, phrases, and expressions, especially in complex texts and rapid conversations;
Hesitate when speaking and make certain grammatical errors; and
Require speech to be delivered at a clear and slow-to-normal rate.
