Are DELF and DALF accepted for Express Entry?

No. Only TCF Canada and TEF Canada are accepted for Express Entry. DELF and DALF are accepted for Quebec provincial streams via QSWP, but not for federal Express Entry.

What TCF Canada score do I need for CLB 7?

You need 249-297 in listening, 274-342 in reading, and 10-11 in both writing and speaking to reach CLB 7 on TCF Canada.

How many bonus CRS points does the bilingualism bonus add?

French CLB 7 or higher in all four skills combined with English CLB 4 or higher can add up to 50 bonus CRS points under the bilingualism bonus, separate from your core language points.

Is TCF Canada or TEF Canada easier to pass?

Neither is inherently easier — at the same French level, both tests produce equivalent CLB results. Choose based on test centre availability near you and which format you have practiced more.

Express Entry CLB Scores: TCF vs DELF vs TEF Conversion Table 2026

CLB Points Can Make or Break Your Express Entry Application

Under Canada's Express Entry system, your French language score converts to a CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) level. More CLB points = higher Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score = better chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

French as a second official language also gives you significant bonus CRS points under the "bilingualism bonus." Understanding exactly how your test score translates to CLB — and which test maximises your score at your current level — is critical.

The Two Accepted French Tests for Express Entry

Only two French tests are accepted for Express Entry Canadian immigration:

TCF Canada (Test de Connaissance du Français pour le Canada) — designed specifically for Canadian immigration purposes
TEF Canada (Test d'Évaluation de Français pour le Canada) — the Chamber of Commerce test, also immigration-specific

Note: DELF and DALF are not accepted for Express Entry (they're accepted for Quebec provincial streams via QSWP). TCF SE and TEF (without "Canada") are also not accepted.

TCF Canada CLB Conversion Table

CLB	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
CLB 4	100–144	100–164	4–5	4–5
CLB 5	145–195	165–225	6	6
CLB 6	196–248	226–273	7–9	7–9
CLB 7	249–297	274–342	10–11	10–11
CLB 8	298–348	343–392	12–13	12–13
CLB 9	349–395	393–449	14–15	14–15
CLB 10	396–457	450–498	16–17	16–17
CLB 11	458–498	499–549	18–19	18–19
CLB 12	499–699	550–699	20	20

TEF Canada CLB Conversion Table

CLB	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
CLB 4	145–180	121–150	181–225	181–225
CLB 5	181–216	151–180	226–270	226–270
CLB 6	217–252	181–210	271–309	271–309
CLB 7	253–288	211–240	310–348	310–348
CLB 8	289–324	241–270	349–388	349–388
CLB 9	325–360	271–300	389–418	389–418
CLB 10	361–396	301–330	419–457	419–457
CLB 11	397–432	331–360	458–487	458–487
CLB 12	433–500	361–450	488–600	488–600

How Many CRS Points Do French Skills Actually Add?

Under Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker), strong French can add significant CRS points:

French CLB 7+ in all four skills + English CLB 4+: up to 50 bonus CRS points (bilingualism bonus)
French CLB 7+ without English CLB 4: up to 25 bonus points
Core French skills (CLB 7–9 range): 16–32 points across four skills

In recent draws, cutoffs have ranged from 480–540 CRS. Adding 50 bilingualism bonus points can be the difference between getting an ITA or waiting years.

TCF Canada vs TEF Canada: Which Should You Choose?

TCF Canada: Scores valid for 2 years. Results in approximately 8 business days online. Format: multiple choice for listening and reading, human-graded speaking and writing. Widely available worldwide.
TEF Canada: Scores valid for 2 years. Results in approximately 3 weeks. Also multiple choice for receptive skills. Some candidates find the writing prompts more manageable.

Bottom line: Neither test is inherently "easier." Choose based on availability at test centres near you and which format you've practised more. At the same French level, CLB results are equivalent across both tests.

The Target Score That Changes Your Application

For most Express Entry applicants, CLB 7 in all four skills is the key threshold — it unlocks the full bilingualism bonus and moves you into the competitive CRS range. If you're currently at B1 (CLB 6 equivalent), a focused 2–3 month preparation targeting B2 in speaking and writing is likely your highest-return investment for getting an ITA.

Not sure how this changes your ranking? Our CRS score calculator gives you an instant estimate.

For the full exam breakdown, see our TCF Canada exam guide.