French for Express Entry: what it actually changes
French is the single largest score change most applicants can still make. Here is the arithmetic, the timeline, and the cases where it is the wrong move.
Two separate benefits
People conflate these, and they work differently.
1 · CRS points
50 points for NCLC 7 French alongside CLB 5+ English in all four abilities; 25 points if your English is CLB 4 or lower or untested.
2 · Category draws
French-language proficiency is one of IRCC's draw categories. Those rounds have repeatedly issued invitations at cut-offs well below general draws. This is usually the bigger prize: it does not raise your score so much as lower the bar you are measured against.
Categories, point values and cut-offs change, sometimes at short notice. Confirm the current rules with IRCC before planning around them.
Which test — and does it matter?
IRCC accepts TCF Canada and TEF Canada equally. Neither is easier; they differ in format. TCF is independent items on a rising difficulty curve. TEF groups questions into sections A–D and adds a reformulation task.
What matters far more is that you need NCLC 7 in all four skills separately — the eight thresholds are listed here.
How long, realistically
| Starting from | At 8–10 h/week | At 15–20 h/week |
|---|---|---|
| No French at all | 12–18 months | 8–12 months |
| School French, forgotten | 8–12 months | 5–8 months |
| A1–A2 | 6–9 months | 4–6 months |
| B1 (NCLC 5–6) | 3–5 months | 2–3 months |
| Close, failed one skill | 4–10 weeks | 3–6 weeks |
Working estimates, not guarantees. Anyone quoting a single confident number is selling something.
When French is the wrong move
We sell French preparation and we would still tell you this:
- Your English test is not maxed out. Going from CLB 8 to CLB 9 costs a retake fee and a few weeks. French costs 600–900 hours from zero. Do the cheap thing first.
- You are already above recent general cut-offs. Then a year of French buys you nothing you did not already have.
- You have a hard deadline inside six months. From a standing start, there is not enough runway.
Work out where you stand in all four skills
Three days free, with everything unlocked. A card starts the trial; cancel before day 3 and you pay nothing.
A card is needed to start the trial. Nothing is charged for 3 days, and you can cancel in one click.
Related
Formats, points and immigration thresholds change. Confirm current requirements with the official test provider and with IRCC before you plan around them. This is exam preparation, not immigration advice.