The Math of Immigration: How the +50 Points French Bonus Actually Works

If you're in the Express Entry pool, you've probably heard about the "French bonus." IRCC awards extra Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points to candidates who speak French.

But here's what most people miss: the bonus isn't just +50 points. When you hit NCLC 7 in all four skills, you trigger a cascade of scoring advantages that can add 100+ points to your profile.

Let's break down the math.

The Two Ways French Helps Your CRS

1. First Official Language Points (Core)

Your best language (English or French) contributes to your "core" CRS score. If French is your strongest language, you get points for:

The Magic Number: NCLC 7 is where the points nearly double from NCLC 6.

• NCLC 6 in all 4 skills = 36 points (single)
• NCLC 7 in all 4 skills = 68 points (single)

That's a +32 point jump just from moving one level.

2. The French Proficiency Bonus

On top of your core points, IRCC adds bonus points specifically for French:

This means if you have NCLC 7 French + CLB 5+ English, you get an automatic +50 bonus that most candidates don't have.

The "Clumping Effect" Explained

Here's the part no one talks about.

When you're at NCLC 6, you're competing with tens of thousands of candidates who also have:

• Good education
• 3+ years of work experience
• Decent English

But when you hit NCLC 7 in French, you join a much smaller pool. Suddenly, you're eligible for:

1. General Draws with your higher CRS (often 480+)
2. French-Language Draws (cutoff around 380-420)
3. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) that specifically target francophone workers

The "clumping" happens because most Express Entry candidates cluster at NCLC 5-6. The jump to NCLC 7 moves you above the cluster.

Real-World Example

Let's compare two candidates:

Candidate B has 82 MORE points than Candidate A. Same age. Same education. Same work experience.

The only difference? One NCLC level in French.

The French-Language Category Draws

In 2023, IRCC introduced targeted draws for specific categories. One of these is the French-language proficiency category.

Recent French-language draws have had cutoffs as low as 379 points.

Compare that to general draws, which often require 520+ points.

If you have NCLC 7 French, you don't need a sky-high CRS. You just need to meet the threshold for French-targeted draws.

The NCLC 7 Threshold: Why It Matters

NCLC 7 isn't just a score—it's a qualification gate. Here's what unlocks at NCLC 7:

If you have NCLC 7 in Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing—but only NCLC 6 in one skill—you don't get the +50 bonus.

It's all or nothing.

How Long Does It Take to Reach NCLC 7?

Assuming you're starting from intermediate French (NCLC 5):

The key is focused exam preparation, not general French learning. TEF and TCF test specific skills: roleplay scripts, connectors, scanning techniques. You need targeted training to pass efficiently.

The Bottom Line

The French bonus isn't just +50 points. When you combine:

• Core language points (NCLC 7 = nearly 2x NCLC 6)
• French proficiency bonus (+50)
• Access to lower-cutoff draws (-100+ effective CRS requirement)

You get an effective advantage of 150+ CRS points compared to English-only candidates.

If you're stuck below the cutoff, don't waste time getting another degree or more work experience. Invest 3 months in French training. It's the fastest path to an Invitation to Apply.

Ready to see where you stand? Take our Free Assessment and get your projected NCLC score today.