Express Entry French Bonus: How the +50 Points Math Actually Works

If you’re learning French for Canada, the “+50 points” French-language bonus in Express Entry is one of the clearest, most measurable payoffs you can aim for. But it only shows up if you hit specific thresholds in all four French skills, and the difference between +25 and +50 depends on what you do (or don’t do) for English.

This article breaks down the rules in plain language, shows the math with simple examples, and gives you a practical next-step plan for TEF Canada or TCF Canada so you can target the bonus on purpose, not by luck.

What the French bonus is (and what it is not)

In Express Entry, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) ranks candidates using points. The French-language bonus is part of the CRS additional points section. In other words, it’s added on top of your base CRS score when you meet the criteria.

There are two French-bonus tiers:

• +25 points if you score NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills, and you score CLB 4 or lower in English (or you don’t take an English test).
• +50 points if you score NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills, and you score CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills.

Important nuance: IRCC explicitly says you can earn up to 50 additional points for strong French skills even if French is your second language. So you don’t have to “switch your whole profile to French” to benefit.

What the bonus is not: it’s not a promise you’ll get invited, and it’s not the same thing as “French category-based draws.” It’s a points boost that can help in any round where CRS matters (including French-category rounds, if you’re eligible for them). For draw outcomes, use IRCC’s official rounds page to see current cutoffs and trends.

The simple math: how the +50 actually gets added

Step 1: Confirm you qualify for any French bonus

You only get a French bonus if your lowest French skill is at least NCLC 7. Think of it like a gate:

• If French speaking ≥ NCLC 7
• and French listening ≥ NCLC 7
• and French reading ≥ NCLC 7
• and French writing ≥ NCLC 7

…then you unlock a bonus. If any single skill is NCLC 6 (or lower), the French bonus is 0.

Step 2: Decide whether your English results trigger +25 or +50

Once French is at NCLC 7+ across the board, the bonus depends on English:

• English test not taken (or English at CLB 4 or lower) → +25
• English at CLB 5 or higher in all four skills → +50

Step 3: Add it to your CRS score

Once you know the bonus tier, the math is straightforward:

Total CRS = Your current CRS + (25 or 50)

Three quick examples (using made-up base CRS numbers just to show the math):

1. Base CRS 450 + 50 = 500
2. Base CRS 450 + 25 = 475
3. Base CRS 450 + 0 (because one French skill is below NCLC 7) = 450

If you want to see your own CRS with your real details, use IRCC’s official calculator and compare scenarios (French only vs French + English). CRS calculator (IRCC).

How to prove NCLC 7: tests IRCC accepts and the score targets

For Express Entry, you must prove language ability with an IRCC-approved test, enter the results in your profile, and keep them valid while you’re in the pool and when you apply. IRCC lists TEF Canada and TCF Canada as approved French tests for Express Entry.

Validity rule (time-sensitive): your language results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you submit your permanent residence application. If your results expire, your points can change.

NCLC 7 targets for TEF Canada and TCF Canada

The French bonus requires NCLC 7+ in each skill, so you should plan your prep around the weakest skill, not your overall “level.” IRCC provides official equivalency tables that map TEF/TCF scores to NCLC levels.

For TEF Canada (Tests taken after Dec 11, 2023)

Note: These are the scores you will likely see on your result sheet ("Score / 699"). Aim for these numbers during your prep.

• Speaking: 456–493
• Listening: 434–461
• Reading: 434–461
• Writing: 428–471

For TCF Canada

Note: TCF Canada scores have remained stable.

• Speaking: 10–11
• Listening: 458–502
• Reading: 453–498
• Writing: 10–11

Because equivalency tables can be updated, always confirm your exact mapping using IRCC’s current tables for your specific test date: IRCC equivalency tables (Express Entry).

TEF Canada vs TCF Canada: what you’re actually signing up for

Both TEF Canada and TCF Canada are designed to certify general French ability for Canadian immigration, and both assess the same four skills: reading, listening, writing, and speaking.

TEF Canada (official TEF site) is made up of four compulsory parts: reading, listening, writing, and speaking.

TCF Canada (France Éducation international) is made up of four mandatory tests and publishes the structure and timings (for example, separate listening/reading sections plus written and verbal skills).

How to choose in practice:

• Take the test you can access reliably. Availability and scheduling at local approved centres often matters more than tiny format differences.
• Match the format to your strengths. If one exam’s speaking tasks or writing prompts feel more natural, that can be the difference between NCLC 6 and NCLC 7 in your weakest skill.
• Plan around retakes. The waiting period between tests is typically 30 days, though some centres now allow retakes after 20 days for computer-based tests. Check the specific policy of your local centre before booking to plan your timeline safely.

The English decision: how to aim for +50 without wasting effort

Many serious learners ask: “Should I take an English test too?” Here’s the clean way to think about it.

The French bonus math is simple: NCLC 7+ in French gives you access to either +25 or +50, and the +50 tier requires CLB 5+ in all four English skills.

But CRS is bigger than the bonus. English test results can also affect your CRS in other language-related sections. IRCC also notes that if you speak English and French, you can provide approved test results for both languages. So skipping English may protect your time, but it can also leave CRS points on the table depending on your profile.

A practical decision grid

• Go for +50 now if you can realistically reach CLB 5 in all English skills with modest prep (especially if your English is already functional). The bonus jump from +25 to +50 is a clean +25-point gain.
• Take +25 first if your English would take months to reach CLB 5, and your main bottleneck is getting French to NCLC 7 in all four skills. You can still add English later (and update your profile) if that becomes worthwhile.

If you’re unsure, run both scenarios in the official CRS calculator (French results only vs French + English results) and compare the totals. IRCC CRS calculator.

What to do next: a measurable plan to “buy” the bonus with study time

1) Choose your target: NCLC 7 in all four skills

Write your goal as a checklist, not a vibe:

• I will reach NCLC 7 in speaking.
• I will reach NCLC 7 in listening.
• I will reach NCLC 7 in reading.
• I will reach NCLC 7 in writing.

Then tie each skill to the official score range for your test. That turns “learning French” into four concrete targets you can train and retest.

2) Pick the test and book a date that fits the 2-year rule

Because results must be under 2 years old for both your profile and your PR application, you want a test date that doesn’t box you into an expiration problem while you’re waiting in the pool.

Official test pages you can use to start booking and understanding what’s included:

• TEF Canada (official)
• TCF Canada (official)

3) Train the weakest skill like it’s worth 50 points (because it is)

The French bonus is all-or-nothing at NCLC 7 per skill. That means your study plan should be asymmetric:

• If your reading is already strong but your writing is fragile, writing gets most of the weekly hours.
• If your speaking score is inconsistent, you need timed speaking reps, not more passive listening.

It’s normal to have one “lagging” skill. Your goal isn’t balanced improvement; it’s pushing the minimum skill over the NCLC 7 line.

4) Enter results correctly in Express Entry

IRCC instructs candidates to enter test results into the Express Entry profile and provide the test’s result form/certificate number. Double-check the numbers before you submit; small data-entry errors can cause big delays. Remember the TEF note above: check if you need to enter the "Ancien" score from your certificate.

5) Track real-world draw movement using official pages only

Cutoffs change. The only honest way to answer “Is my score enough?” is to watch the official rounds over time. IRCC publishes dates, program/category, and the CRS score of the lowest-ranked invited candidate. Express Entry rounds of invitations (IRCC).

Common mistakes that cost people the bonus

Missing NCLC 7 in just one skill

This is the most common heartbreak: NCLC 8, 8, 7… and a 6. If any French skill is below 7, you don’t get +25 or +50. Plan your prep so your weakest skill gets disproportionate attention.

Assuming “French as second language” means you can’t benefit

You can. IRCC explicitly says you can earn up to 50 additional points for strong French skills even if French is your second language. The bonus is about your test results, not your identity.

Letting results expire while you wait

Your language results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your profile and when you submit your PR application. If you’re close to the 2-year mark, plan a retake early so you don’t lose points unexpectedly.

Bottom line: treat the bonus like a project with a finish line

The +50 French bonus isn’t mysterious. It’s a simple formula with strict thresholds:

• NCLC 7+ in all four French skills unlocks the bonus.
• CLB 5+ in all four English skills determines whether it’s +50 (otherwise +25 if English is CLB 4 or lower or you didn’t test).

If you want the fastest “next action,” do this today: open IRCC’s equivalency tables, circle the NCLC 7 score ranges for your test (watching out for the new vs. old TEF scale), and identify your weakest skill. That’s the skill that’s currently worth up to 50 CRS points.