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TCF Scores and Levels: The /20 and CEFR Grid Explained | OralPrep Guide

The TCF (Test de connaissance du français) does not give you a pass or a fail — it places you on the CEFR scale from A1 to C2. Your speaking and writing tests are each scored out of 20 and converted to a level using the official grid, while listening and reading are marked on a points scale of up to 699. There is no minimum to “pass”; the only question that matters is whether the level you reach meets what your university, prefecture or immigration program requires. This guide explains every TCF scale, and what score you actually need for the most common goals.

Whether you are aiming for a university place, French citizenship, or immigration to Canada or Québec, the TCF reports the same thing — your CEFR level per skill — but each goal reads that level through a different lens. Below, the scales first, then the score you need for each goal.

The official /20-to-CEFR grid (speaking and writing)

The speaking (expression orale) and writing (expression écrite) tests are each scored out of 20 and converted to a CEFR level with a single official grid:

CEFR level	Speaking / writing score (/20)
A1 not attained	—
A1	1
A2	2–5
B1	6–9
B2	10–13
C1	14–17
C2	18–20

Source: Manuel du candidat TCF, France Éducation international, April 2024, p.26. Notice the bands are uneven: the jump from B1 to B2 crosses the 9/10 line, which is exactly where the naturalisation and Express Entry thresholds sit — one point can move you a whole level.

How the /20 speaking score is built

You never see a raw “/20” from a single grader. Each of the 3 speaking tasks is placed on a 6-level scale — “A1 not attained”, A1, A2, B1, B2, C2 — by two independent correctors working double-blind (the examiner who runs the interview, then a second FEI corrector who only hears the recording). A calculation rule combines the levels across the 3 tasks into your final score /20 and overall CEFR level. If the two correctors diverge significantly, a third correction is triggered automatically. For the full mechanism, see the TCF speaking test structure and criteria guide.

The 699-point scale (listening and reading)

The listening (compréhension orale) and reading (compréhension écrite) sections are multiple-choice and marked on a points scale of up to 699, which France Éducation international converts to a CEFR level from A1 to C2. Because these sections are automatically scored, results for a TCF SO (multiple-choice only) come back faster — within 10 business days, versus up to 15 for a paper TCF that includes the speaking test. For the exact points-per-level thresholds used on the Canada side, see our TCF Canada score-to-NCLC/CLB conversion guide.

No pass, no fail — so what “counts”?

The official handbook is explicit: there is no notion of pass or fail on the TCF. It is a snapshot of your level on the day. What turns that snapshot into a yes or no is the requirement attached to it: a university might ask for B2, a prefecture for B2 in all four skills, IRCC for NCLC 7. So the practical question is never “did I pass?” but “did I reach the level my file requires?” — which is why the DELF/DALF, a pass-or-fail diploma, feels so different (see TCF vs DELF).

What score do you actually need?

The level you should target depends entirely on your goal. The three most common:

Goal	Level required	What it means on the /20 speaking grid
French naturalisation (from 1 Jan 2026)	B2 in all 4 skills, no compensation	10–13/20 in speaking — and separately in writing; a weak skill can’t be carried by a strong one
Express Entry, francophone points (Canada)	NCLC 7 in all 4 skills	At least a clean B2-equivalent (10/20) in speaking, no compensation
Québec immigration (PSTQ)	B2 and up, on a rising points scale	B2 = 5 pts, C1 = 6 pts, C2 = 7 pts for speaking

For French naturalisation, the required level rose to B2 across all four skills, with no compensation between them, from 1 January 2026 (loi n° 2024-42 du 26 janvier 2024). This is the change that catches most candidates out: reaching B2 on average is not enough — you need 10/20 or more in each skill, speaking included. Our TCF IRN and French naturalisation B2 guide covers the IRN format, and our TCF IRN speaking practice guide focuses on hitting B2 in the oral specifically.

For Express Entry, the francophone benchmark is NCLC 7 in all four skills, which unlocks extra points in the profile; the exact TCF-to-NCLC thresholds per skill are in our conversion guide.

For Québec (PSTQ), the speaking test pays on a rising scale — 5 points at B2, 6 at C1, 7 at C2 — with oral capped at 14 points combined; details in our TCF Québec speaking guide.

What each level means in practice

Between B1 and C1 — where most exam goals sit — the difference is less about grammar and more about fluency, structure and range:

• B1 (6–9/20) — you handle familiar topics, express opinions simply, and cope with everyday exchanges, but with hesitations and a limited range.
• B2 (10–13/20) — you argue a point of view clearly, develop a topic, and interact with fluency and spontaneity; occasional errors don’t impede communication. This is the naturalisation and Express Entry threshold.
• C1 (14–17/20) — you express yourself fluently and almost effortlessly, nuance and structure complex ideas, and vary your register. For Québec, this is the extra point over B2.

An honest self-assessment, or better a scored mock, tells you which band you are actually in before you book a date. For a systematic way to prepare toward a target level, see our complete method to prepare TCF Canada speaking.

What’s next

You now understand every TCF scale and the thresholds behind the common goals. Next: check the full speaking test structure and criteria, then either the TCF Canada score-to-NCLC conversion or the naturalisation B2 guide, depending on your goal.

Frequently asked questions

What score do I need for B2 on the TCF speaking test?

According to the official interpretation grid (Manuel du candidat TCF, France Éducation international, April 2024, p.26), level B2 corresponds to a speaking (expression orale) score of 10 to 13 out of 20. The same grid applies to the writing test.

Can you pass or fail the TCF?

No. The official handbook states there is no notion of pass or fail on the TCF — it is a placement test that captures your level at a given moment. Whether a level 'counts' depends entirely on the body requiring it (a university, a prefecture, IRCC, Québec immigration).

What is the TCF 699-point scale?

The listening and reading sections are marked on a points scale of up to 699, which France Éducation international converts to a CEFR level from A1 to C2. The speaking and writing tests use a separate /20 scale instead, converted to CEFR via the official p.26 grid.

What TCF score equals NCLC 7 for Express Entry?

NCLC 7 is the francophone benchmark for Canada's Express Entry and requires at least the equivalent of B2 in every skill — a clean 10/20 in speaking and writing, with no compensation between skills. See our TCF Canada score-to-NCLC/CLB conversion guide for the exact thresholds in every skill.

How many points does each CEFR level give for Québec immigration?

For the speaking test, Québec awards 5 points at B2, 6 at C1 and 7 at C2 (the maximum), with nothing below B2. Oral tests are capped at 14 points combined and written tests at a further 2 points.

How long is a TCF level valid?

The attestation is valid for 2 years from the test date. After that, you must retake the test to certify your level again; you can retake it as often as you like, respecting a 30-day gap between sessions.

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