How French Can Add 62 (or More) CRS Points in Express Entry

Express Entry ranks candidates using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and language ability is one of the most heavily weighted factors in it. For most Bangladeshi applicants, English is the first official language. French, taken as a second official language, can earn points in two separate places in the CRS grid. Added together, they produce the “62 points” figure you see in Facebook groups and YouTube videos. This article shows exactly where that number comes from, when it can be higher or much lower, and how to check your own estimate before you spend money on a test.

01Where the 62 points come from

The 62 points are the sum of two different components. Understanding them separately is the key to understanding why some candidates get the full benefit and others get almost nothing.

1. Additional points for French-language skills (up to 50)

In the “additional points” section of the CRS, IRCC awards:

• 50 points if you score NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking) and CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills.
• 25 points if you score NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills and CLB 4 or lower in English, or you have no English test result.

The important word is “all”. If even one French skill is at NCLC 6, these additional points drop to zero, even if the other three skills are at NCLC 9.

2. Second official language points (up to 24)

Separately, your French results are scored as your second official language. Each of the four abilities is scored on its own:

• NCLC 4 or lower: 0 points
• NCLC 5 or 6: 1 point per ability
• NCLC 7 or 8: 3 points per ability
• NCLC 9 or higher: 6 points per ability

The maximum in this section is 24 points for a single applicant and 22 points if a spouse or common-law partner is coming with you to Canada.

Adding them up

With NCLC 7 in all four French skills and CLB 5 or higher in English, you get 4 × 3 = 12 second-language points plus 50 additional points, which equals 62 points. That is the origin of the number.

02Can French add more than 62 points?

Yes. If you reach NCLC 9 or higher in all four French skills, your second-language points become 4 × 6 = 24 for a single applicant. Your French-related total then becomes 24 + 50 = 74 points. With an accompanying spouse, the second-language cap is 22, so the maximum becomes 72.

Mixed results fall in between. For example, NCLC 9 in reading and listening but NCLC 7 in writing and speaking gives 6 + 6 + 3 + 3 = 18 second-language points. Add the 50 additional points (assuming CLB 5+ in English) and you reach 68.

03Worked examples (illustrations only)

These simplified examples show how the French-related points behave. They are not predictions of anyone’s total CRS score or of their chance of receiving an invitation.

Example A: strong English, French at NCLC 7

A single applicant with CLB 9 in English reaches NCLC 7 in all four French skills. French adds 12 + 50 = 62 points on top of whatever the rest of the profile scores.

Example B: NCLC 7 everywhere except speaking

Same applicant, but speaking comes out at NCLC 6. Second-language points: 3 + 3 + 3 + 1 = 10. Additional French points: 0, because not all four skills reached NCLC 7. French now adds 10 points instead of 62. One skill made a 52-point difference.

Example C: married applicant, French at NCLC 9+

With an accompanying spouse, second-language points are capped at 22, so French adds 22 + 50 = 72 points.

Language also feeds into the “skill transferability” combinations (language with education or Canadian and foreign work experience), but those combinations are generally calculated from your first official language. For most English-first applicants, the French effect sits in the two sections above. To see your own picture, enter your details in our CRS calculator and compare your score with and without French.

04French-language category-based draws

Since 2023, IRCC has held category-based Express Entry rounds, and French-language proficiency has been one of the categories. In those rounds, only candidates who meet the French requirement (IRCC has used NCLC 7 in all four skills) are considered, so they compete within a smaller pool. Cut-off scores in French-category rounds have often been lower than in general rounds, but they change from round to round, and IRCC decides each year which categories it will use.

So French can help in two ways: it raises your CRS score, and it may make you eligible for a category with its own cut-off. Neither is a guarantee of an invitation or a visa. Check the “rounds of invitations” page on IRCC’s website for the latest results instead of relying on screenshots shared online.

05Which test, and how long are results valid?

IRCC accepts two French tests for Express Entry: TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Both test all four skills, and IRCC converts each skill’s score into an NCLC level using its official equivalency tables. Neither test gives “more points”; only your NCLC level counts. If you are unsure which suits you, read our comparison TEF Canada vs TCF Canada.

For Express Entry, results are generally valid for two years from the test date, and they need to be valid when you create your profile and when you submit your application. Plan your test date with your whole timeline in mind. Also be careful with score charts shared in groups: TEF Canada changed its scoring scale in December 2023, and outdated tables still circulate. Always use IRCC’s current table.

06How long does it take to reach NCLC 7?

NCLC 7 is often described as being close to the CEFR B2 level, although the two scales are not identical. Starting from zero, most learners need several hundred hours of guided study plus regular practice; commonly cited estimates for B2 are around 550 to 650 hours. Learners who already have some French get there faster, and people studying around a full-time job usually need more calendar time. A realistic plan looks like this:

1. Find your starting point with a level test, so you don’t repeat what you already know.
2. Build a solid foundation up to B1 with structured classes: grammar, everyday vocabulary and lots of listening.
3. Switch to exam-specific preparation for TEF Canada or TCF Canada, with timed mock tests and feedback on writing and speaking.
4. Book the real test when your mock results are consistently at NCLC 7 or above in every skill, not just on average.

Our TEF Canada course and TCF Canada course focus on the actual exam tasks, with regular correction of writing and speaking, which is where the 50 additional points are usually won or lost.

07A quick checklist before you book

• Estimate your CRS with and without French in the CRS calculator.
• Check that your English results are CLB 5 or higher in all four skills, which you need for the full 50 points.
• Confirm the current rules and point values on IRCC’s website.
• Choose a test date that keeps your results valid through your application.
• Aim a little above NCLC 7 in each skill to leave yourself a safety margin on exam day.