TEF vs IELTS: French or English for Express Entry?

IRCC runs category-based Express Entry draws that specifically target French-speaking candidates. In Q1 2026, these draws had CRS cut-offs between 393 and 400 — roughly 100 points lower than general draws. Over 18,000 invitations were issued to French-proficient candidates in that period alone.

This means a candidate with moderate French skills and a CRS score of 400 could receive an ITA through a French-language draw, while the same candidate without French would need a CRS of 500+ to be invited through a general draw.

The federal government has committed to reaching 9% Francophone immigration outside Quebec. As long as this target exists, French-language draws will continue — making French proficiency one of the highest-leverage factors in the Express Entry system.

French makes strategic sense if any of the following apply:

• Your CRS is below 500. General draw cut-offs have hovered around 500-530 throughout 2025-2026. If your score is in the 400-480 range, French-language draws are a realistic path that general draws are not.
• You already have some French. If you studied French in school, grew up in a Francophone country, or can hold basic conversations, reaching CLB 7 may take 3-6 months rather than 12+ months.
• You have time before your profile expires. Express Entry profiles are valid for 12 months. If you have 6+ months remaining, investing in French preparation could transform your chances.
• You plan to settle in a bilingual region. Ottawa, New Brunswick, and parts of Ontario and Manitoba have strong Francophone communities. French is directly useful for your life in Canada.
• You want the bilingual bonus. Submitting both TEF and IELTS — showing proficiency in both languages — adds up to 24 extra CRS points with no other changes to your profile.

French as your first official language

If your French is stronger than your English, TEF/TCF scores count as your first official language. CLB 9 or 10 in all four skills earns the maximum 136 CRS points for language. This is the same maximum available through IELTS — the only difference is which language gets you there.

French as your second official language

If English is your primary language and you add French results, you can earn up to 24 additional CRS points. The thresholds:

• CLB 5-6 in all four French skills: up to 4 additional points
• CLB 7-8 in all four French skills: up to 16 additional points
• CLB 9+ in all four French skills: up to 24 additional points

French-language category draws

Beyond CRS points, strong French scores make you eligible for French-language category-based draws. These draws have consistently lower CRS cut-offs than general rounds — often by 100+ points. This is the single largest strategic advantage French provides.

Both are equally accepted by IRCC. The choice depends on format preference and local availability:

• TEF Canada: Fixed-difficulty questions across all sections. 40 listening + 40 reading questions. 2 writing tasks, 2 speaking tasks. Administered by CCI Paris.
• TCF Canada: Progressive difficulty — questions start easy and get harder. 39 listening + 39 reading questions. 3 writing tasks, 3 speaking tasks. Administered by France Education International.

If you are unsure, take our free French placement test to estimate your current level, then explore both exam formats on our TEF Canada and TCF Canada pages.