Levels guide
CEFR French levels explained: A1 to C2
The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) grades French across six levels in three bands: A1 and A2 for basic users, B1 and B2 for independent users, and C1 and C2 for proficient users. It is the scale every French qualification is described in. DELF certifies A1 to B2 and DALF certifies C1 and C2. For Canadian immigration the level that matters is B2, because NCLC 7 — the Express Entry threshold — corresponds to roughly a solid B2. VOCALE teaches A1 through B2, typically 10 to 12 months in Group Classes or 6 to 8 months one-on-one.
- Levels
- 6 (A1–C2)
- VOCALE teaches
- A1 → B2
- NCLC 7 ≈
- Solid B2
- A1 → B2
- 10–12 months
What are the six CEFR levels?
The six levels describe what you can do with the language, not how many words or rules you have memorised. They are grouped in three bands of two.
| Level | Band | What it certifies |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Basic user | Simple everyday phrases, introductions, concrete needs. |
| A2 | Basic user | Routine exchanges, simple descriptions of your background and surroundings. |
| B1 | Independent user | Handles travel, work and study situations, and can give reasons and opinions. |
| B2 | Independent user | Argues a point of view, follows complex text, holds fluent spontaneous conversation. |
| C1 | Proficient user | Fluent and flexible for academic and professional life. |
| C2 | Proficient user | Near-native precision and ease with implicit meaning. |
B2 is the level that unlocks things
A1 and A2 get you through daily transactions. B1 gets you working. B2 is where French starts paying for itself — it is the immigration threshold, the level universities and employers ask for, and the point at which you argue and follow nuance rather than survive.
Which CEFR level do you actually need?
The honest answer for most people is B2, and pushing past it is optional. What you need depends on why you are learning.
- Canadian immigration (Express Entry) — you need NCLC 7 in all four skills, which is roughly a solid B2. Above that adds no further French bonus.
- A permanent proof of level — sit the DELF at the level you have reached. A2 and B1 are common milestones; B2 is the one that carries weight.
- Study or work in French — B2 is the usual floor, C1 for demanding academic or professional settings.
- Travel and conversation — A2 covers routine exchanges; B1 is where conversation stops being effortful.
The VOCALE curriculum runs A1 through B2 for exactly this reason: it ends where the requirements that people actually have end. DALF C1 and C2 sit above the current program.
How do CEFR, NCLC and the French exams line up?
Three scales get used interchangeably and they are not the same thing. CEFR is the level description. NCLC is the Canadian scale IRCC uses, running 1 to 12. TEF and TCF are tests that report scores IRCC converts into NCLC levels. DELF and DALF are diplomas awarded directly at a CEFR level.
| Qualification | Level it proves | Valid for | Accepted for immigration |
|---|---|---|---|
| DELF A1–B2 | CEFR A1, A2, B1 or B2 directly | Life | No |
| DALF C1–C2 | CEFR C1 or C2 directly | Life | No |
| TEF Canada | Converted to an NCLC level | 2 years | Yes |
| TCF Canada | Converted to an NCLC level | 2 years | Yes |
The trap: a lifetime diploma IRCC will not take
DELF and DALF never expire, which makes them sound like the safer investment. They are not accepted by IRCC. If your goal is permanent residence you need TEF Canada or TCF Canada, and you need the result to be under two years old both when you create your Express Entry profile and when you submit your PR application.
NCLC 7, the Express Entry threshold, corresponds to roughly a solid CEFR B2 and must be reached in all four skills at once. The exact raw scores are on the TEF Canada guide and the TCF Canada guide; if you have not chosen a test yet, start with TEF or TCF Canada.
How long does it take to go from A1 to B2?
For a complete beginner reaching B2, VOCALE students typically take 10 to 12 months in Group Classes or 6 to 8 months in Intensive 1-on-1. Both programs run 20 to 22 one-hour live classes per month, Monday to Friday; the difference is how much of each hour is yours.
| Program | Price | Format | Typical A1 → B2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Classes | 200 CAD / month | 20–22 classes/month · groups of 4–5 | 10–12 months |
| Intensive 1-on-1 | 300 CAD / month | 20–22 classes/month · dedicated private tutor | 6–8 months |
| Free trial class | 0 CAD | One live class, no credit card required | — |
Those are the figures for the full A1 to B2 span rather than per-level estimates, because progress through the middle levels varies far more between students than the total does. Where you actually start matters more than any published timeline — which is what the free trial class establishes.
All prices in Canadian Dollars. No hidden fees, cancel anytime.
How do you find out your current CEFR level?
Self-assessment is unreliable in both directions: people who have studied grammar for years often overrate themselves, and people who can hold a conversation often underrate themselves. A short live conversation with a tutor settles it quickly.
- 1
Request the free trial class
Use the form on the homepage. VOCALE replies within 24 hours to schedule it, and no credit card is required at any point to take the trial.
- 2
Get placed across all four skills
A certified tutor assesses listening, reading, writing and speaking separately rather than giving one overall guess. Split levels are normal — strong comprehension with weaker production is the most common pattern.
- 3
Map the route to your target level
B2 if you are heading for NCLC 7 and Canadian immigration, or whichever DELF level you want to certify permanently. Knowing the gap in skills, not months, is what makes the plan real.
- 4
Choose the program that fits the timeline
Group Classes at 200 CAD per month cover A1 to B2 in a typical 10 to 12 months; Intensive 1-on-1 at 300 CAD per month does it in a typical 6 to 8. You start from the level you were placed at, not from scratch.
Programs start at A1, which assumes no prior French at all, so a genuine beginner is not disadvantaged by the placement.
Frequently asked questions
What CEFR level is fluent French?
B2 is the level most people mean by fluent: you argue a point of view, follow complex text and hold fluent spontaneous conversation. C1 and C2 go further into academic and near-native precision, but B2 is the level that satisfies immigration thresholds and most study and work requirements.
What CEFR level is NCLC 7?
NCLC 7 corresponds to roughly a solid CEFR B2, and it has to be reached in all four skills at the same time. It is the threshold that earns the Express Entry French bonus, and it is the ceiling of the VOCALE curriculum, which runs A1 through B2.
How long does it take to reach B2 in French?
From a complete beginner, VOCALE students typically reach B2 in 10 to 12 months in Group Classes or 6 to 8 months in Intensive 1-on-1. Both run 20 to 22 one-hour live classes per month, Monday to Friday.
Which CEFR level do I need for Canadian immigration?
Roughly a solid B2, expressed as NCLC 7 in all four skills on TEF Canada or TCF Canada. Going beyond NCLC 7 does not add further French points, so B2 is the target rather than a starting point.
Do DELF and DALF prove a CEFR level?
Yes, directly and for life. DELF is awarded at A1, A2, B1 or B2 and DALF at C1 or C2, and neither ever expires. They are not accepted by IRCC for immigration, though — that requires TEF Canada or TCF Canada, whose results expire after two years.
Can a complete beginner start at A1 with VOCALE?
Yes. Programs start at CEFR A1, which assumes no prior French at all. You speak French from the first class, and tutors explain in whichever language keeps the lesson moving.
Does VOCALE teach C1 and C2?
The published curriculum covers CEFR A1 through B2, which maps onto DELF A1, A2, B1 and B2 and covers the NCLC 7 immigration threshold. DALF C1 and C2 sit above the current program.
Find out your real CEFR level in one free class
A certified tutor places you across all four skills and maps the route from there to B2. No credit card required.
Group Classes 200 CAD/month · Intensive 1-on-1 300 CAD/month · Cancel anytime