Is learning French worth it for the extra points, and what level do I need?

For many people, yes — French is one of the biggest point boosters left in the system. Strong French results (generally NCLC 7 or higher in all abilities) can add significant bonus points on top of your English scores, and French speakers also qualify for French-language category draws, which often have their own cutoffs. Reaching NCLC 7 takes real study time, usually many months, but the payoff can be larger than almost any other single improvement.