French Fluency & Test Prep: TEF/TCF-style skills

Know your test: TEF Canada and TCF Canada

In simple words

A language test is like a driving test for your French. Before you practise, you need to know which test you are taking and what the examiner will ask, so you train for the right road.

Before this course: French Conversation: everyday and work French (course 6.5.2). You can already use the present, the passé composé, the imparfait and the futur proche, ask questions, make negatives and handle a phone call and an email at work. This course takes you from "I can get by" to "I can argue, explain and pass a test".

Key facts

Two French tests are used for Canadian immigration: the TEF Canada (Test d'évaluation de français, from Le français des affaires, part of CCI Paris Île-de-France) and the TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français, from France Éducation international).
Both tests check four skills: compréhension orale (listening), compréhension écrite (reading), expression écrite (writing) and expression orale (speaking).

TEF Canada section	Format	Time
Compréhension écrite (reading)	40 multiple-choice questions	1 hour
Compréhension orale (listening)	40 multiple-choice questions	40 minutes
Expression écrite (writing)	Section A: continue an article (at least 80 words). Section B: give and justify your point of view (at least 200 words)	1 hour (25 + 35 minutes)
Expression orale (speaking)	Section A: obtain information. Section B: argue to convince	15 minutes (5 + 10 minutes)

The TCF Canada also tests listening, reading, writing and speaking. Its format (number of questions, tasks and times) is published by France Éducation international: check its official TCF Canada page for the current format before you practise.
A TEF Canada results certificate is valid for 2 years from the date it is issued. For any test, check how long your results stay valid on the official page.
For the TEF Canada, the four sections must be taken on the same day for the certificate to be recognized by Canadian authorities.
Canada converts French test scores to the NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens), the French version of the Canadian Language Benchmarks you met in course 6.7. Based on IRCC's equivalency chart, TCF Canada listening and reading are scored up to 699, and speaking and writing out of 20.
Outside Canadian immigration, France Éducation international also runs the DELF and DALF, France's official diplomas in French as a foreign language. Always ask your school, employer or government office which test it accepts.
The levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) go from A1 to C2. B2 and C1 are the "upper levels" this course aims at.

In your country

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) accepts the TEF Canada and the TCF Canada as proof of French for Express Entry. Results must be less than 2 years old when you create your profile and when you apply for permanent residence.
For Canadian citizenship, the TEF Canada needs only the listening and speaking sections.
Source: IRCC, Express Entry language testing: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-c
Source: Le français des affaires, TEF Canada: www.lefrancaisdesaffaires.fr/tests-diplomes/test-evaluation-francais-t

Example (dialogue at a test centre)

A: "Bonjour, je voudrais m'inscrire au TEF Canada. Quelles sont les prochaines dates?" (Hello, I would like to register for the TEF Canada. What are the next dates?)
B: "La prochaine session aura lieu le 14 mars. Vous passez le test pour quelle raison?" (The next session will take place on March 14. Why are you taking the test?)
A: "Pour une demande d'immigration." (For an immigration application.)
B: "Dans ce cas, vous passerez les quatre épreuves le même jour." (In that case, you will take the four sections on the same day.)
A: "Parfait. Est-ce que je peux payer en ligne?" (Perfect. Can I pay online?)
B: "Oui, vous recevrez un lien par courriel." (Yes, you will receive a link by email.)

Step by step

Write your goal in one sentence: school, job, professional licence, immigration or citizenship.
Find out which test your goal accepts, on the official page of the school, employer or government office.
Open the official page of that test and write down the four sections, the time for each and the number of questions or tasks.
Write down the score or level you need for each skill (for Canadian immigration, the NCLC level).
Note how long your results stay valid (2 years for a TEF Canada certificate), and plan your test date around your application.
Check: you can name your test, its four sections and the score you are aiming for, without looking.

Watch on YouTube

French tests for Canada immigration: TEF Canada and TCF CanadaFrench for Canada · YouTube · youtube.com

Videos by other creators on YouTube, for reference. They are not made by or affiliated with The Future Market.

LESSON 01Know your test: TEF Canada and TCF Canada

LESSON 01 / ANIMATED LESSON / AI VOICE00:00 / 01:15

Voice

Read the video script

[Host] "Before you study for a French test, make sure it's the right test."
[Text on screen: TEF Canada / TCF Canada] "For Canadian immigration, there are two: the TEF Canada and the TCF Canada."
[Text on screen: Listening / Reading / Writing / Speaking] "Both test four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking."
[Text on screen: Results expire] "Results do not last forever. A TEF Canada certificate is valid for two years, so plan your date."
[Host] "Write down your test, your four sections and your target score. That is your map for this course."

Try it now

Make a one-page "test card": the name of your test, the four sections with times, the score you need, the date you want to take it, and the official page you used.

ClaudeStuck? Copy a ready-made prompt for Claude

Copy this, open Claude, paste it, and Claude will walk you through the lesson step by step.

For a grown-up: Claude is for adults (18+). Copy this, paste it into Claude, and use the answer to explain the lesson to your child.

I'm learning "French Fluency & Test Prep: TEF/TCF-style skills" on The Future Market. Lesson 1: "Know your test: TEF Canada and TCF Canada".

What the lesson teaches:
- Two French tests are used for Canadian immigration: the TEF Canada (Test d'évaluation de français, from Le français des affaires, part of CCI Paris Île-de-France) and the TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français, from France Éducation international).
- Both tests check four skills: compréhension orale (listening), compréhension écrite (reading), expression écrite (writing) and expression orale (speaking).
- TEF Canada section - Format - Time
- Compréhension écrite (reading) - 40 multiple-choice questions - 1 hour
- Compréhension orale (listening) - 40 multiple-choice questions - 40 minutes
- Expression écrite (writing) - Section A: continue an article (at least 80 words). Section B: give and justify your point of view (at least 200 words) - 1 hour (25 + 35 minutes)
- Expression orale (speaking) - Section A: obtain information. Section B: argue to convince - 15 minutes (5 + 10 minutes)

The exercise I'm working on:
Make a one-page "test card": the name of your test, the four sections with times, the score you need, the date you want to take it, and the official page you used.

I'm stuck. Please:
1. Explain the main idea in plain, simple words with one everyday example.
2. Walk me through the exercise one small step at a time. Ask me what I've done so far before giving the next step.
3. Don't just give me the final answer. Help me do it myself, and check my work when I share it.

I'm a parent helping my child (about 8 years old) with a lesson called "Know your test: TEF Canada and TCF Canada" from the course "French Fluency & Test Prep: TEF/TCF-style skills".

Here's what the lesson says:
A language test is like a driving test for your French. Before you practise, you need to know which test you are taking and what the examiner will ask, so you train for the right road.

The activity:
Make a one-page "test card": the name of your test, the four sections with times, the score you need, the date you want to take it, and the official page you used.

Please explain this so an 8-year-old understands: short sentences, a fun everyday example, and no hard words.
Then give me 3 simple questions I can ask my child to check they understood, and a way to do the activity together, one tiny step at a time.

Open Claude

Sources

IRCC, Express Entry language testing: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-c
Le français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France), TEF Canada: www.lefrancaisdesaffaires.fr/tests-diplomes/test-evaluation-francais-t
Council of Europe, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages

My notes

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