TEF
Created in 1998 by the Paris Ile-de-France CCI, the Test d’Evaluation de Français (TEF) is an international benchmark test that measures your level of knowledge and skills in French.
For immigration and citizenship application procedures, the Federal Government of Canada requests proof of the applicants’ linguistic knowledge of French.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has recognized the TEF for these purposes since 2002. The TEF format that applies to these procedures is TEF Canada.
You must take the following tests for a Canadian immigration application:
You must take the following examinations for a Canadian citizenship application:
Please note! All tests must be completed on the same day for your certificate to be recognized by Canadian authorities.
The TEF Intégration, Résidence, Nationalité is recognised by the French Ministry for the Interior and is indispensable for anyone applying to the French State for a resident card or a naturalisation.
It is designed to measure the level of oral/written comprehension and oral/written expression in French.
The TEF IRN consists of four mandatory examinations: Written comprehension, Oral comprehension, Written expression, Oral expression.
There are 4 compulsory parts:
WRITTEN COMPREHENSION
Computer-based
13 multiple choice questions (30 minutes).
ORAL COMPREHENSION
Computer-based
17 multiple choice questions (10 minutes).
WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Computer-based
2 topics to be covered in 30 minutes.
ORAL EXPRESSION
Face to face with an examiner
2 topics to be covered in 5 minutes each, 10 minutes in total.
Total test duration: 1 hr20 mins
In the framework of immigration procedures in Quebec, the Quebec Ministry for Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) requests proof of the applicants’ linguistic knowledge of French. For these procedures, it recognizes the TEF Québec (TEFAQ) examination.
The TEFAQ is also recognized by IRCC to apply for Canadian citizenship citizenship (more information on this page).
The TEF Québec (TEFAQ) examination consists of four tests:
Oral comprehension: 40 min – 40 questions
Oral expression: 15 min – 2 topics
Written comprehension: 60 min – 40 questions
Written expression: 60 min – 2 topics
As principal applicant, your knowledge of French must be at minimum level 7 (advanced intermediate) of the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes (in French) or equivalent (level 2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) to obtain points.
Depending of the immigration program you are applying, your spouse’s oral knowledge of French may be assessed. In this case, his/her knowledge of French must be at minimum level 4.
The TEF is a modular test. Depending on your objective and the steps you take, you should register for the TEF version that includes the tests you need.
Reading comprehension: 60 min – 40 questions
Oral comprehension: 40 min – 40 questions
Written expression: 60 min – 2 subjects to be covered
Vocabulary and syntax: 30 min – 40 questions
Oral expression: 15 min – 2 subjects to be covered
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5 optional parts |
RM330 |
|
4 optional parts |
RM330 |
|
4 compulsory parts |
RM875 |
|
4 compulsory parts |
RM1100 |
TESTS |
EXAM DATES |
REGISTRATION DEADLINES |
|
TEF, TEFAQ, TEF Canada, TEF IRN |
3 February 2025 | 3 January 2025 |
|
TEF, TEFAQ, TEF Canada, TEF IRN |
4 April 2025 | 4 March 2025 |
|
TEF, TEFAQ, TEF Canada, TEF IRN |
19 May 2025 |
19 April 2025 |
|
TEF, TEFAQ, TEF Canada, TEF IRN |
22 September 2025 | 22 August 2025 |
|
TEF, TEFAQ, TEF Canada, TEF IRN |
3 November 2025 | 3 October 2025 |
|
TEF, TEFAQ, TEF Canada, TEF IRN |
1 December 2025 | 1 November 2025 |
Note:
Sessions out of the listed dates can be arranged upon request (subject to availability), for more information kindly contact our Exam Coordinator .
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You can register in person, with all the necessary documents, in our Lorong Gurney centre. We recommend you to contact us first (03 2694 7880) to check that our office will be open when you come. You can pay by cash, cheque and credit or debit card (kindly note that AMEX & DINERS are not accepted).
Use the tutorials to
familiarise yourself with the oral comprehension and expression sections of the TEF (in French).
Familiarise yourself with the test format using the sample
papers available
in this section.
Register for training online in collaboration with PrepMyTEF.
Train yourself for the various Tests for Evaluating French (TEFs) using the Français
3.0 mobile application.
Got questions? Find it here.
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