Know about TEF Certification

Do you want to study or work in Canada?

Do you wish to immigrate to Canada?

Do you want to obtain Canadian citizenship?

Do you wish to procure admission into French-medium universities in France?

If your answer is YES, then you will need the TEF Canada certification.

TEF Canada stands for Test d’Évaluation de Français and allows you to assess your French language skills to enter a university or work in a Canadian company.

Created in 1998 by the French Language Centre of the CCI Paris Ile-de-France, the TEF (Test d’Evaluation de Français) is an international benchmark test of general French that measures a person’s French language proficiency of people who are not native French speakers.

The TEF Canada is a mandatory test in the context of economic immigration programs that require proof of language skills, at the request of Canadian Citizenship and Immigration to Canada.

The test is administered by the Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris (CCIP).

The overall objective of the TEF is to measure the level of the candidates' knowledge, linguistic and communications skills in French.

The TEF test is available in 2 formats, a paper format (TEF) and an online format (e-TEF).

Results are valid for two years.

The TEF is officially recognized by :

• the French Ministry of Education
• the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation
• the French Ministry of the Interior
• the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada
• the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration
• the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration

The Canadian government also accepts it for various Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), start-up visa programs, and applying as a self-employed worker.

TEF Exam Format

The TEF Canada consists of 4 modules: listening, speaking, reading and/or writing.

• Compréhension écrite (reading)
• Compréhension orale (listening)
• Expression écrite (writing)
• Expression orale (speaking)

 The TEF test (e-TEF) consists of 2 components:

Compulsory Sections (2h 10 min)

• Written comprehension (1h)
• Listening comprehension (40 min)
• Vocabulary and Structures (30 min)

Optional Sections

• Written expression (1h)
• Oral expression (35 min per candidate)

Note: For Quebec immigration, the Canadian Federal Government requires candidates to take both compulsory & optional sections. Refer to TEFAQ.

For immigration to Canada, a candidate must take all of the 4 sections (2 hours 55 minutes):

• Reading Comprehension (60 minutes) – 50 questions – 300 points
• Listening Comprehension (40 minutes) – 60 questions – 360 points
• Written Expression (60 minutes) – 2 topics – 450 points
• Oral Expression (15 minutes per candidate) – 2 topics – 450 points

Hence results for the 4 skills listed above are expected by the Immigration Canada (CIC- Canadian Federal Government). The minimum level required is level 7 (level B2 of the Common European Framework for Languages).

For Canadian citizenship, a candidate must take the below 2 sections (55 minutes):

• Listening Comprehension (40 minutes) – 60 questions – 360 points
• Oral Expression (15 minutes per candidate) – 2 topics – 450 points

TEF Test Registration

Did you know?

• The TEF/e-TEF test can be taken anytime throughout the year.
• Approved TEF Test Centres are allowed to hold as many examination sessions as they wish in the last 10 days of each month.
• You don't need to have any previous qualification/certificate in French to take the TEF exams.
• You can take the TEF test as many times as you like. However, there must be a gap of 2 months between examination sessions.
• Your TEF certificate is only valid for 2 years.
• Your TEF certificate will usually be available approximately 20 days after you took the test. You should collect it from the test centre at which you took the TEFaQ exam.

Contact your nearby Approved TEF Test Centre to get more specific information about the following:

• the dates of examination sessions
• the registration procedure
• the examination centre location
• the examination fee

Results

An official certificate of results will be delivered to each candidate. Each certificate is detailed and personalised. For each module, the certificate will show the score obtained, the level of proficiency reached as well as a commentary of the skills in general French.

The results will be sent 4 to 6 weeks after the exam date by email and postal mail (TEF et eTEF), by email only (TEFAQ et eTEFAQ).

Academic degrees are not required to take the TEF Canada. Candidates may take the test several times, allowing a minimum of 60 days between two exam sessions.

e-TEF

• The TEF Canada exam is a computer-based version (e-TEF Canada) of the reading, listening and writing modules; a limited number of candidates. Basic computer skills are required for the e-TEF Canada (use of a mouse).

Reference Links

https://www.lefrancaisdesaffaires.fr/tests-diplomes/test-evaluation-francais-tef/tef-canada/

https://www.lefrancaisdesaffaires.fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Grille-interpretation-des-niveaux-CECR-TEF.pdf

https://www.studyfrenchspanish.com/tcf-tef-canada/

https://itsfrenchjuice.com/2019/09/21/what-is-tef-canada-for-immigration/

https://www.frenchfaster.com/what-is-tef-test