The 4 sections
| Section | Format | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Compréhension écrite (reading) | 40 multiple choice questions | 60 min |
| Compréhension orale (listening) | 40 multiple choice questions | 40 min |
| Expression écrite (writing) | 2 sections: 80 words minimum, then 200 words minimum | 60 min |
| Expression orale (speaking) | 2 sections: getting information, then convincing | 15 min |
Total: 2 hours 55. The TEF Canada and the TCF Canada are the two French tests IRCC accepts for Express Entry.
The writing section
- Section A (25 minutes): continue a news article, at least 80 words.
- Section B (35 minutes): argue to defend a point of view, at least 200 words.
The speaking section
- Section A (5 minutes): get information from the examiner.
- Section B (10 minutes): convince the person you are talking to.
Scores and NCLC
IRCC converts each skill to an NCLC level using the « Équivalence ancien score » column of your results. The « Score / 699 » column is not accepted. For immigration, your weakest skill is the level that counts.
| NCLC | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 and above | 393 to 450 | 316 to 360 | 263 to 300 | 393 to 450 |
| 9 | 371 to 392 | 298 to 315 | 248 to 262 | 371 to 392 |
| 8 | 349 to 370 | 280 to 297 | 233 to 247 | 349 to 370 |
| 7 | 310 to 348 | 249 to 279 | 207 to 232 | 310 to 348 |
| 6 | 271 to 309 | 217 to 248 | 181 to 206 | 271 to 309 |
| 5 | 226 to 270 | 181 to 216 | 151 to 180 | 226 to 270 |
| 4 | 181 to 225 | 145 to 180 | 121 to 150 | 181 to 225 |
How to practise
The skills assessed are the same as in the TCF: understanding written and spoken documents, writing a structured text, arguing out loud. Our practice sets follow the TCF format, but they train these same skills from A1 to C2.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the TEF Canada?+−
2 hours 55 in total: reading 60 minutes, listening 40 minutes, writing 60 minutes, speaking 15 minutes.
What TEF Canada score do I need for NCLC 7?+−
According to IRCC's chart: speaking 310 to 348, listening 249 to 279, reading 207 to 232, writing 310 to 348. These are the scores in the « Équivalence ancien score » column of your results.
Which TEF Canada score does IRCC use?+−
IRCC only accepts the « Équivalence ancien score » column. The « Score / 699 » column is not compatible with its NCLC conversion.
TEF Canada or TCF Canada?+−
IRCC accepts both for Express Entry. The TEF Canada has 40 questions per comprehension section and 2 sections in writing and speaking; the TCF Canada has 39 questions and 3 tasks in writing and speaking. Choose based on the dates and test centres available near you.