Who needs the TCF Canada?
You need an approved French test if you apply for permanent residence through Express Entry with French as your first or second official language, if you want the additional points Express Entry gives to strong French speakers, or if you apply for Canadian citizenship and prove your language skills with a test.
The TCF Canada and the TEF Canada are the only French tests IRCC accepts for these applications. Both measure the same four skills; the TCF Canada scores listening and reading out of 699, and writing and speaking out of 20.
What CLB do you need?
For the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the minimum is CLB 7 in each of the four skills of your first official language. Express Entry also gives additional points to candidates who reach CLB 7 or higher in all four French skills, and IRCC regularly holds draws reserved for candidates with strong French.
For citizenship, adults aged 18 to 54 need at least CLB 4 in speaking and listening.
Your exact target depends on your program and your profile. We confirm it with you during the free demo, then turn it into a score to reach in each test.
How long does it take to prepare?
It depends on where you start. A learner who is already around B1 usually needs 3 to 6 months of steady work (3 to 4 sessions a week) to reach CLB 7. Going from CLB 7 to CLB 9 often takes a few more months, mostly spent on speaking and writing.
The fastest progress comes from practising the exact tasks of the test: we time you, correct you on the official criteria and show you what to change before the next attempt.
TCF Canada or TEF Canada?
Both are accepted by IRCC for the same applications. The TCF Canada has three tasks in writing and in speaking, with a shorter speaking test; the TEF Canada has two longer speaking sections and two writing sections. Many candidates choose based on the test dates available near them.
Read more:TEF Canada preparation
