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Express Entry · Permanent residence · Citizenship

TEF Canada preparation with native French teachers

The TEF Canada is the French test of the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry, accepted by IRCC for Express Entry, permanent residence and citizenship. We prepare you for its four tests with live classes, timed practice and full mock exams, until your target CLB is within reach.

See the test format
  • Reading, listening, writing and speaking
  • The two speaking sections rehearsed with a teacher
  • Mock exams with a correction after each one

Test format

The four tests of the TEF Canada

All four tests are compulsory for IRCC. Since December 2023, each result is given on a scale of 0 to 699.

TestWhat you doTime
Reading (compréhension écrite)40 multiple-choice questions on everyday and professional documents60 min
Listening (compréhension orale)40 multiple-choice questions on recordings, answered in order40 min
Writing (expression écrite)Section A: continue a news article (80 words minimum). Section B: give and justify your point of view (200 words minimum)60 min
Speaking (expression orale)Section A: ask questions to obtain information. Section B: convince a friend, face to face with an examiner15 min

In writing, section A takes 25 minutes and section B 35 minutes. In speaking, section A lasts 5 minutes and section B 10 minutes.

Who takes the TEF Canada?

Candidates for permanent residence through Express Entry, applicants who want the extra points Express Entry gives for strong French, and people applying for Canadian citizenship who prove their language level with a test. The TEF Canada and the TCF Canada are the only two French tests IRCC accepts for these applications.

All four tests are compulsory for Express Entry. IRCC converts each result into a CLB (NCLC) level, skill by skill, with its official equivalence table.

What makes the TEF Canada different

The speaking test is a real conversation: in section A you call someone to get information about an advertisement, and in section B you try to convince a friend. Candidates who rehearse these two role-plays with a partner who pushes back do much better than those who only learn set phrases.

In writing, section A asks you to continue a news story in a neutral style, and section B to defend an opinion in a structured letter. Both are corrected on precise criteria that we teach you to meet.

What CLB do you need?

For the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the minimum is CLB 7 in each skill of your first official language, and Express Entry gives additional points to candidates who reach CLB 7 or higher in all four French skills. For citizenship, adults aged 18 to 54 need at least CLB 4 in speaking and listening.

We confirm your exact target during your free demo and turn it into a score to reach in each test.

TEF Canada or TCF Canada?

Both are accepted by IRCC for the same applications. The TEF Canada has two longer speaking sections and two writing sections; the TCF Canada has three shorter tasks in each. Choose the format that suits you and the test dates available near you.

Read more:TCF Canada preparation

Our method

How we prepare you for the TEF Canada

A native teacher for the tests that need a partner, and timed practice for the rest.

  1. A level test first

    Your free demo starts with an assessment of all four skills, so your plan starts from your real level.

  2. Role-plays with a real partner

    Your teacher plays the person you call and the friend you must convince, and pushes back like the examiner.

  3. Writing corrected on the criteria

    Articles and opinion letters written on the clock, corrected with the mistakes explained and a model to compare.

  4. Timed reading and listening

    Series of questions in exam timing, with every answer explained and your level after each attempt.

“Scored CLB 9 in speaking! Classes were structured, patient, and truly native. Practice felt like real-life conversations, exactly what I needed.”
Aarav SharmaTEF Canada candidateStudent review

FAQ

TEF Canada: your questions

Still have a question? Write to us

How long are TEF Canada results valid?

IRCC accepts results that are less than two years old when you create your Express Entry profile and when you submit your application for permanent residence.

Are all four TEF Canada tests compulsory?

For Express Entry and permanent residence, yes: IRCC needs a result in reading, listening, writing and speaking. For citizenship, IRCC looks at speaking and listening.

How long does it take to prepare?

From a B1 level, most students need 3 to 6 months of regular work to reach CLB 7. Higher targets take longer, mostly in speaking and writing. You get a personal timeline after your free demo.

Do you also prepare for the TCF Canada?

Yes. Both tests measure the same skills with different tasks. If you are not sure which one to take, we compare them with you during the free demo.

Keep exploring

Start with a free demo.

Meet a native teacher, find out your level and leave with a plan for your goal.

No commitment · 100% free demo