Can I take the TEF exam as a beginner?

The TEF exam tests a candidate's proficiency in French, and is typically undertaken by applicants to immigration programmes in French-speaking countries. There are different TEF exams for different purposes. For instance, TEF IRN is recommended for applicants who wish to move to France, while TEF Canada is for those who want to apply to an immigration programme in Canada. The results of the TEF are only valid for up to two years.

While anyone is free to take the TEF exam, regardless of their French level, it is recommended that candidates are able to command an advanced level of French before taking the exam if they wish to achieve the scores required for their desired residency or work permit. However, even if you are not taking it for the purposes of immigration, it is a useful barometer of an applicant's aptitude in French.

The scores you can receive on the TEF exam correspond to NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) levels ranking from 1 to 12, and most schemes require a high level (although a lower level can sometimes be accepted if certain other criteria are met). For example, a result corresponding to NCLC level 5 or higher is required for an applicant who wishes to apply for Canada’s Federal Skilled Trades programme.

You can see the equivalence between the NCLC and CEFR levels in the table below.

A beginner with no prior knowledge of French should work their way up to the requisite level, starting at NCLC level 1. This is equivalent to level A1 of the CEFR. Completion of A1 level French will introduce learners to the basics of the language, such as being able to read elementary French texts, understand present tense conjugations, numbers, dates and other simple aspects of grammar and vocabulary.

Before taking the TEF exam, you should ensure that your French is at B1 level of the CEFR at least, and that you are well acquainted with the materials likely to be found on the TEF exam.

To progress through the different levels of the CEFR, we strongly recommend signing up to our Complete French Course. This CPD-certified course encompasses 40 comprehensive video lessons across six modules, designed to take learners from A1 (beginner) to C2 (proficient) level. Each lesson includes a core tutorial video, exercise and supplementary videos, quizzes, downloadable audio, and support guides. The course also provides access to hundreds of vocabulary and verb audio lists, and end‑of‑level assessments which provide users with CPD‑accredited certificates upon completion.

To prepare effectively for the TEF exam, we suggest signing up to the TEF Preparation Course. The course includes hundreds of practice exercises, videos, and support guides tailored to each exam section - listening, reading, writing, and speaking. You also get 2 hours of live speaking practice with a TEF expert and feedback on two writing submissions, with options to add more. Unlike the Complete French Course, the TEF Preparation Course is not subscription‑based - you purchase it once and receive lifetime access.

Both courses give users access to Alexa's monthly exclusive live lessons on YouTube, as well as the entire back catalogue of over 200 previous live lessons.

You can also receive access to both courses for a discount as part of the CFC + TEF bundle. Find out more on the website.