What is the TCF exam?

The Test de Connaissance du Français, or TCF, is an exam which assesses a candidate’s aptitude in French. It was launched in 2002, and is designed to assess the French skills of non-native speakers aged 16 and above for professional, academic and immigration purposes.

The TCF was developed and is administered by France Éducation International (formerly Centre international d'études pédagogiques) on behalf of the French Ministry of Education. It is recognised by government and immigration authorities in France and Quebec, as well as universities in Francophone countries across the world.

People take the TCF exam for a few different reasons:

• Immigration, citizenship, permanent residency - In France, applicants may need to take the TCF IRN when applying for nationality or a residence permit. In Canada, the TCF Canada is accepted by the federal government as proof of proficiency for citizenship, Express Entry and various Provincial Nominee Programmes
• University admission - Certain degrees or exchange programmes may require applicants to provide proof of French proficiency equivalent to a CEFR level, which the TCF can be used for
• Employment - Many employers accept TCF results as proof of proficiency, particularly in sectors like Travel & Tourism and International Business

The TCF is graded according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or CEFR. After completing the exam, a candidate will be given a score which corresponds to a CEFR level ranging from A1 (beginner) to C2 (advanced), indicating their overall ability to understand and use French in real-life situations.

For the compréhension orale and compréhension écrite sections of the exam (as well as structures de la langue, which appears on some versions of the TCF) there is a maximum score of 699. Each score maps onto the CEFR roughly in the following way:

• 100–199 = A1
• 200–299 = A2
• 300–399 = B1
• 400–499 = B2
• 500–599 = C1
• 600–699 = C2

There are four sections for the TCF exam, with the exception of TCF Tout Public, which has an additional fifth section on Grammar Comprehension. Each section corresponds to a different assessment area. They are structured as follows:

Compréhension orale (Listening Comprehension)

• You will listen to audio recordings, such as everyday conversations, announcements and interviews, and answer multiple-choice questions based on them. Each recording is played only once.

Compréhension écrite (Reading Comprehension)

• You will read a variety of excerpts such as signs, emails, articles and advertisements, as well as longer informational or opinion-based texts, and are expected to answer multiple-choice questions about the texts.

Maîtrise des structures de la langue (Grammar Comprehension) - (Only TCF Tout Public)

• You are expected to answer multiple-choice questions on grammar and vocabulary

Expression écrite (Written Expression)

• You will typically have to perform three tasks for this section. The first involves writing a note, email or simple message. For the second, you will be asked to write a piece of informational or descriptive writing. For the third, you will have to write a piece, such as a news column or email, which compares two different viewpoints on a social issue, giving your own opinion on the topic

Expression orale (Oral Expression)

• You will typically have to perform three tasks for this section. The first is an interview in which you will have to answer personal questions. The second is a role-play, in which you will have to enact a real-life situation such as booking a hotel. In the third, you will be expected to express an opinion in the form of a spoken presentation. You will be allowed time to prepare before the second task but not the third

What is the difference between the TCF and the TEF?

While the TCF is administered by France Éducation international, the TEF (Test d’évaluation de français) is administered by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris Île-de-France (CCI Paris). The main differences between the two are in the format and structure of the tasks.

In the writing and speaking sections of the TCF, for instance, you will be expected to undertake three tasks each. In the TEF, you are only expected to undertake two.

In the reading and listening sections, however, there are typically more questions to answer in the TEF than in the TCF. In the TEF, the listening and written excerpts you are expected to engage with are also generally longer than in the TCF.

If you plan on taking the TEF Canada exam, make sure to check out our TEF Preparation Course, which provides lifetime access to hundreds of practice exercises, grammar support guides and video tutorials as well as two hours of expert speaking practice and expert feedback on two writing submissions.

How long are TCF results valid for?

As with the TEF exam, TCF results are valid for two years from the date you receive them.