TEF Canada: format, scores, NCLC and how to prepare
Updated 2026-10-18. Figures come from the official pages linked at the end; check them before you book or apply.
The TEF Canada is the French test run by Le français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France) and accepted by IRCC for economic immigration and citizenship. It has four parts: listening (40 questions, 40 min, scored out of 360), reading (40 questions, 60 min, out of 300), writing (2 tasks, 60 min, out of 450) and speaking (2 tasks, 15 min, out of 450). Each score converts to an NCLC level.
What is the format of the TEF Canada?
The four parts below are all required for an Express Entry profile. The scale differs from one part to another, which is why you should never compare raw TEF scores across abilities: convert them to NCLC first.
| Part | Format | Duration | Score scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening comprehension | 40 questions | 40 min | 0 to 360 |
| Reading comprehension | 40 questions | 60 min | 0 to 300 |
| Written expression | 2 tasks | 60 min | 0 to 450 |
| Oral expression | 2 tasks with an examiner | 15 min | 0 to 450 |
Compared with the TCF Canada, the TEF Canada has fewer but longer expression tasks: two written productions instead of three, and two speaking tasks over fifteen minutes instead of three over twelve.
How do TEF Canada scores convert to NCLC levels?
This is the current IRCC equivalence grid. IRCC notes that a temporary change applied to TEF Canada tests taken between December 11, 2023 and May 6, 2024 has been reverted; the grid below is the one in force.
| NCLC | Speaking (/450) | Listening (/360) | Reading (/300) | Writing (/450) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 393–450 | 316–360 | 263–300 | 393–450 |
| 9 | 371–392 | 298–315 | 248–262 | 371–392 |
| 8 | 349–370 | 280–297 | 233–247 | 349–370 |
| 7 | 310–348 | 249–279 | 207–232 | 310–348 |
| 6 | 271–309 | 217–248 | 181–206 | 271–309 |
| 5 | 226–270 | 181–216 | 151–180 | 226–270 |
| 4 | 181–225 | 145–180 | 121–150 | 181–225 |
The NCLC calculator applies this grid to your scores and tells you which ability keeps you under NCLC 7.
What do the two speaking tasks ask?
In the first task you obtain information from the examiner, who plays a role (a service, an organiser, a seller): you lead the exchange by asking precise questions. In the second you try to convince the examiner to do something, with arguments and answers to objections. Both tasks reward initiative, clear questions and the ability to keep a conversation going; our speaking practice trains exactly these reflexes, even though the AI examiner follows the TCF Canada structure at launch.
What do the two writing tasks ask?
The first task asks you to continue a short news item in a given register; the second asks you to write a letter or an article that defends an opinion on a stated issue. Length, organisation, precision of vocabulary and control of grammar are graded, as in the TCF Canada; the writing page explains how a text is read by criterion.
TCF Canada or TEF Canada: how to choose?
Both tests are accepted by IRCC and lead to the same NCLC levels. The choice is practical: which test centre near you has dates that fit your calendar, and which format you perform better in. Candidates who prefer short, numerous tasks often favour the TCF Canada; candidates who prefer longer exchanges often favour the TEF Canada. Try both formats in practice before booking. The TCF Canada page gives the other format in detail.
Questions candidates ask
Is the TEF Canada accepted by IRCC?
Yes, for economic immigration programmes and for citizenship, with the equivalence grid above.
Can I take only the speaking and listening parts?
For citizenship, only speaking and listening are assessed; for an Express Entry profile, all four abilities are required.
How long are results valid?
Two years for immigration purposes.
Is NCLC 7 harder to reach on the TEF Canada than on the TCF Canada?
No test is officially harder; both are calibrated to the same levels. Your personal result depends on the format you handle best.