TCF vs TEF Canada: how they differ and how to choose

The comparison in one table

Sources: France Éducation international (TCF Canada), CCI Paris Île-de-France (TEF Canada) and IRCC (Express Entry pages modified on 16 October 2026). Information checked on 19 October 2026.

Writing: three capped texts or two texts with no maximum

In writing, the two formats are very different. In TCF Canada, you write three texts in 60 minutes, each with a minimum and a maximum word count: a message, then an article or letter that tells a story and comments on it, and finally a text that compares two documents before giving your view. You switch purpose three times and must stay within the limits, because one task outside them can get the whole paper rated “A1 not reached”. The three texts get a single score out of 20.

In TEF Canada, you write two longer texts with no maximum: the continuation of a news story (80 words minimum, 25 minutes), then a letter to a newspaper defending your opinion with at least three arguments (200 words minimum, 35 minutes). The challenge is to build a real argument within the time set for each section.

• Do you write a lot and struggle to cut? The TCF’s caps take practice, because a text that runs too long can cost you the whole paper. The TEF gives you room to develop.
• Do you write slowly or run out of ideas on long texts? The TCF’s short, tightly framed texts may suit you; the TEF’s 200 argued words in 35 minutes call for a quick plan.
• To argue, the TCF starts you from two documents that you present in your own words (task 3), the TEF from a single statement you react to (section B).
• To tell a story, the TCF asks you to report an experience and comment on it (task 2), the TEF to continue a newspaper article (section A).

Both tests in detail: the 3 TCF Canada writing tasks and scoring and TEF Canada writing.

Speaking: three face-to-face tasks or two role plays

In TCF Canada, the speaking test lasts 12 minutes, face to face with an examiner, and has three tasks:

• guided interview, no preparation (2 min): you talk about yourself with the examiner, whom you do not know;
• interaction, with preparation (5 min 30, including 2 min of preparation): you get information in an everyday situation, with roles set by the instructions;
• giving an opinion, no preparation (4 min 30): you answer a question chosen by the examiner, speaking continuously, naturally and convincingly.

In TEF Canada, the speaking test lasts 15 minutes, in two sections that each start from an everyday ad or notice (a job, a service, leisure, housing…):

• section A (5 min): you phone to get details and ask about ten questions; the examiner plays the other person, in a formal register;
• section B (10 min): you present the ad to a friend and try to convince them to take part, in an informal register.

The TCF moves from talking about yourself to an everyday exchange, then to defending an opinion with no preparation. The TEF is built on two role plays with a concrete goal: asking the right questions, then persuading. If one of these exercises makes you particularly uneasy, that is a good reason to practise both formats before you choose.

Listening and reading

Both exams test comprehension with multiple-choice questions; the number of questions and the timing differ slightly.

• TCF Canada: 39 listening questions (35 min) and 39 reading questions (60 min), with 4 options per question and rising difficulty. Each recording is played only once. The score, from 100 to 699, is weighted by question difficulty, and only correct answers count: a wrong answer and a blank both score 0.
• TEF Canada: 40 listening questions (40 min) and 40 reading questions (60 min), each test scored out of 699.

Scores and NCLC

The scales are not the same, but IRCC converts both exams to NCLC. In TCF Canada, reading and listening are scored out of 699 and writing and speaking out of 20, with an IRCC chart for each skill. In TEF Canada, every test has been scored out of 699 since 11 December 2023, with NCLC bands specific to each skill; the certificate also shows an « Équivalence ancien score » (old-scale equivalent), and that is the column IRCC asks you to enter in your Express Entry profile (page modified on 16 October 2026).

To make this concrete, here is the NCLC 7 band in each test:

These figures cannot be compared from one exam to the other: the scales are different, and a lower threshold on paper does not mean an easier exam. NCLC 7 is used as the example because IRCC uses it as a threshold, for instance: according to its pages modified on 16 October 2026, Express Entry’s French-language proficiency category requires NCLC 7 in all four abilities, and the Comprehensive Ranking System grid gives extra points when all four French abilities reach NCLC 7. Every chart is in our NCLC score chart, and our guide to reaching NCLC 7 covers that level in detail.

How to choose: five questions to ask yourself

Neither exam is easier across the board: they measure the same skills, and IRCC converts both to NCLC. The right choice depends on your profile and on very practical constraints.

1. Do you prefer short, tightly framed texts or long, open ones?

The TCF asks for three texts with a strict word cap; the TEF for two texts with no maximum, including a letter of at least 200 words. Write one task in each format and see which one lets you show your best French.

2. Which speaking test suits you?

The TCF is 12 minutes face to face: an interview about you, an exchange to get information, then an opinion defended with no preparation. The TEF is 15 minutes in two role plays: a formal phone call with about ten questions, then an informal conversation to present an ad and convince a friend.

3. Which sessions are available near you?

Check with the test centres near you: session dates, available seats, the format offered (TCF Canada exists on paper and on computer, with speaking always face to face) and how long results take (for TCF Canada, France Éducation international publishes results within 15 working days of receiving the centre’s materials). We do not quote fees or dates: ask the centre directly.

4. What happens if you need to retake the test?

For TCF Canada, there is no limit on attempts, but you must leave at least 20 days between two sessions; also, re-mark requests for writing and speaking are suspended for sessions from 1 September 2026, with the service planned to resume in autumn 2027. For TEF Canada, all four tests must be taken on the same day to be recognised by IRCC. In both cases, the certificate is valid for 2 years.

5. Have you tried both formats?

The simplest way to decide is to try: write a TCF Canada task 3, then a TEF Canada section B, and compare how comfortable you felt and your estimated level. The grader below switches from one exam to the other with its “TCF Canada” and “TEF Canada” buttons.

This guide compares the formats of the two exams; it is not immigration advice. The levels you need depend on your program: check them on IRCC’s website.

TCF vs TEF FAQ