"Which French test is easier?" is one of the most common questions from Express Entry candidates. The honest answer: neither is officially easier. IRCC converts results from both tests to the same NCLC levels, so an NCLC 7 is an NCLC 7 whichever test you take.
But the two tests are built differently. Depending on your strengths, one may suit you better. This article compares them section by section and ends with a short quiz to help you decide.
Who runs each test
- TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada) is run by France Éducation international, a public body under the French Ministry of Education.
- TEF Canada (Test d'évaluation de français pour le Canada) is run by the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI Paris Île-de-France), through its Le français des affaires department.
Both are approved by IRCC for economic immigration, including Express Entry, and for citizenship.
Side-by-side comparison
| TCF Canada | TEF Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 39 questions, 35 min | 40 questions, 40 min |
| Reading | 39 questions, 60 min | 40 questions, 60 min |
| Writing | 3 tasks in 60 min: message (60–120 words), article (120–150), document comparison (120–180) | 2 sections in 60 min: continue a news article (80+ words), argue a point of view (200+ words) |
| Speaking | 3 tasks in 12 min (including 2 min preparation for task 2): interview, interaction, opinion | 2 sections, 15 min: obtain information (5 min), convince a friend (10 min) |
| Total time | 2 h 47 | About 2 h 55 |
| Delivery | Paper or computer, depending on the centre; speaking face to face | Computer for reading, listening and writing; speaking face to face |
| Score scale | 0–699 listening and reading; 0–20 writing and speaking | 0–699 per skill, plus an "Équivalence ancien score" column (listening /360, reading /300, writing and speaking /450) used for Express Entry |
| NCLC 7 (listening / reading / writing / speaking) | 458 / 453 / 10 / 10 | 249 / 207 / 310 / 310 (ancien score) |
| Results | About 15 working days after the centre's material reaches FEI | 1 to 10 business days, online |
| Retake wait | 20 days | 20 days |
| Valid for IRCC | Less than 2 years old | Less than 2 years old |
Listening and reading
Both tests use multiple-choice questions on recordings and texts, from everyday documents up to complex material.
On the TCF Canada, each section has 39 questions that get progressively harder. France Éducation international says its scoring takes each question's difficulty into account, so the hard questions at the end matter. Each recording plays once. Listening is 35 minutes and reading is 60 minutes. You can see the exact score bands in our TCF Canada score chart.
On the TEF Canada, each section has 40 questions. Listening is 40 minutes: each audio plays once and you can't go back to earlier questions. Reading is 60 minutes, and you can move freely between questions. A correct answer scores 1 point and a wrong or blank answer scores 0, then the total is converted to a calibrated score. Our TEF Canada score chart explains the two scales on the certificate.
In practice, the comprehension sections feel similar. Your preparation should focus on accents, speed and the hardest documents, whichever test you take.
Writing: the biggest difference
This is where the tests really differ.
The TCF Canada asks for three shorter texts in 60 minutes: a message (60–120 words), an article or letter about an experience (120–150 words), and a document comparison with your opinion (120–180 words in two parts). Word counts have a minimum and a maximum: France Éducation international says a task outside its range can be rated "A1 non atteint". You can see a corrected example in our writing task 3 guide.
The TEF Canada asks for two texts, each with its own time limit: continuing a news article (at least 80 words in 25 minutes), and a letter defending a point of view with at least three arguments (at least 200 words in 35 minutes). There is no maximum. The second section rewards candidates who are comfortable building a longer, structured argument. See our TEF Canada writing examples for models of both sections.
Speaking
The TCF Canada speaking test lasts 12 minutes and has three tasks: a 2-minute guided interview about yourself, a 5½-minute interaction (2 minutes to prepare, then 3½ minutes asking questions in a role-play), and a 4½-minute opinion task. See TCF speaking task 2 examples for the role-play.
The TEF Canada speaking test lasts 15 minutes and has two sections, both with the examiner: in Section A (5 minutes) you phone about an advert and ask about ten questions; in Section B (10 minutes) you try to convince a friend, played by the examiner, who won't agree easily. Both tests record the speaking test so a second examiner can mark it. Our TEF Canada speaking examples show both sections.
If you like persuading someone in a real exchange, the TEF's second section may play to your strengths. If you prefer to know roughly what's coming and speak in shorter blocks, the TCF's three-task structure can feel more manageable.
Scoring and NCLC
Each test has its own score scales, and IRCC publishes a separate conversion table for each. One TEF trap: for Express Entry you enter the "Équivalence ancien score" column of the TEF certificate, not the "Score /699" column. IRCC warns that entering the wrong scores can lead to a refused application. You can check both tests side by side with the NCLC score converter.
After conversion, the results are identical in value. NCLC 7 in all four skills earns the same French bonus CRS points, and gives the same access to French-language category draws, whichever test you took. Our article on French CRS points explains those points.
Practical factors often matter most
Format differences are real, but many candidates decide on practical grounds:
- Test dates near you. Availability varies a lot by city and country. A test you can take next month beats a "better" test four months away, especially if your Express Entry plans are time-sensitive.
- Familiarity. If you've already practised one format for weeks, switching costs time.
- Results timing. TEF Canada results arrive within 1 to 10 business days of the test. TCF Canada results take about 15 working days after the centre's material reaches France Éducation international, so allow a little longer.
- Retakes. Both test owners now state a 20-day wait between sittings. Some centres still publish older rules, so confirm before you book.
- Citizenship only? You need only listening and speaking. Both tests offer a two-skill route; see our guide to the French test for Canadian citizenship.
Myths about the two tests
"The TEF is for Canada and the TCF is for France." Both have versions designed specifically for Canadian immigration: the TCF Canada and the TEF Canada. Make sure you book the Canada version. Other versions, such as the general TCF tout public, aren't accepted for Express Entry.
"One test is marked more generously." There's no evidence for this. Each provider trains its examiners on its own criteria, and IRCC sets the conversion tables. Forum stories about "easy" or "hard" sessions usually reflect a candidate's own day rather than the test.
"You have to be in Canada to take them." Both tests are offered at approved centres in many countries. Availability varies, so check the official centre lists for your city early.
"Changing tests after a disappointing result will fix it." Sometimes a different format really does suit you better. But if the weak skill is the same, the result is likely to be similar. Fix the weakness first, then decide.
Preparing for either test
The core skills are the same for both tests. Whichever you choose:
- Listen to French every day at natural speed, with a range of accents.
- Read opinion pieces, not only news, so you get used to implied meaning and nuance.
- Write against the clock and know your word counts by feel.
- Speak out loud every day, ideally recording yourself and listening back.
- Take full timed mock tests to build stamina. Both tests last close to three hours.
Then add format-specific practice for the test you've chosen, in the last six to eight weeks before your exam. Our free TCF and TEF cheat sheet puts both formats side by side on one page.
Which test fits you? Take the quiz
TCF Canada or TEF Canada: which fits you?
Five quick questions about your preferences. There's no wrong answer, and both tests are accepted by IRCC.
Answer all five questions to see a suggestion.
Our take
If you have no strong preference and both tests are available on similar dates, choose based on writing: the biggest structural difference between the two. Then commit to that format and practise it until it feels routine.
If you choose the TCF Canada, start with a free TCF Canada practice test to get a baseline in each skill, then read the TCF Canada exam format. If you choose the TEF Canada, take the free TEF Canada practice test and read the TEF Canada exam format. Our longer TCF Canada vs TEF Canada comparison covers every difference in one table. Whichever test you take, the goal is the same: NCLC 7 or higher in all four skills.