How many questions are on the TEF Canada?

40 in reading and 40 in listening, all multiple choice with 4 options. Writing has 2 sections (A and B) and speaking has 2 sections (A and B).

How long is the TEF Canada exam?

Reading 60 min, listening 40 min, writing 60 min and speaking 15 min: about 2 hours 55 minutes of test time, all on the same day.

Is the TEF Canada on computer?

Reading, listening and writing are taken on computer, with a virtual keyboard for French accents. Speaking is a face-to-face conversation with an examiner.

Can I go back to earlier questions?

In reading, yes: you can move freely within the test. In listening, no: each audio plays once and you can’t go back.

Did the TEF Canada format change?

Yes, on 11 December 2023 reading and listening got fewer questions with the same durations. Some prep sites also report a 2025 listening change (3 options for street interviews, some audios played twice). We could not confirm it: the test owner’s page still says 4 options and one play per audio.

Is there a pass mark?

No. You get a level per skill. What counts is whether that level meets your program, for example NCLC 7 in all four skills for French-language Express Entry draws.

TEF Canada · Complete guide

TEF Canada exam format and structure

Four tests on one day, in a fixed order, with rules that differ from the TCF Canada. Here is exactly how each one works and how it is scored.

Start the free TEF Canada mock test Convert TEF scores to NCLC

tests, same day: 4
total test time: 2 h 55
result validity: 2 years

At a glance

The four tests, in exam order

The four tests of the TEF Canada, in the order they are taken
Test	Format	Time	Key rule
1 · Reading · Compréhension écrite	40 multiple-choice questions, 4 options each	60 min	Move freely between questions. Practise reading
2 · Listening · Compréhension orale	40 multiple-choice questions, 4 options each	40 min	Each audio plays once and starts on its own. No going back. Practise listening
3 · Writing · Expression écrite	Section A + Section B, typed on computer	60 min (25 + 35)	Each section has its own time limit. Practise writing
4 · Speaking · Expression orale	Section A + Section B, face to face	15 min (5 + 10)	Recorded for a second, independent rating. Practise speaking

Source: Le français des affaires, TEF Canada test-day page. Format in force since 11 December 2023.

Who it’s for

What is the TEF Canada?

The Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) Canada is run by Le français des affaires, part of CCI Paris Île-de-France. IRCC has recognised it since 2002 for permanent residence programs such as Express Entry, and for Canadian citizenship.

For immigration you take all four tests. For citizenship only listening and speaking are required. Prefer the other test? Compare with the TCF Canada exam format.

All four tests must be taken on the same day for Canadian authorities to accept the results.
Reading, listening and writing are taken on computer. Speaking is face to face with an examiner.
Results arrive within 1 to 10 working days, online. There is no paper certificate.
Results are valid for 2 years from the date the attestation is issued.
You must wait 20 days before taking the test again.
Fees are set by each test centre. There are about 500 centres in more than 110 countries.

Inside reading and listening

What the 80 questions look like

Parts of the TEF Canada reading and listening tests, by question number
Test	Questions	Documents
Reading	1–7	Everyday documents: notices, ads, short messages
Reading	8–17	Sentences and texts with gaps to fill
Reading	18–22	Quick reading of texts and charts
Reading	23–32	Administrative and work documents
Reading	33–40	Press articles
Listening	1–4	Short conversations, matched to pictures
Listening	5–20	Public announcements, voicemail messages, street interviews (micros-trottoirs)
Listening	21–30	Radio columns, interviews and a radio report
Listening	31–40	Various audio documents

Source: Le français des affaires sample booklets (October 2024). In listening, you get a few seconds before each audio to read the question and a few seconds after to answer.

Writing and speaking

Two sections each, very different tasks

Writing A · 25 min · 80+ words
Finish a news story
You get the start of a short newspaper story (fait divers). Continue it in several paragraphs, adding new facts.
TEF Canada writing practice
Writing B · 35 min · 200+ words
Give and defend your opinion
React to a statement from a newspaper. Write to the paper with at least three arguments for your view.
Speaking A · 5 min · formal
Call to get information
You read an ad and phone to find out more. Ask about ten questions. The examiner plays the person you call.
TEF Canada speaking practice
Speaking B · 10 min · informal
Convince a friend
Present a document to a friend, played by the examiner, and try to convince them. They will never agree, by design.

Scoring

Two score columns. Express Entry uses only one.

Your results show, for each test, a score out of 699, a CEFR level (A1–C2), an NCLC level and an Équivalence ancien score. IRCC: “Only enter the scores for each language ability from that column. If you don't enter the correct scores, we may refuse your application.” Each correct answer earns 1 point and wrong answers cost nothing, but the total is then converted into a calibrated score.

How TEF scores convert to NCLC

For Express Entry

Ancien score to NCLC (IRCC)

Use these numbers in your Express Entry profile. Listening is out of 360, reading out of 300, writing and speaking out of 450.

TEF Canada Équivalence ancien score to NCLC, from IRCC
NCLC	Listening (/360)	Reading (/300)	Writing (/450)	Speaking (/450)
10+	316–360	263–300	393–450	393–450
9	298–315	248–262	371–392	371–392
8	280–297	233–247	349–370	349–370
7	249–279	207–232	310–348	310–348
6	217–248	181–206	271–309	271–309
5	181–216	151–180	226–270	226–270
4	145–180	121–150	181–225	181–225

Source: IRCC, Express Entry language test page. NCLC 10 means 10 and above.

For other programs

Score out of 699 to NCLC

For tests taken from 11 December 2023. The test owner prints this column, and IRCC uses it for programs such as the post-graduation work permit, the Atlantic Immigration Program and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot. Not for Express Entry.

TEF Canada score out of 699 to NCLC, tests from 11 December 2023
NCLC	Listening (/699)	Reading (/699)	Writing (/699)	Speaking (/699)
12	615–699	615–699	619–699	642–699
11	573–614	573–614	577–618	592–641
10	546–572	546–572	558–576	556–591
9	503–545	503–545	512–557	518–555
8	462–502	462–502	472–511	494–517
7	434–461	434–461	428–471	456–493
6	393–433	393–433	379–427	422–455
5	352–392	352–392	330–378	387–421
4	306–351	306–351	268–329	328–386

Source: Le français des affaires TEF–NCLC correspondence table. IRCC program tables stop at NCLC 10 (10 and above).

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Last verified Oct 5, 2026 against canada.ca and Le français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France), the TEF Canada test owner. How we check facts

Keep going

WritingTEF Canada10 min read
TEF Canada Writing: Section A & B Examples
TEF Canada expression écrite: Section A (80+ words, 25 min) and Section B (200+ words, 35 min), with templates and annotated models by NCLC level.
Oct 5, 2026
SpeakingTEF Canada9 min read
TEF Canada Speaking: Section A & B Examples
How TEF Canada expression orale works: Section A (5 min, about 10 questions) and Section B (10 min, convince a friend), with model dialogues and drills.
Oct 5, 2026
Scores & NCLCTEF Canada6 min read
TEF Canada Score Chart 2026: NCLC & CLB by Skill
The TEF Canada to NCLC chart IRCC uses for Express Entry (old-scale scores), the /699 tables by test date, and which one applies to you.
Oct 5, 2026

Your next step

TEF Canada listening practice

Compréhension de l’oral · 40 min

Practise listening

TEF Canada exam format and structure

The four tests, in exam order

What is the TEF Canada?

What the 80 questions look like

Two sections each, very different tasks

Finish a news story

Give and defend your opinion

Call to get information

Convince a friend