ReadingTEF Canada10 min read
TEF Canada Reading Tips: 40 Questions in 60 Minutes
TEF Canada reading tips: the five parts of the test, a 60-minute pacing plan, the score IRCC uses for NCLC, and traps to avoid, with practice examples.
TEF Canada · Compréhension écrite
TEF Canada reading practice
Practise the five kinds of documents in the TEF Canada reading test, and learn to use its biggest advantage: you can move freely between the 40 questions.
- questions
- 40
- total
- 60 min
- per question on average
- ~90 s
How the test works
What to expect on test day
Reading is the first test of the day: 40 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, each with 4 options. The test owner states that you can navigate freely within the questionnaire, so you can skip a question and come back to it.
Each correct answer earns 1 point, and a wrong or blank answer earns 0. Your total is then converted into a calibrated score that accounts for question difficulty.
The five parts
What you’ll read
| Questions | Documents | What they test |
|---|---|---|
| 1–7 | Everyday documents: signs, ads, short messages | Finding one precise detail fast |
| 8–17 | Sentences and short texts with a gap | Grammar, connectors and the right word in context |
| 18–22 | Quick reading of texts and charts | Scanning for information, reading numbers and graphs |
| 23–32 | Administrative and work documents | Rules, conditions, procedures, who must do what |
| 33–40 | Press articles | Main idea, the author’s view, nuance |
Source: Le français des affaires reading sample booklet (October 2024).
Practice examples
Three question types, explained
These are our own practice examples in the official format, not official test items.
- Gap-fill
Pick the connector
Read the whole sentence before choosing. Here the second half contradicts the first, so the answer is pourtant, not donc.
« La réunion était prévue à 9 h. ___, personne n’était arrivé à 9 h 30. »
- Admin document
Who must do what?
Workplace and public notices hide the answer in conditions. Underline sauf, à condition de and au plus tard mentally.
« Les demandes de remboursement doivent être déposées au plus tard 30 jours après la dépense, sauf autorisation du responsable. »
- Press article
What does the author think?
Look for the sentence that gives a judgement, often after certes… mais. Facts alone don’t answer an opinion question.
« Certes, la mesure a réduit les embouteillages ; mais elle pèse surtout sur ceux qui n’ont pas d’autre choix que la voiture. »
Strategy
Use free navigation to your advantage
Do the quick wins first
Everyday documents and gap-fills go fast. Bank that time for the press articles at the end.
Skip, don’t stall
Stuck after a minute? Choose your best guess, note the number, and come back if time allows.
Question first, text second
Read the question and options, then scan the document for that information.
Read the charts carefully
In questions 18–22, check units, dates and the chart title before comparing numbers.
Rephrased beats repeated
The right answer usually paraphrases the text. Options that copy its words are often traps.
Leave no blanks
Wrong answers cost nothing. In the last minute, answer every question you skipped.
Common mistakes
What costs points in TEF reading
Running out of time
Spending 5 minutes on one hard article and leaving easy questions unanswered at the end.
Reading every word
Most questions need one sentence. Find it, then read it closely.
Ignoring the negative
A ne… que or ne… plus changes the meaning of the whole sentence.
Target
Reading scores for NCLC 7
For Express Entry, NCLC 7 in reading is an ancien score of 207 out of 300. NCLC 9 starts at 248. Taking the other test? Try TCF Canada reading practice, or see all TEF Canada practice.
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
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.
Scores & NCLCTEF Canada7 min read
NCLC 7 in TEF Canada: Exact Scores You Need
NCLC 7 on TEF Canada for Express Entry: listening 249, reading 207, writing 310, speaking 310 (old-scale). Why it matters and an 8-week plan.
Your next step
Try a timed reading section
In the TEF Canada format, scored, with an estimated NCLC level at the end. No account needed.